Star-studded mental health campaign 'Find Your Light' sends hope to Colac community

Advocacy group Let's Talk Colac has partnered with local musicians The Red Violets to develop the 'Find Your Light' campaign focusing on supporting the communities mental health.

"Recently our community of Colac have been going through some tough times with the recent ALC COVID-19 outbreak," Let's Talk Colac executive Kirsty Oborne said.

"Our numbers jumped from nothing for months to over one hundred cases in a matter of two weeks. As you could imagine these were very challenging times.

"With all focus on Melbourne and no government directive in our community, we decided we needed to do something on our own.

"A local campaign from local residents and business owners helped spread the 'Stay Home' messages and we as a community really pulled together. This campaign has gained media attention from around the globe.

"However as a community we knew there was more to be done. We constantly could see members struggling with isolation, job loss, uncertainty of the future. Many of our community members had not experienced this kind of unstable mental health before."

The campaign attracted the likes of Guy Sebastian, Carrie Bickmore, Luke Hodge and Aaron Finch and other mental health organisations.

"So far this has attracted over 8000 views and climbing," Ms Oborne said.

"The messages in this campaign we believe are such strong messages for all Victorians and even across the nation, we all need to talk and find our light.

"Statistics prior to COVID-19 of people suffering mental ill health in Australia were staggering. Over 45 per cent of Australians will suffer and mental illness with eight people a day ending their life to suicide.

"The current times have just seen these statistics go through the roof. Initiatives like Lets Talk Colac are leading the way the community responds to and supports people suffering mental ill health. It also encourages people to seek help, speak up and know it's OK not to be OK."

Let's Talk originated in Warrnambool in 2017 due to the increased loss of life to suicide in the south-west.

Ms Oborne hopes to spread the message and change the stigma associated with mental ill health and increase the amount of our community seeking help.

"The way we can do this is by raising awareness, sharing our stories, education and creating and promoting campaigns like 'Find Your Light'," she said.

Earlier, 3.45pm: Coronavirus numbers in regional Victorian local government areas in stage three lockdown continue to decrease, new state government figures show.

The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday afternoon recorded no change to active cases in Warrnambool, remaining at seven.

Despite a new case at Colac's Australian Lamb abattoir, active cases in the shire have dropped to eight from 11 yesterday.

The new case is reflected in cases linked to ALC, now up by one at 84.

There are still zero cases in Moyne, Glenelg, Corangamite, Golden Plains and Southern Grampians Shires.

Greater Geelong has 74 active cases, Bendigo has 23 active cases and Ballarat has six active cases.

There are six cases in Moorabool, five in Surf Coast Shire and two in Horsham.

Earlier, 2pm: Around 100 people have been identified as close contacts after another worker linked to Australian Lamb Colac tested positive to the virus.

Colac Area Health, with the support of Barwon Health, have tested about 100 people connected to the abattoir on Tuesday morning and will continue testing this afternoon.

Investigations are underway as to the source of the infection, said Colac Area Health chief executive Fiona Brew.

"Fortunately, the staff member was tested as soon as they had symptoms and ALC has been vigilant in following COVID protocols," she said.

"ALC has completed an immediate deep clean and Colac Area Health is undertaking testing of more than 100 close contacts today, as well as wider testing across the workforce."

An ALC spokesman said the employee, who lives in Geelong, last worked at the company on Friday August 21.

"We have been advised by health authorities that this new case is not linked to previous cases at ALC," he said.

"In line with directions from DHHS, all close contact employees will be tested today and will be in quarantine for the next 14 days.

"Consequently, our production shift (PM) is currently closed, but all other shifts continue to operate.

"As well as meeting all of our return-to-work requirements, as set by the DHHS, we are implementing additional operational health and safety measures.

"They include reduction in processing and employee numbers, comprehensive daily COVID-19 surveillance testing by DHHS of our employees, mandatory use of masks and other Personal Protective Equipment including face shields, maintenance of high standard cleaning practices already in place to operate as a domestically and globally licensed abattoir and additional social distancing in canteen and amenity areas.

"Despite this being a difficult time for our employee who has tested positive, and for all of us working at ALC, we remain united in our effort to beat the pandemic."

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Earlier, 12.30pm: Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed there was 148 new cases of coronavirus detected across Victoria over the past 24 hours.

There have also been eight new deaths, with 438 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Seven of the eight deaths are linked to aged care outbreaks.

There are 617 Victorians in hospital. 35 are in intensive care and 19 of those are on a ventilator.

There have been more than 13,000 tests taken in the past 24 hours, raising the state's total to 2,119,199 since March.

The metro-regional split reveal a decrease of cases in regional Victoria to 215.

"That number is falling and that's very pleasing," the Premier said.

The Department of Health and Human Services reported seven active cases in Warrnambool on Monday, two cases in Glenelg and 11 in the Colac Otway Shire. Meanwhile Moyne and Southern Grampians shires have none.

DHHS last recorded a positive case in Warrnambool on August 19 in connection to the Tarrone Lane quarry site after a worker first tested positive to the virus on August 14.

The new DHHS dashboard providing additional COVID-19 information is now available through dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-coronavirus-covid-19-data.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said it would include details on outbreaks, hospitalisations and high-risk locations.

"People will be able to search and see if a known case has been in the local shopping centre, local cafe, workplace or another location," she told reporters in Premier Daniel Andrews' Monday press conference.

"That means people can be armed with that information in terms of making an assessment themselves about any exposures they might have had visiting that same location on that day, and at that time."

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