The supermarket retailer is dedicating two Community Hour shopping periods per week from 7am to 8am on Tuesdays and Thursdays to emergency services and healthcare workers – including aged care staff – who are working to protect the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We spoke to Coles and they said as long as aged care staff hold an AHPRA card, have a workplace ID or are in their uniform, stores will let them join the special shopping hour.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Coles Community Hours will continue to be available to vulnerable and elderly customers who hold a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Companion Card, Seniors Card, Disability Card and Health Care Card.
Following last week’s cancellation of its ‘essentials packs’ for the elderly, Woolworths has also launched a new initiative to increase its grocery deliveries to vulnerable customers.
The supermarket has reduced trading hours at 41 stores around the country to 11am to 6pm to prioritise delivery to the elderly, people living with disability, those with compromised immunity and people in mandatory isolation.
To apply for Priority Assistance delivery, customers just need to complete the form at woolworths.com.au/priorityassistance or call 1800 000 610.
Their plan to deliver toilet paper in partnership with Meals on Wheels is already seeing benefits too, with over 75,000 packs now distributed via their network of volunteers.
Great news for both our hard-working aged care staff and our older Australians in need.
Discussion4 Comments
Just rang my local Coles and they said that aged care workers are not eligiable. That you must have an NHS card or something i.e. Doctors, Nurses and Paramedics. Have I got the wrong information? If not I think this is an oversight given that aged care workers a trying to protect some of the most vulnerable people in society. Aged care workers don’t have the option to work from home. My my view this is not great Coles if true. Does anyone have more information?
Hi Matthew,
We did talk to Coles directly about the initiative and were assured that they would not turn away aged care staff provided they had identification for their workplace or were in their uniform. We certainly agree aged care staff are doing as much as other healthcare workers to protect the community and will be giving them a call to follow up.
Cheers,
Lauren
Thanks Lauren,
This article is really important and an easily overlooked subject. I hope you are correct. But again, thats not what my local store is telling me as of Friday afternoon. Hopefully it’s just a miscommunication.
Matthew
Thanks Matthew, we’ve got in touch with out contact and will see what they say.
Lauren