14 July 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): NSW lockdown extension​

The NSW Government has extended the current public health directions that apply to 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, 30 July 2021.
• Disability workers are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• 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, 30 July 2021.

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

Vaccination advice for disability workers

The Australian Government Department of Health (Department of Health) has issued a Disability Provider Alert containing important information about the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

National Cabinet strongly encourages all disability workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, to protect your own health and the health of the people with disability you support.

We encourage you to read the full details on the Department of 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. 

You should:

• review and update your emergency plans, including arrangements to ensure that you meet your obligations to maintain continuity of support to NDIS participants
• 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
• provide support to people with disability to have permissible community access for essential supports (such as exercising, essential shopping, accessing the vaccine, 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, including compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards. You must use the COVID-19 notification of events form  to report these changes.

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.  

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 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