In response to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria, residential aged care providers located in high risk areas in Victoria will be able to receive support through the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) grant. The SACWIC Grant Opportunity is designed to minimise the risk of infection to aged care workers, residents and other consumers of aged care services by providing grant funding to limit people working across multiple aged care facilities and to support single site workforce arrangements. The Grant Opportunity extends the current arrangements currently available to providers located in Northern Beaches, NSW.
The grant funding will be available in the following locations in Victoria: Brighton, Doveton, Glen Waverley, McKinnon, Mordialloc and Moorabbin. This means providers in these areas will be able to access funding to reintroduce the Guiding Principles for residential aged care – keeping VIC residents and workers safe (Principles) which are being updated to reflect the latest advice. This will ensure workers are not disadvantaged as a result of the single site arrangements. The SACWIC grant activity period for these Victorian locations is from 31 December 2020 until they are no longer considered a hotspot, as determined by the Government based on advice from Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly.
Providers outside of these areas are also able to receive support if they have staff who are limited to working at a single facility in any of the above locations.
To minimise risk and prepare for single site workforce arrangements (in the event this is required), aged care providers located outside of these areas may also wish to create an employee register that records which employees work across multiple sites/settings, or live with someone who does, what role they perform, how many hours and what shifts they perform with each employer and which employer provides the most hours on a weekly or fortnightly basis. This will ensure Providers are well-placed to identify which parts of a facility and which roles staff can work across as well as surge workforce needs in the event of an outbreak.
Further information on the Principles and single site workforce arrangements by visiting the Guiding Principles Support Hub website or phoning the hotline on 1800 491 793.
For workers affected by single site arrangements, Converge International will deliver up to five free counselling sessions per person. Phone 1300 687 327 or visit www.convergeinternational.com.au to book an appointment. Please state you are from the Victorian Aged Care Workforce when booking.