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Covid-19NDIS release

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Mandatory vaccinations for some disability workers in New South Wales

By August 26th, 2021No Comments

From 30 August 2021, disability workers who live or work in a local government area (LGA) of concern must be excluded from entry into their place of work unless they have evidence of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a medical contraindication certificate.

Key points

  • From 30 August 2021, disability workers who live or work in an area of concern must be excluded from entry into their place of work unless they have evidence of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a medical contraindication certificate.
  • Providers must ensure that where applicable, disability workers who provide in-person support to a person with disability, comply with these requirements.
  • Ensure that you and your workers understand what these mandatory requirements are, and how they affect the supports and services you deliver.
  • Registered NDIS providers are expected to maintain records of the evidence checks undertaken.
  • Review your business continuity and contingency plans to ensure that continuity of critical supports can be maintained with the new vaccination requirements.
  • Notify the NDIS Commission of any significant changes to services or supports as a result of COVID-19 restrictions or infections.

    Updated Health Directions regarding mandatory COVID-19 vaccination

    Under the Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) 2021, the New South Wales Government has mandated that from 30 August 2021, disability workers who live or work in an area of concern must be excluded from entry into their place of work unless they have:

    • evidence of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
    • a medical certificate showing medical contraindication.

    The current areas of concern are the following local government areas (LGAs):

    • Bayside
    • City of Blacktown
    • Burwood
    • City of Campbelltown
    • Canterbury-Bankstown
    • Cumberland
    • City of Fairfield
    • Georges River
    • City of Liverpool
    • City of Parramatta
    • Strathfield
    • The following suburbs of the City of Penrith: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Esrkine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair, and St Marys

    Disability workers must carry evidence of their vaccination or a medical contraindication certificate when entering their place of work and produce it if requested by an employer or other specified people.

    This applies to anyone who provides disability support services, in person, to a person with a disability, including services funded or provided under the NDIS.

    We encourage you to read the full details of the Public Health Order on the New South Wales Government website.

    Consistent with obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and the NDIS Practice Standards for providing supports and services in a manner and environment that is safe for participants, providers must ensure that disability workers who live or work in an area of concern and provide in-person support to a person with disability, comply with these requirements.

    Supporting workers to access the COVID-19 vaccine

    Please ensure that you and your workers understand what these mandatory requirements are, and how they affect the supports and services you deliver. Encourage your workers to arrange a vaccination or contraindication certificate, as relevant.

    NSW Health has set up priority clinics for people aged 18-39 who live or work in the LGAs of concern. You are also able to receive a vaccine at NSW Health clinics and participating pharmacies.

    Vaccination appointments can be booked via the Eligibility Checker.

    See below for links to additional information and resources for COVID-19 vaccinations.

    Provider obligations

    Record-keeping requirements for evidence checks

    In meeting NSW Government requirements for the purposes of mandatory vaccination requirements, registered NDIS providers should ensure that records of evidence checks are maintained.

    As part of worker records, providers are expected to maintain records of the evidence checks undertaken for applicable disability support workers to ensure they have:

    • Had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine; or
    • A medical contraindication certificate.

    Business continuity and outbreak management planning

    All providers are reminded of their obligations regarding continuity of critical supports, and to review business continuity and contingency plans for emergencies and disasters.

    You are encouraged to engage with workers on their vaccination status and their plans for vaccination. These discussions should inform your business continuity and contingency plans, and outbreak management plans.

    Refer to our provider alert of 6 August 2021.

    Notification of changes or events

    You must notify the NDIS Commission of any change or event that significantly affects your ability to comply with any of your conditions of registration, including compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards. You must use the COVID-19 notification of events form to report these changes.

    Your requirements to notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 are separate from the COVID-19 notification of changes or events and remain unchanged.

    NDIS Commission COVID-19 pandemic information and resources

    The Coronavirus (COVID-19) information webpage on the NDIS Commission website contains links to updates, training, alerts and other resources.

    We also have a COVID-19 webpage containing information for people with disability, and a webpage of frequently asked questions about COVID-19 for all stakeholders.

    NDIS Commission COVID-19 vaccination information and resources

    The COVID-19 vaccine information webpage on our website contains links to updates about COVID-19 vaccines and resources for NDIS providers.

    We also have a COVID-19 vaccine webpage containing information for people with disability.

    Contact us

    Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9.00am to 5.00pm (9.00am to 4.30pm in the NT), Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

    Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

    Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au