Bringing our community together

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Dear Members,

We know that everyone’s work will be affected by what is going on in the world, whether that’s at cultural institutions, at universities, when accessing archives, communicating with clients or when looking for a great place to work.
 
Amidst all of this, your committee has been working to explore how we can bring our community together to support each other. In light of having to postpone many of our events, we will be hosting regular online ‘drop in’ sessions via Zoom. Let’s get together to check in, share resources and say hi.
 
Dates are:
Tuesday 24 March, 11am
https://zoom.us/j/279730825
Thursday 2 April, 6pm
https://zoom.us/j/677435035
Tuesday 7 April, 11am
https://zoom.us/j/990096044
 
For those who haven’t yet used Zoom (a critical resource in these times!), just click on the link above and you will be taken through some prompts to install Zoom onto your computer.
 
Please be in touch if you would like to book a meeting through our Zoom videoconferencing facilities. Some of our Professional Reading Groups have already taken up this offer, and I’d like to encourage those of you in the middle of our Mentoring Program to do the same if you need to. Simply email mail@phavic.org.au with your date and time to book.
 
Reluctantly, we have had to postpone both our Podcasting Masterclass with 3CR (18 April and 2 May) and the Regional Forum in Beechworth (23 May) and have advised participants and speakers of this earlier in the week. We are exploring online options for some of our other events for this year. We are aware that this could affect our PD points program, so we are considering options for the 2019-2020 year as well as the 2020-2021 year. Stay tuned for more information as soon as we have it.
 
Our committee has also decided to postpone our AGM (originally planned for August). Doing this is within the rules of our organisation. We hope that this will help us maintain stability during these times and enable the new committee a fresh start once we are on a more even keel. We will make a decision on a new date later in the year and inform you closer to the time.
 
We are also aware of the financial impact the effects of COVID-19 will have for many of us, so we are also reviewing the timing of membership renewals and will update you on that after our next committee meeting in April. Please keep us in the loop with any changes that are happening for you, and we will advocate for you where we can.

Bear with us as we move to rapidly change our events, programs and consider the impacts COVID-19 has on our members’ work. We apologise for any errors we may make. I’m sure you understand that our volunteer committee members are doing their very best whilst also coping with significant changes in their workplaces and personal lives. 

Once again, information on COVID-19 can be found here if you need it:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019?fbclid=IwAR03Qc1IsPGz3TQ06jIUo8clev4uvoR9n4EfAkliYxsIJZm-h1FneIl_ACE

Yours in history,
 
Alicia Cerreto
President, PHA (Vic & Tas)

COVID-19 and PHA (Vic & Tas)

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Dear Members,
 
We certainly are living through some challenging times. I’m sure that for all of us COVID-19 is affecting the way we work, live and care for others.
 
We here at PHA (Vic & Tas) are adding our voice to the chorus by postponing our next event: the Members’ Meet and Greet (March 26). All members who booked for this have already received an email to this effect and will receive a full refund. We are exploring ways to run this event online using Zoom, which we already use for our committee meetings and will be for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned for more information about online events!
 
As the situation is changing so rapidly, if further events must be postponed we will let you know as soon as we can. At the moment we are saying ‘wait and see’ for our Podcasting Masterclass with 3CR (18 April and 2 May) and the Regional Forum in Beechworth (23 May). I am in touch with our Queensland colleagues who are organising the PHA National Conference (28-19 August) and will support them when they come to a decision about whether it will go ahead and in what format.
 
That said, you will still hear from us via Pharos, our EPD notices and social media. Now more than ever is a great time to connect with us in that way. We will of course keep processing membership applications and the rest of our behind the scenes tasks.
 
We would like to offer you use of our Zoom videoconferencing facilities for meet ups such as our Professional Reading Groups. This enables you to have an extended meeting from the comfort of your own home. Simply email mail@phavic.org.au with your date and time to book.
 
If you are looking for online resources to help you work, we can help. If you are transitioning to teaching online, member Jo Clyne has started the hashtag on Twitter: #teachinghistoryfromhome with lots of good tips. For historical context to our current reality, member Mary Sheehan reflects on the 1919 Spanish Flu in light of coronavirus http://livinghistories.net.au/2020/03/12/were-these-the-good-old-days/. If you like to listen to podcasts, check out the great recommendations in our summer series on our Facebook page. You can also access our own podcasts from past events on the members section of our website.
 
If you need it, information on COVID-19 can be found here:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019?fbclid=IwAR03Qc1IsPGz3TQ06jIUo8clev4uvoR9n4EfAkliYxsIJZm-h1FneIl_ACE
 
My final message to you all is to wish you the best of health and to take care of yourselves as we face uncertainty as we carry out our ordinary lives. Please be in touch if we can support your work.
 
Yours in history
 
Alicia Cerreto
President, PHA (Vic & Tas)