15 December 2021

Registered NDIS Provider Requirements: COVID-19 Worker Vaccination Status - Reminder

A reminder that the first date for NDIS providers registered to deliver intensive support services to NDIS participants to provide required information about COVID-19 worker vaccination is Friday 17 December 2021.

You are receiving this alert as a request for information under the NDIS Act was issued to you in November, requiring weekly reporting of the COVID-19 vaccination status of workers employed, or otherwise engaged, who are required under public health orders to be fully vaccinated to continue delivering NDIS supports and services.

Please see our 22 November 2021 Provider Alert for further information.

The first date by which this information must be provided is Friday 17 December 2021.

You can provide the information before the due dates, as long as the information you provide relates to the relevant period set out in the request for information.  

A failure to provide this information by Friday 17 December 2021 (and each subsequent date noted in the notice) may constitute a failure to comply with your conditions of registration, for which the NDIS Commission may take further compliance or enforcement action. If you have not received the request it is important that you contact us at national.compliance@ndiscommission.gov.au.

To assist providers provide the required information, a Quick Reference Guide, which has now been updated to support providers in providing the required information through the NDIS Commission Portal, is available to read on our website.

For any further assistance accessing the NDIS Commission Portal, you can also contact the NDIS Commission at 1800 035 544 or tier1support@ndiscommission.gov.au.

IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL PROVIDERS

As vaccination rates increase across Australia and governments continue to make plans to ease community restrictions - it is vital that people with disability are supported, in whatever way they require, to access vaccinations, including boosters.

You have an important role to play!

There are a number of actions you can take today:

• Talk about vaccination and boosters with the people with disability that you support
• Offer assistance, where needed, to access information about vaccination from reliable and trusted sources, such as the person’s GP
• Provide active support to make an appointment and to attend vaccination and booster appointments.

Please refer to:

• the letter sent to CEOs by the Acting Commissioner on 21 September 2021
• the statement by the Acting Commissioner about the right of people with disability to make their own decision about COVID-19 vaccination, and the role of NDIS providers and workers in supporting participants. This was sent to registered providers on 5 November 2021. 

Further information is available on the Department of Health website, including Easy Read and Auslan resources.

Vaccinations can be booked by visiting the Vaccine Clinic Finder or by contacting the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080. The Disability Gateway is now also assisting people with disability that might need help to book a COVID-19 vaccine.