29 June 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Perth and Peel lockdown and restrictions​

The Western Australian Government has issued directions that affect some providers in Perth and Peel, including those delivering supports in residential disability settings.

Key points

• Perth and Peel are entering a minimum 4-day lockdown from 12.01am, on Tuesday 29 June 2021.
• Disability workers are considered essential workers and should continue providing supports to people with disability where possible in accordance with the restrictions.
• Masks must be worn at all times when outside the home, including when providing disability supports.
• Visitors are excluded from disability accommodation settings.
• You should 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 Western Australian Government has imposed a minimum 4-day lockdown in Perth and Peel, from 12.01am, on Tuesday 29 June 2021.

Masks must be worn when outside the home, including when providing services and supports to people with disability

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

Disability workers are essential workers

Disability workers are classified as essential workers under these restrictions.

Visitors excluded from residential disability settings

The Western Australian Government has restricted the entry of visitors to disability residential settings.

As these restrictions will impact your visitor management policy, you should clearly communicate this temporary change with the NDIS participants you support and their families using their preferred form of communication. You should 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