Andrea Selvey is CEO of the very remote Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located 2770km north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean.

About 80% of our community are Cocos Malay, with a high number of elderly people living in close proximity in large extended households. If coronavirus came to Cocos, it could be difficult to control and with limited medical facilities, the extremely sick would have to be medevaced to the mainland.

But because of our location and demographics, we’ve had to consider how some of the mainland restrictions apply on our remote coral atoll.

Fishing is a major source of food for much of our population, so how do we allow people to continue this valuable practice in a way that remains safe for the whole community?

How do we follow quarantine rules with limited availability of housing and supplies? A shire staff member visits everyone in quarantine every day to help with things they need.

Our shire play a major role in critical communications, providing regular updates to the community and translating information for the many residents who don’t speak English.

We’ve also revamped community engagement activities to help people stay connected, without physical contact.

For example, we’re running online trivia, collecting photos and oral histories to share, and will livestream our Dawn Service on Anzac Day. After the service, we invite everyone to have breakfast on their front lawns (observing property boundaries), and we’re providing them with packages so they can bake Anzac biscuits to mark the occasion.

Our residents are doing all the right things because they understand the gravity of the situation.

Andrea Selvey
Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands