28 August 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Changes to mandatory vaccination requirements in New South Wales

The NSW Government has announced changes to the mandatory vaccination requirements for disability workers who live or work in an area of concern. NSW Health has established priority vaccination appointments to support eligible disability workers to meet the requirements. 

Key points

• The date for compliance with the mandatory vaccination rule for disability workers who live of work in an area of concern has been extended to 6 September 2021.
• Rapid antigen testing is no longer an alternative to vaccination for authorised workers who leave an area of concern for work.
• NSW Health has established priority Pfizer vaccination appointments at the Sydney Olympic Park Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre, to support eligible disability workers to meet the mandatory vaccination requirements. 

Changes to mandatory vaccination requirements

As advised in our provider alert of 26 August 2021, the NSW Government has mandated that disability workers who live or work in an area of concern must be excluded from entry into their place of work unless they have:

• evidence of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
• a medical certificate showing medical contraindication.

Under Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) Amendment (No 3) Order 2021 (PDF 158KB), a number of amendments have been made, including:

• the date for compliance with the mandatory vaccination rule has been extended to 6 September 2021
• rapid antigen testing is no longer an alternative to vaccination for authorised workers who leave an area of concern for work.

Further details about the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for workers is available on the NSW Government website.

Please ensure that you and your workers understand what these mandatory requirements are, and how they affect the supports and services you deliver. Encourage your workers to arrange a vaccination or contraindication certificate, as relevant.

Priority COVID-19 vaccination for eligible disability workers 

NSW Health has established priority Pfizer vaccination appointments at the Sydney Olympic Park Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre, to support eligible workers to meet the new requirements. 

Information on how to book is available on the NSW Government website.

NDIS Commission COVID-19 vaccination 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