Thank you to the more than 1,000 people who participated in the national COVID-19 webinar for in‑home and community aged care providers last Friday, 8 October.
You can now access a Q&A document covering the questions submitted by participants, which could not be responded to during the live webinar due to time constraints.
If you missed the live webinar hosted by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt MP and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, you can watch it here.
SAVE THE DATE - Webinars for in‑home and community aged care workers
All Victorian in-home and community aged care workers are invited to a special webinar from 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEDT on Wednesday 20 October. The webinar will provide information on the Victorian public health order mandating COVID-19 vaccination, how to access priority vaccinations and how you can be supported to get vaccinated. Look out for further information on Monday with details of the panellists. The webinar will feature a live Q&A session.
All Northern Territory in-home and community aged care workers are invited to a special webinar next Friday 22 October. Look out for further information on Monday next week for details.
Further information will come early next week for all other states and territories.
Victoria mandates COVID-19 vaccination for in-home and community aged care workers
The Victorian Government has today released updated public health direction COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions No 2) for authorised workers, which includes all social and community service workers, including those who provide aged care services.
This applies to all in-home and community aged care workers in Victoria.
In-home and community aged care workers must receive their first dose before 15 October 2021 or be able to demonstrate a first dose vaccination appointment by 22 October 2021, and all workers must receive their second dose before 26 November 2021.
Under the Chief Health Officer’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions (No 2):
- Workers must have received a first dose of a COVID‑19 vaccine by today, 15 October 2021 or have a booking in place today for a vaccination appointment by 22 October 2021 as a condition of employment effective today.
- Employers must ensure unvaccinated workers do not work outside their ordinary place of residence from today, 15 October 2021 unless they have a vaccination appointment to receive a first dose COVID-19 vaccination by 22 October 2021.
- All workers must receive a second dose vaccination by 26 November 2021.
- Employers must collect, record and hold workforce COVID‑19 vaccination information.
- If a worker is unvaccinated, the employer must collect, record and hold information about whether that worker has a booking to receive a first dose vaccination by 22 October 2021.
Enquiries on limited exemptions that may apply should be directed to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
It is already a Commonwealth mandatory requirement for providers to keep records and report weekly via My Aged Care on workforce vaccination rates.
Northern Territory mandates COVID-19 vaccination for workers in high risk workplaces – including in-home and community aged care workers
On 13 October 2021, the Northern Territory Government announced the introduction of mandatory COVID‑19 vaccination for workers in high risk workplaces.
This includes all in-home and community aged care workers.
Under Chief Health Officer Direction 55, workers must receive a COVID-19 vaccine if, in the course of their work:
- they come into contact with vulnerable people;
- their workplace poses a high risk of infection; or
- they perform work that is necessary for the operation or maintenance of essential infrastructure or logistics in the NT.
The Direction lists examples of workplaces that require mandatory vaccination; however, this list is not exhaustive and it does apply to in-home and community aged care workers.
Exemptions are extremely narrow and must be backed up by medical evidence. Enquiries on exemptions should be directed to the NT Department of Health.
Under the new direction, in-home and community aged care workers must receive their first dose before 13 November 2021, and receive their second dose before 25 December 2021.
Relevant employees who are not vaccinated by 13 November 2021 will not be permitted to attend their workplace, and will face a $5,000 fine if they do not comply with the Chief Health Officer Direction.
The CHO Direction includes provisions for workplaces – including all in-home and community aged care providers - to request proof of vaccination from workers, and requires workplaces to keep a register of staff vaccination rates.
It is already a Commonwealth mandatory requirement for providers to keep records and report weekly via My Aged Care on workforce vaccination rates.
New South Wales mandates COVID-19 vaccination for in-home and community aged care workers
The New South Wales Government today announced that by 9.00 am on 25 October 2021, any person who provides in-home and community aged care services to a person must have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes all in-home and Commonwealth Home Support Programme workers.
Workers are required to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 9.00am on 29 November 2021.
For more information visit Advice to home care service providers - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) (nsw.gov.au).
How you can get priority COVID-19 vaccination
All in-home and community aged care workers across Australia are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID‑19 now.
Workers can access the vaccine of their choice (Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca) through:
- Primary care – including GP clinics, pharmacies, Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics (GP respiratory clinic), and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services.
- Workers are prioritised to receive a booking within 7 days of their request for an appointment at all primary care clinics.
- State and territory vaccination clinics - In-home and community aged care workers can make an appointment to get vaccinated at a state or territory vaccination clinic.
- For NT workers – you can also book a priority vaccination online or via the NT COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484. Walk-ins are welcome at NT COVID-19 Vaccination Centres in Palmerston, Coolalinga, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Gove.
- Dedicated Commonwealth hubs – In‑home and community aged care workers can get priority access to a COVID‑19 vaccination at dedicated hubs for workers. Details of these hubs have been sent to all providers to share with their workforce. Ask your employer if this is an option for you.
Workers can also:
- call the dedicated COVID-19 Helpline on 1800 020 080 (select option 4) for any questions about vaccination and for assistance on how to book an appointment.
- use the COVID‑19 Vaccine Clinic Finder to book an appointment at a clinic nearby.
Workers can provide the following documents to confirm their eligibility for a priority vaccination:
- proof of identity (e.g. driver's licence, passport, birth certificate)
- proof of employment
- letter from your employer confirming you have priority access
- current work ID card or payslip showing you are currently employed as an aged care worker
- Medicare card if you have one. You are still eligible for vaccination even if you do not have a Medicare card.
A fact sheet provides further information on accessing a COVID‑19 vaccine. We encourage all providers to share the fact sheet with your workforce.
Providing evidence of vaccination
A fact sheet is available on how you can provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status.
There are two ways workers can provide evidence of their vaccination status:
- Immunisation History Statement – this displays all vaccinations or medical contraindications and authorised exemptions, including COVID-19, that have been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). All vaccine providers must upload vaccinations to the AIR.
- COVID-19 Digital Certificate – this is for individuals who have received all required doses of a COVID‑19 vaccine in Australia.
People can access their Immunisation History Statement:
- online, by setting up a myGov account and then accessing a Medicare online account
- through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app
- by calling the Australian Immunisation Register enquiries line on 1800 653 809 (8am-5pm, Monday to Friday AEST) and asking them to send a copy of the statement. Please allow up to 14 days to receive the statement in the post
- by asking a GP or vaccination provider to print a copy of your statement for you.
People do not need to have a Medicare card to be able to access their Immunisation History Statement.