IMPORTANT: All Suppliers

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine evidence required

Date: 14 July 2021

To: All Contractors –Calvary Hospitals, Retirement Communities and Community Care

Re: COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine evidence requirement

From: Corey Bessi, Head of Procurement

Dear Valued Supplier,

Thank you for your continued commitment in keeping our staff and residents safe. As you would be aware, there is an escalating situation in NSW and increasing expectation regarding testing and vaccination for workers.

COVID-19 Testing

In accordance with the NSW health directive from 12:01am on Wednesday 14 July 2021:

Fairfield LGA employees

• If your employees live in, are staying or working in the Fairfield local government area (LGA) and attend a Calvary site, you must have a COVID-19 test once every 72 hours (3 days) in order to be allowed to enter. You must have proof of your COVID-19 test within the last 3 days such as an SMS text message on your phone or an email addressed to you.

Greater Sydney Employees

• If your employees live in or are staying in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must have a COVID-19 test in the 7 days before working at any of our facilities that are 50km or more outside Greater Sydney. You must have proof of your COVID-19 test within the last 7 days such as an SMS text message on your phone or an email addressed to you.

COVID-19 Vaccination

As you may be aware, the Federal Government announced that all aged care workers must have had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination by mid-September 2021.

Calvary welcomes this decision which will ensure our vulnerable residents, clients and our staff are protected against the threat of coronavirus. Receiving the vaccine is a safe, effective and a cost-free way to be better protected from the serious health impacts of COVID-19.

What does this mean for you as a supplier of services to Calvary?

There are two requirements regarding vaccination for Suppliers who are accessing and or providing services to our aged care, community or hospital facilities:

Given the decision taken by the government with regard to aged care workers Calvary expects that all suppliers of Calvary who are accessing our facilities or providing services in our facilities will have received their first vaccination by 17 September.

For the avoidance of any doubt, this requirement extends to aged care, community care and hospital facilities.

It is a requirement that all employees, contractors, suppliers and volunteers notify Calvary of any COVID-19 vaccination they have received and provide evidence of this.

We appreciate that there is reporting of difficulty in accessing vaccines, for this reason we wanted to provide advance notice to our valued suppliers to ensure that you have the opportunity to meet this requirement.

If, for any reason, you feel that you may not be able to continue to provide services to Calvary under these conditions and or meet the first vaccination requirement by 17 September, can you please contact Mr Corey Bessi, Head of Procurement, to discuss the matter.

Where and when can I record evidence of COVID-19 vaccination?

• As part of our efforts to streamline our processes, we have introduced an online portal, Calvary Supplier Central.
• Calvary Supplier Central will allow you to manage critical documentation such as COVID-19 vaccination records, insurance certificates of currency, police checks and other information, which we currently collect from you manually.
• During July and August, we will be progressively onboarding suppliers to Calvary Supplier Central. Once on boarded you will be required to provide critical documentation including records of COVID-19 vaccination.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

• As previously advised seasonal Influenza vaccination is mandatory and a condition of entry to Calvary Retirement Communities. Evidence of vaccination is required for entry (or evidence of medical contraindication)

What are the next steps?

Shortly you will receive further communication and instruction regarding registration and access to Calvary Supplier Central.

The cooperation and extraordinary efforts of contractors in maintaining services and helping our staff manage the risk of infection to the people in our care has been excellent. Should you have any concerns with accessing our sites to provide services, we ask that you contact us immediately at nationalprocurement@calvarycare.org.au so we can work with you.

Should you become aware of any cases of infection within your organisation, or your subcontractors, then you must advise us immediately by return email to nationalprocurement@calvarycare.org.au with the subject line of ‘COVID-19 CONFIRMED CASE’.   

Please don’t hesitate to make contact should you have any questions or would like more information.