Charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commissions will now be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if they have suffered a 15 per cent decline in turnover as a result of the coronavirus – lowered from the 30 per cent originally announced.
Heart Foundation Group CEO, Adjunct Professor John Kelly, commended the Treasurer and Federal Government for the show of support to a sector facing unprecedented demand from Australians who are affected by COVID-19.
"There are more than four million Australians living with cardiovascular disease and one thing we know for sure at this point is that these people are more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.
"We applaud the Federal Government for this announcement, which will allow us to continue to provide the necessary support, advice and care to those Australians who need it most at this time."
The reduced threshold is expected to go before Parliament on Wednesday and will be included in a $130 billion package to support Australia's not-for-profit sector.
A new consensus statement published by the Medical Journal of Australia reported Australians with heart disease have a higher chance of severe illness, needing intensive care or dying if infected by COVID-19.
The statement coincides with the launch of a new national Heart Foundation campaign to inform Australians affected by heart disease about their increased risk of complications from COVID-19.
