8 July 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): NSW lockdown extension​

The NSW Government has extended the current public health directions that affect providers in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast of NSW.

Key points

• Current lockdown restrictions have been extended across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast of NSW. The restrictions will be in place until 11.59pm on Friday, 16 July 2021.
• There is specific advice that applies to residential disability providers.
• NDIS providers are reminded that they should review their 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.

NSW lockdown extension

The NSW Government has extended the current lockdown restrictions that are in place across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast of NSW. The restrictions will be in place until 11.59pm on Friday, 16 July 2021.

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

NSW Health directions for residential disability providers

The NSW Department of Health issued information to residential disability providers on 6 July 2021 that require them to, amongst other things:

• exclude all visitors except those providing essential caring functions
• ensure all staff and essential care visitors wear a mask
• ensure that all residents are provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control advice if they leave the residence, for any of the allowable reasons.

You should assist the people you support to undertake exercise outside the residence, as allowable under the directions.

All other disability providers must continue to provide critical supports to people who require them, using PPE and in accordance with infection control practices.

If you support people with disability who live alone, make contact with them to ensure they have everything they need to stay at home safely. Offer assistance if they need it.

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

Outbreak preparedness

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

Additionally, the NDIS Commission’s 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