29 June 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Queensland Chief Health Officer Directions​

New directions are in place across Queensland that affect some NDIS participants and providers who have been in an interstate place of concern, as well as visitors to disability accommodation settings.

Key points

• South-east Queensland and other parts of Queensland, including Townsville, Magnetic Island and Palm Island, will enter a minimum three-day lockdown from 6pm, on Tuesday 29 June 2021. No personal visitors are allowed in disability care facilities.
• Interstate Places of Concern (Stay at Home in Queensland) Direction (No. 2) came into force at 10am on Monday, 27 June 2021.
• People who have been in an interstate place of concern are not permitted to leave home to provide services for an NDIS participant.
• If this affects any of your workers, you must find alternative workers to replace them while the Directions are in place.
• Restrictions are in place on visitors to disability accommodation residences in a number of areas across Queensland.
• Review your outbreak management and business continuity plans and take steps to prevent the risk of infection of NDIS participants and workers.
• Notify the NDIS Commission of any significant changes to services or supports as a result of the new restrictions.

Updated health directions

The Queensland Government has imposed a minimum three-day lockdown in the following local government areas:

• Noosa
• Sunshine Coast
• Ipswich
• Logan
• Redlands
• Moreton Bay
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Scenic Rim
• Lockyer Valley
• Somerset
• Townsville City
• Palm Island Aboriginal Shire.

No personal visitors are allowed in disability care facilities, and masks must be worn in indoor spaces.

We encourage you to read the full details on the Queensland Government website.

Interstate Places of Concern (Stay at Home in Queensland) Direction (No. 2)

Interstate Places of Concern (Stay at Home in Queensland) Direction (No. 2) is now in place. This Direction affects people who have been in an interstate place of concern.

Affected people are not permitted to leave home to provide services for an NDIS participant.

If any of your workers are considered to be an ‘affected person’ under this Direction, they must not work while they are affected. You must find alternative workers to replace them in order to ensure continuity of support for people with disability.

Visitor restrictions in disability accommodation residences in Queensland

Disability Accommodation Services Direction (No. 19) is now in place. This Direction affects visitors to disability accommodation residences in a number of areas across Queensland.

Refer to the Queensland Health website for a list of restrictions on visitors to disability accommodation residences under Disability Accommodation Services Direction (No. 19), and ensure these are followed in your location.

If changes to your visitor management policy are required, ensure these are communicated clearly with the people you support (using their preferred communication methods), as well as their families, and guardians/advocates. Explore alternative ways for people with disability to connect with their friends or families, such as phone or video calls.

Outbreak preparedness

For guidance on preventing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks in disability residential settings, refer to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia’s (CDNA) disability supplement.

Additionally, our fact sheet on outbreak preparedness provides information on preparing for, preventing and managing an outbreak in disability settings. 

We suggest that you:

• review and update your emergency plans
• ensure all workers have been trained and have had refreshers on infection control and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• 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

• allow people with disability to have permissible community access for essential supports (such as exercising or attending medical appointments).

Notification of changes or events

You must notify the NDIS Commission of any change or event that significantly affects your ability to comply with any of your conditions of registration. Please use the COVID-19 notification of events form  to report these changes. This enables us to monitor changes in the NDIS market and to connect you with any supports you might need.

Your requirements to notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 are separate from the COVID-19 notification of changes or events and remain unchanged.

NDIS Commission COVID-19 information and resources

The COVID-19 vaccine information webpage on our website contains links to updates about COVID-19 vaccines and resources for NDIS providers.

We also have a COVID-19 vaccine webpage containing information for people with disability.

Contact us

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

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au