COVID-19 vaccination webinar series for residential aged care workers starts tomorrow

The webinars are for residential aged care workers to learn more about the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, to understand their respective state or territory public health orders and how mandatory vaccination and exemptions will be approached.

The webinars will address:

• why it is so important to get vaccinated against COVID-19
• how workers can access priority Pfizer vaccinations ahead of the 17 September deadline
• how workers will be supported to be vaccinated by their workplace and government
• some of reasons workers might feel hesitant about getting vaccinated and how they can feel more assured
• how mandatory COVID-19 vaccination will apply in the state of South Australia.

South Australia webinar – Thursday 26 August

The first webinar is for South Australian residential aged care workers from 11:00am–12:00 pm South Australian time (11.30am–12.30pm AEST). Chaired by Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adj. Professor Alison McMillan, panellists include:

• Dr Emily Kirkpatrick, Deputy Chief Medical Officer / Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Department for Health and Wellbeing, SA Health
• Evlynn Hayes, A/Director, Office for Ageing Well, SA Health
• Beverly Barber, COVID-19 Vaccine Department for Health and Wellbeing, SA Health
• Lisa Peterson, Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Health
• Lauren Palmer, National Research & Policy Officer, Health Services

Tasmania webinar – Friday 27 August

The webinar for Tasmania residential aged care workers is from 11:00am–12:00pm  AEST. Chaired by Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adj. Professor Alison McMillan, panellists include:

• Dr Rhea Psereckis, Public Health Medical Officer, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), Department of Health
• Lisa Peterson, Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Health

Queensland webinar – Friday 27 August

The webinar for Queensland residential aged care workers is from 2:00pm-3:00pm AEST. Chaired by Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd AM and panellists include:

• Dr James Smith, Deputy Chief Health Officer for Queensland
• David Harmer, Senior Director, Social Policy and Legislation Branch, QLD Health
• Lisa Peterson, Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Health
• Kate Veach, Assistant Secretary, Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU)
• Paul Mitchell, Acting Professional Officer, Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU)
• Lauren Palmer, National Research & Policy Officer, Health Services Union (HSU)

For the South Australian, Tasmanian and Queensland webinars:
Residential aged care workers care join via the following link:

Special Covid-19 webinar for Residential Aged Care workers

NOTE: the above link will take you directly into the live webinars at the above times.

The webinars will be recorded and made available via the department’s website.