2 February 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Outbreak preparedness for Greater Perth and updated Directions

The Western Australian Government has issued updated directions that affect all providers in the Greater Perth area.

Key points

• Greater Perth has entered a 5-day lockdown until 6pm on Friday 5 February.
• All disability accommodation settings in the Perth metropolitan area and Peel and South West Regions must exclude visitors during this time.
• Masks must be worn in the Greater Perth area when outside the house, including when providing disability supports and services.
• Review your COVID-19 response plans and business continuity plans.
• The Department of Communities has published a Disability Sector Preparedness Guide for COVID-19.
• Notify the NDIS Commission of any COVID-19 infections or changes to the services and supports you deliver.

Updated Public Health Emergency declaration

The WA Government has imposed a 5-day lockdown for the Perth metropolitan area and the Peel and South West Regions until at least 6pm on 5 February 2021.

The hard lockdown means that people cannot leave these areas and only enter them for an essential reason, such as providing supports to people with disability.

During this time, no visitors are permitted to disability accommodation settings in the affected areas. As this affects your visitor management policy, you should clearly communicate this change to the NDIS participants you support and their families using their preferred form of communication. You should explore alternative ways for people with disability to connect with their friends or families, such as phone or video calls.

Masks must be worn when outside the house, including when providing disability supports and services.

Please read the announcement in full, and ensure you and your workers understand what you can and cannot do. Information on the State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency declarations are available on the WA Government website.

Outbreak preparedness – Greater Perth area

While the Greater Perth area remains on high alert, you should:

• review and update your COVID-19 and emergency plans
• minimise unnecessary community movement, while still supporting people with disability to have safe community access for essential supports (such as exercising or attending medical appointments)
• minimise staff working across multiple sites
• regularly communicate changes to services and supports to NDIS participants and their families;
• ensure all your staff are familiar with and practice sound infection control, physical distancing and hygiene practices
• review and refresh supplies of face masks and other PPE
• ensure all workers have been trained and have had refreshers on infection control and use of PPE.

Refer to our fact sheet on outbreak preparedness for more information.

If any of your workers or people you support have any symptoms of COVID-19, they should arrange for testing and isolate at home while awaiting the results.

Disability Sector Preparedness Guide for COVID-19

The WA Department of Communities has published a Disability Sector Preparedness Guide for COVID-19, which includes information on testing, preparedness and prevention and case and outbreak support in the event of an outbreak.

Additional information for disability service providers is also available on the Department’s Disability Service providers (COVID-19) webpage.

Notify 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 due to COVID-19. This may include (but are not limited to) events such as:

• a temporary cessation of supports or services or a change to how they are provided
• restrictions on visitors and external supports within a residential disability setting
• a confirmed case of COVID-19 of an NDIS participant or 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