19 January 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated NSW Health guidance and alternative testing for people with disability

Key points

• Staff and visitors must wear masks at residential disability settings or when providing in-home supports to people with disability.
• Restrictions on staff and visitor entry currently apply in certain areas of NSW. 
• NSW Health has released guidance on alternative testing approaches for people with disability.

Advice from NSW Health has been updated

On 14 January 2021, NSW Health issued updated advice for residential disability care facilities and advice to home care providers which apply to all of NSW.

This updated advice includes the following:

• Masks must be worn by all staff and visitors at residential disability settings or providing in home supports until further notice.  You must stock adequate PPE and mask supplies to comply with this guidance.
• Minimise staff working across multiple settings.
• Restrictions on staff and visitor entry currently apply to in-home support providers and residential disability settings in certain areas of NSW.
• In some LGAs, providers should ensure participants have appropriate PPE and infection control advice if they leave their residence for purposes such as exercise or medical appointments.

Please read the full details of this advice, and ensure you and your workers comply in order to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection while supporting people with disability.

Please ensure you use the preferred communication methods of the people you support when explaining any changes that affect them as a result of this advice (for example, changes to your visitor management policy).

You will find links to this and other guidance issued by NSW Health for disability support providers on the NSW Health website.

Alternative testing for COVID-19 for people with disability 

As some people with disability may face barriers to accessing testing for COVID-19, NSW Health has developed a document outlining Alternative approaches for COVID-19 testing for people with disability (PDF, 106KB).

It is also available on NSW Health’s Information for disability support providers webpage under the heading ‘Testing approaches for people with disability’

Notifying us about COVID-19 infections and service changes

Registered NDIS providers must notify the NDIS Commission using the COVID-19 notification of event form if there are changes to the supports you provide to NDIS participants, such as a temporary cease of services or change to how they are provided. You must also notify us of any confirmed case of COVID-19 of an NDIS participants or a worker.

Further information, alerts 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.

Contact Us

Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9am to 4.30pm in the NT, 9.00am to 5.00pm in all other states and territories Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au