25 September 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated NSW Health guidance for residential disability services and in-home support providers

NSW Health has issued updated guidance for all residential disability outlets and home care providers in NSW. 

Key points 

• NSW Health has issued updated guidance for residential disability services and in-home support providers, which eases restrictions on visitor management and use of surgical masks.
• Please read and implement the measures outlined in the updated guidance.
• The COVID-19 Planning Resource for people with disability helps people with disability exercise control by planning how to manage during the pandemic, and what to do  if they experience symptoms. 

Updated guidance for residential disability service providers

Following our alert of 14 August about NSW Health guidance for all residential disability outlets and home care providers in NSW, Dr Christine Selvey (Acting Executive Director - Health Protection at NSW Health) has now updated this guidance, as of 23 September 2020. The updated guidance eases some of the recommended restrictions that apply to visitor management and the use of surgical masks in response to the recent limited transmission of COVID-19. 

We strongly urge you to read Dr Selvey’s updated guidance in full, and implement the measures outlined to support the continued health, safety and wellbeing of the NDIS participants you support.

If you are making changes to your visitor management policy, you should clearly communicate these with residents and their families. Continue to encourage alternative ways for residents to connect with their friends or families, such as phone or video calls, during this time.

Guidance for home care service providers

Dr Selvey has also updated guidance for home care providers to ease recommended restrictions on visitor management and the use of surgical masks.

Please read Dr Selvey’s updated guidance in full, and implement the measures outlined to support the continued health, safety and wellbeing of the NDIS participants you support.

This and other guidance issued by NSW Health for disability support providers is available on the NSW Health website.

COVID-19 Planning resource for people with disability

The COVID-19 Planning resource for people with disability helps people with disability to get the facts about COVID-19, make a plan for how they will manage during the pandemic, and know what to do if they experience symptoms.

Please share the resource with the people you support, and their families/guardians, as this is one way to support NDIS participants to exercise choice and control in the current situation.

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.