Workers facing jobcuts following the detection of a virus impacting tomato growers north of Adelaide are being encouraged to attend a popup support hub manned by Lutheran Care and other service providers.

Lutheran Care was handpicked to be part of an in-region service response to support the hundreds of employees who have been impacted by quarantine restrictions after the tomato brown rugose fruit virus was identified at three fruit and vegetable businesses in the Two Wells area.

Impacted locals can access help at the Employment Support Hub that has been set up at Virginia Horticultural Centre.

Financial Counsellors from Lutheran Care are onsite to connect people with practical support and advice to help them navigate the changes in their financial situations as well as connect them with Emergency Relief support – such as food parcels – where required.

If people are worried about not being able to afford their rent, mortgage or bills, or feed their families, our Financial Wellbeing team can help look at the options available which may include no interest loans, hardship applications, and negotiating with creditors or financial institutions.

Lutheran Care’s team are working at the Assistance Hub alongside representatives from Red Cross who are providing triage services and connecting people with personal counselling where needed. Also on site are representatives from Services SA, Centrelink, and employment agencies, who are providing specialised jobseeker support and information about benefits they may be eligible for. There is also specific Rural Financial Counselling available onsite for growers. All agencies are working with representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) who are leading the response.

Where people seeking Financial Counselling are from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, including the Vietnamese and Pacific Islander communities, Lutheran Care’s team can easily connect them with translation services.

Since the announcement about the quarantine requirements was made last week, some tasks around cleaning and preparing the businesses for a shutdown period have kept people in employment. However, it’s expected the need for support services will rise in the next few weeks as these jobs potentially wind up.

Lutheran Care welcomes impacted workers and business owners to come in and discuss their circumstances any time – whether or not they are still working.

Lutheran Care’s Chief Executive Officer Rohan Feegrade was proud of how quickly the response had been put together.

“This regional support hub was set up where the workers need it most, in a less than 24-hour turnaround time.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank our Financial Wellbeing team who when called in to help rose to the occasion quickly and comprehensively, being willing to be mobile and adaptive to respond to this need in the community.”

“Thank you to Premier Malinauskas, PIRSA, the Department of Human Services and our fellow service organisations for supporting and working with us to activate this proactive response.

“Lutheran Care is pleased to provide holistic support for these workers through this challenging period, as part of a one-stop support shop in the region they live and work.”

Mr Feegrade hoped people would utilise the support available.

“Our team is here to empower people about the options and supports available to help them stay in control of their financial situation whilst navigating changes in their employment circumstances.

“This support is free, and available at the Assistance Hub from 9am-5pm.

“I hope people will come in, sit down with our team and arm themselves with the information, advice and support they need right now.

“You’re not in this alone – our team and our partners are there to walk alongside you during this time.”

PIRSA Chief Executive Mehdi Doroudi thanked the providers that have come on board to offer their services at the Assistance Hub.

“We are grateful to Lutheran Care and the other service providers that have made themselves available to assist at the Hub,” he said.

“We have worked quickly to bring government and non-government support services together in one place to ensure affected workers, families and businesses can easily explore the support available to them at a convenient location.”

“By working together we can minimise the impacts on affected workers by providing counselling, financial wellbeing advice, and assistance with redeployment in the industry.”

The Employment Support Hub is located at Virginia Horticulture Centre, 942 Old Port Wakefield Road. Support is available from 9am-5pm weekdays.

For more information about Lutheran Care’s Financial Wellbeing services, please click here.