No images? Click here 10 November 2021 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccines: New requirements relating to vaccination of disability workers in South AustraliaThe South Australian Government has announced new requirements for employers in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination of certain workers in South Australia, including disability workers. There are also requirements for workers. Key points
COVID-19 vaccination requirementsThe South Australian Government has announced mandatory vaccination requirements for disability workers. The new requirements are in the Emergency Management (In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Supporter Workers Vaccination) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 (PDF 1.0MB) under the Emergency Management Act 2004. The requirements took effect on 8 November 2021. Under the requirements, from 30 November 2021, a person working for a ‘responsible provider’ will not be able to provide ‘intensive disability support services’ unless they have either had all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or received a first dose and have evidence of a booking to receive the second dose. Some exemptions apply. Workers required to be vaccinated will need to provide evidence of their vaccination status to the responsible provider upon request. Intensive disability support services are defined as meaning the following classes of support under the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018:
A responsible provider is defined as including NDIS providers of the above supports and services. Under the Direction, responsible providers must not permit a person to provide intensive disability support services unless the person meets the vaccination requirements. There are also requirements for record keeping of workers’ vaccination status and sighting evidence of their vaccination. We strongly encourage you to read the full details on the South Australia Government website. Consistent with obligations of registered providers under the NDIS Code of Conduct and the NDIS Practice Standards to provide supports and services in a manner and environment that is safe for participants, providers should ensure that they and their disability workers comply with these requirements. Supporting workers to access the COVID-19 vaccine Please ensure that you and your workers understand what these new requirements are, and how they affect the supports and services you deliver. Encourage your workers to arrange a vaccination. Registered NDIS Provider obligationsCompliance with state laws is a condition of registration Registered NDIS providers are required to comply with these Tasmanian Government public health directions as a condition of registration. Business continuity and outbreak management planning All registered NDIS providers are reminded of their obligations regarding continuity of critical supports, and to review business continuity and contingency plans for emergencies and disasters. You are encouraged to engage with workers on their vaccination status and their plans for vaccination. These discussions should inform your business continuity and contingency plans, and outbreak management plans. Refer to our provider alert of 6 August 2021. Notification of changes or events Registered NDIS providers must notify the NDIS Commission of any change or event that significantly affects your ability to comply with any of your conditions of registration, including compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards. If the changes or events result from the COVID-19 outbreak you must use the COVID-19 notification of events form to report these changes. The requirements to notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 are separate from the COVID-19 notification of changes or events and remain unchanged. NDIS Commission COVID-19 vaccine information and resourcesThe 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. IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL PROVIDERSAs 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. You have an important role to play! There are a number of actions you can take today:
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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. General Enquiries1800 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. To provide feedback, contact the NDIS Commission by emailing |