19 November 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Circuit breaker restrictions in South Australia from 19 November 2020

The South Australian Government has entered a six-day lockdown from 12.01am Thursday, 19 November 2020. This alert reminds you of your obligations, and important considerations in continuing to provide the critical services people with disability rely on during this time. 

Key points

• South Australia has entered a six-day ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown from 12.01am Thursday, 19 November 2020 until 12.01am on Wednesday, 25 November 2020.
• During this time, all people in South Australia must stay home. However, disability support workers are classified as essential workers under the Emergency Management (Stay at home) (COVID-19) Direction 2020, and may leave home to support people with disability.
• Ensure you, your workers and the people you support understand how this Direction affects you, and take all reasonable action to continue to provide NDIS supports or services that are critical to the ongoing health, wellbeing and safety of people with disability.

South Australia’s ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions

The South Australian Government has announced a six-day ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown from 12.01am Thursday, 19 November 2020 to stop the spread of COVID-19 in that state

Refer to the Emergency Management (Stay at home) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 for full details of the restrictions.

Under this Direction, disability support workers are classified as essential workers, and may leave home to support people with disability. While wearing a mask is not mandatory when leaving your home, it is very strongly encouraged.

Please ensure that you, your workers and the people you support understand what these changes are and how they affect the supports and services you deliver. Consult the Stay at Home Q&A webpage for further information.

The SA Health website has updated information on the COVID-19 situation in South Australia, including current alerts and the details of COVID-19 clinics and testing centres. Stay updated and follow official guidance and health directions to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection while continuing to provide the supports and services people with disability rely on for their health and wellbeing.

Temporary measures to support NDIS participants

The Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Stuart Robert MP, has announced temporary measures for NDIS participants in South Australia to ensure they can receive disability-related supports, in line with public health advice. This includes the ability to directly claim the costs of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face masks. As well, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will contact vulnerable participants, to ensure they have supports in place and offering phone or online planning meetings during lockdown.

For full details of these temporary measures, visit the NDIS website.

Guidance on supporting people with disability during COVID-19

We have issued two provider alerts this week in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Australia. Our alert of 16 November contains guidance on infection prevention and control training, reviewing your business continuity plan, and using PPE. We have also sent an alert to disability accommodation service providers pointing to the South Australian Government’s Supported Independent Living Operational Resource Plan (DOC 241.5KB). 

Shared living settings

Although there are limitations on visitors in any context, people with disability living in supported independent living may require supports from other providers. Those workers should be enabled to visit a person’s home to continue delivering those services.

Wherever possible, you should take steps to put in place engaging activities for residents in shared living settings, while adhering to the restrictions under the Direction.

Behaviour support and restrictive practices

We have issued a fact sheet to assist NDIS providers in supporting people who may need behaviour support during the lockdown. It includes ways to allow the people you support to exercise choice and control over decisions that affect them, practical guidance for supporting NDIS participants with behaviour support needs, and requirements when using regulated restrictive practices.

For more specific guidance during COVID-19 isolation, see our fact sheet, ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing behaviours of concern and new or increased restrictive practices during COVID-19 isolation’, which was developed with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health.

Your obligations

Our focus is on supporting you to continue to provide the safe and quality supports NDIS participants rely on.

We therefore remind you of your obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct, NDIS Practice Standards and conditions of registration that relate to the delivery of safe, quality supports and services, and the management of risks associated with the supports you provide to NDIS participants.

Notifying the NDIS Commission

You must notify us of any change or event that affects your ability to comply with any of your conditions of registration, or a change in how you provide supports to people with disability.

If it is related to COVID-19 (such as a worker or participant’s confirmed COVID-19 infection), use the Notification of event – COVID-19 (registered provider) form.

If the change is not related to COVID-19, use the NDIS Commission Portal to notify us.

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 9.00am to 4.30pm in the NT, 9.00am to 5.00pm in the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
• Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au
• Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au

Links to previous COVID-19 provider alerts 

Visit the NDIS Commission website to see our previous COVID-19 provider alerts.