Latest news
- Protecting Older Australians
Read the latest COVID-19 updates and advice for protecting older Australians in aged care.
- National COVID-19 Health Management Plan (National Plan)
On 12 December 2022, the Australian Government launched the National COVID-19 Health Management Plan (National Plan) to guide Australia’s transition to move towards managing COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses. - The National Statement of Expectations on COVID-19 Management in Aged Care Settings
Released 12 December 2022, the National Statement of Expectations on COVID-19 Management in Aged Care Settings provides specific guidance to the aged care sector (for residential and care at home services) on their responsibilities for preparing for and responding to the impact of COVID-19.
The National COVID-19 Health Management Plan
The National COVID-19 Health Management Plan for 2023 consolidates the critical work already undertaken by the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments in providing guidance to manage COVID-19 in aged care.
A National Statement of Expectations on COVID-19 Management in Aged Care Settings also accompanies the National Plan.
For providers of aged care
Immediate outbreak response
If a staff member or resident in your service becomes positive with COVID-19 you must immediately:
- notify your state or territory health department, and
- notify the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care:
- All residential aged care providers are required to report all cases of COVID-19 through the COVID-19 Support Portal. This Portal can be accessed via the My Aged Care provider portal.
Under the Privacy Act 1988, this information should be de-identified and should not include personal or private information that can identify an individual, such as their name, address, date of birth or contact details. It should also not include information about a resident’s movements or passing.
Advice for aged care providers
- Prevent and prepare for COVID-19 in residential care
Read about preventing COVID-19 cases, accessing personal protective equipment, supporting visitations and screening restrictions, training your staff, and accessing resources. -
Managing home care through COVID-19
Understand how to respond to changing circumstances, managing COVID-19 risks and resources to help navigate impacts in their community and information for your workers and clients. -
CDNA Guidelines
Released on 30 September 2022, this Guideline provides aged care homes advice about the prevention, control and public health management of outbreaks of acute respiratory infection, including COVID-19 and influenza. - Winter plan – a guide for residential aged care providers
The plan provides overarching guidance and resources for aged care providers to support their readiness, response and recovery from exposures and outbreaks of COVID-19 and/or influenza during winter 2022. Targeted primarily at the residential setting, the plan includes Checklists of practical, on‑the‑ground actions which providers (of both residential and/or community based aged care) should be considering. - Managing a COVID-19 outbreak in aged care
Understand what an outbreak is, what you must do if one occurs, and what resources you can access to help manage the outbreak effectively. - Government support for providers and workers
We provide support to Australian Government-funded aged care services (residential and in-home care) with a COVID-19 outbreak. This includes additional personal protective equipment, workforce support and reimbursing costs related to COVID-19.
- Information for CHSP service providers
Advice on changes to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) during COVID-19 including flexibility provisions, emergency funding, unspent funds, access to personal protective equipment (PPE), workforce and conducting assessments.
COVID-19 advice for organisations that provide:
Resources and training
- COVID-19 resources for aged care services
- Online infection control training for aged care workers
- Webinars for the aged care sector
- The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s COVID-19 page, which includes an overview of their compliance approach during the pandemic.
For aged care workers
Residential aged care workers that have tested positive for COVID-19 should not attend work for at least 7 days after testing positive and until they have no symptoms of COVID-19. This includes workers providing close personal care to an older person in their home or in a community setting.
- Managing your health and working arrangements
Read information about when you must not work, testing, taking leave, and accessing government support and payments. - High-risk setting pandemic payment
The High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment (HRSPP) is a lump sum payment to help you during the time you can’t work and earn an income, because you have tested positive for COVID-19.
For older Australians, residents and carers
- People in residential facilities and visitors
Information on your safety and wellbeing, vaccinations, oral antiviral medications, admission to facilities during COVID-19 and supporting visitations. - Older people and carers
Information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19, access to medical appointments, medicine, food, meals, wellbeing support and support available for carers. -
Managing home care through COVID-19
Older Australians who need support at home can still access in-home care services during COVID-19. Read about how home care packages and Commonwealth Home Care Support Programme services are responding to changing circumstances to effectively manage COVID-19.
For residents, families and friends
Visitors to residential aged care that have tested positive for COVID-19 should not visit high-risk settings like residential aged care homes for at least 7 days after testing positive and until they have no symptoms of COVID-19.
- Advice for people in residential aged care facilities and visitors
Read information about what residents and visitors can do to work together to continue protecting older people in aged care homes. - Industry code for visiting in aged care homes
The aged care peak body and consumer advocacy groups have released the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19 (The Code). The code is a nationally consistent approach enabling people to visit residents safely during the pandemic.
Translated resources
- We have a number of resources available in more than 60 languages.
- The Department of Home Affairs and Victorian Multicultural Commission also provide a wide range of translated COVID-19 resources.
Aged care reporting and reviews
- The national figures for cases in aged care including the number of confirmed cases in Australian residential care.
- The weekly report provides national data on the impact of COVID-19 in residential aged care homes.
- Details of reviews of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care.
State and territory aged care COVID-19 information
Your state or territory has the latest information on COVID-19 for your local area. Make sure you stay up to date on restrictions, PPE requirements and other measures relating to COVID-19 in aged care.