20 April 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability

On 16 April 2020, National Cabinet agreed to release the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability (the Plan). This alert explains what the Plan is and why it is important for NDIS participants.

Key points

• The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus guides the Australian health sector response. This new management and operational plan focuses on people with disability.
• The Plan identifies risk factors that may lead some people with disability to suffer more serious negative health outcomes from COVID-19.
• The Plan also sets out the roles and responsibilities for protecting the health of people with disability from COVID-19 infection.
• The Australian Government Department of Health will oversee the Plan’s implementation.

Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability

Some people with disability are at greater risk of suffering more serious negative health outcomes than the general population if they contract COVID-19. To address the factors that contribute to this, the Australian Government has released the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability (the Plan).

The Plan is a health sector response to the needs of people with disability during the pandemic, and sets out the roles and responsibilities for protecting the health of people with disability from COVID-19 infection in such areas as planning, implementing public health measures, safeguarding, research, coordination and evaluation.

While health and disability agencies of the Australian and state and territory governments take the lead in many of these areas, providers and people with disability, families, carers and support workers also play a key role.

Objectives of the Plan

The objectives of the Plan are to:

• minimise COVID-19-related transmission, morbidity and mortality among people with disability
• guide action across Australia, including rural and remote areas in reducing the risk of COVID-19 for people with disability, including children, young people and adults
• inform, engage and empower all people with disability, their families, carers and  support workers in relation to COVID-19
• identify and characterise the nature of the virus, and the clinical severity of the disease as it relates to people with disability
• support effective care, including rehabilitation, for people with disability who contract COVID-19, and reduce additional burden from COVID-19 for healthcare and disability support workers
• support people with disability continuing to have access to essential health care for non-COVID conditions, including mental health conditions, through the pandemic period.

The Plan includes possible actions and special considerations relating to people with disability, during the three critical phases of:

• Phase 1. Preparedness – to reduce the risk of infection in people with disability
• Phase 2. Targeted action – optimising responses to help recovery in the event of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection of people with disability and minimise further transmission
• Phase 3. Stand down and evaluation – standing down enhanced measures.
• The Plan is a living document and will be updated as new evidence emerges.

Implementing the Plan

The Australian Government Department of Health will oversee the Plan’s implementation, drawing on an expert advisory committee with representatives from the health and disability sectors and academics. The NDIS Commission is a member of the advisory group and is working with the Department of Health on areas within our remit that concern NDIS participants, including providing guidance to NDIS providers.

We encourage you to read the Plan, and understand your role in protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of the NDIS participants you support. We will continue to issue regular guidance and support to you, NDIS workers and participants during this time.

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.
• For news advice and updates across all government departments, visit the Australian Government website.

Contact Us

• Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9.00am to 4.30pm in the NT, 9.00am to 5.00pm in the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
• Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au
• Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au

Links to previous COVID-19 provider alerts 

• 9 April 2020: Further assistance for organisations, people and households
• 9 April 2020: April 2020 Provider Newsletter (COVID-19)
• 3 April 2020: Adjusting supports and reducing infection risk
• 2 April 2020:  Practice Alert: Influenza (flu) vaccine from mid-April 2020
• 31 March 2020: Supporting providers to respond
• 26 March 2020: Assistance for organisations
• 24 March 2020: Information for support workers and access to PPE
• 19 March 2020: Business continuity planning
• 17 March 2020: Online training module for support workers
• 9 March 2020: Provider obligations and COVID-19 health information
• 7 February 2020: Information about the novel coronavirus outbreak