Dear Re: COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccinations Directions – Residential aged care and healthcare workers - Victoria I am writing to inform you about important changes to the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination directions that have been announced by the Victorian Government and will affect you if you work in residential aged facilities or healthcare facilities in Victoria. Mandatory vaccination has been introduced for workers at these facilities, including the dates by which workers are required to have had received their first and second vaccine doses. Please refer below. Workers who are unable to have a COVID-19 vaccine can request a COVID-19 vaccination exemption for medical reasons. Residential aged care facilities As previously advised, residential aged care workers must take steps to ensure the following COVID-19 vaccination requirements are met:
“Residential aged care workers” include allied health professionals:
Healthcare facilities Earlier today, the Victorian Government announced additional changes in relation to the mandatory vaccination of ‘healthcare workers’ at ‘health care facilities’. A ‘healthcare facility’ includes:
A ‘healthcare worker’ means a person who is employed or engaged as a contractor by a healthcare operator to perform at a healthcare facility any of the following, which include:
On this basis, audiologists who work in Victorian public or private practice are ‘healthcare workers’ working in a ‘healthcare facility’ and – unless a medical exemption applies - must take steps to ensure that they meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements of the direction. Therefore, from 15 October 2021, all audiologists working in public, private, and not-for profit healthcare settings in Victoria must be able to provide evidence showing they have:
From 30 October 2021, audiologists must be able to provide evidence showing they have:
More information about these requirements is available here: Information for workers required to be vaccinated | Coronavirus Victoria Where an audiologist is self-employed, the person is considered to be their own employer and a healthcare operator for the purpose of complying with the directions. Please stay safe, and if there is anything we can do to assist you during this time, please don't hesitate to contact the office on 03 9940 3900 or email: info@audiology.asn.au Yours sincerely Dr Tony Coles CEO ![]() Audiology Australia |