Dear
Re: COVID-19 update on allied health services in Victoria – changes to metropolitan Melbourne
Following the Premier’s recent announcement under Victoria's Roadmap to Deliver the National Plans, Victoria is set to hit its 70% double vaccination target as of 12.59pm, 21 October 2021 and commence easing current Covid-19 restrictions, including those on healthcare providers.
Under current arrangements, allied health providers in metropolitan Melbourne are only permitted to provide face to face “urgent clinical care” with telehealth the preferred means of service delivery.
From 12.59pm 21 October 2021, “health care” workplaces – including audiologists – in metropolitan Melbourne are permitted to open for business with Covid-19 safe settings and a density quotient of one person per four square metres.
This means that from that date, you can resume routine or business as usual care when providing hearing health care services to clients and are no longer restricted to providing only “urgent clinical care”.
COVID-19 safe requirements for workplaces include having a COVIDSafe Plan and complying with requirements on record keeping, density quotients, face masks and cleaning. The density quotient of one person per four square metres extends to treating rooms, staff offices, administration offices and waiting areas.
The latest recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for allied health professionals in private practice settings is also available here.
The current workplace Roadmap indicates that when Victoria reaches the double vaccination target of 80% (current indicative date: 5-3 November 2021), health care workplaces can provide health services to clients while observing COVIDSafe settings but with a reduced density quotient of one person per two square metres.
Vaccination requirements for healthcare workers
We also wish to remind you of the current requirements under Victorian public health directions for healthcare workers who work in healthcare settings to be vaccinated. More information is available here.
A healthcare worker is a person (including a volunteer or student) that is employed or engaged as a contractor, to perform work at a health setting. “Allied health professionals” are included in the list of “healthcare workers”.
To work in a healthcare setting, you must be able to provide evidence to your employer that you:
- are fully vaccinated with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, or
- have not received any doses but have a booking to receive your first dose by 29 October 2021
- have a medical exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.
Healthcare settings include:
- Hospitals including outpatient setting and in-reach services
- Community health centres and services
- General practice settings
- Health clinics (e.g. where health appointments are delivered by medical specialists and allied health professionals)
- Mobile health services
- Educational settings where health care students undertake placement, / registration and / internship
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
Suite 101, 13 Cremorne Street Cremorne, VIC 3121
ABN: 31 168 531 324 | p: 03 9940 3900 | e: info@audiology.asn.au | w: www.audiology.asn.au