Support for workers to be vaccinated 

Last week, Minister Reynolds announced new temporary support for eligible registered providers to meet the additional costs of mandatory worker vaccination. 

All disability workers living, or working in, a local government areas of concern who provide disability support, in person, to people with disability are required to have their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 19 September.  

The NDIS website has been updated to provide details of how eligible disability service providers can claim financial support to meet this requirement. 

To be eligible, providers must deliver support in one of Sydney’s LGAs of concern and be in one of the following registration groups: 

• 0104 High Intensity Daily Personal Activities
• 0107 Daily Personal Activities
• 0115 Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement
• 0125 Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities

Additional details relating to the range of COVID-19 support measures in place can be found in the COVID-19 Addendum.  

Support for participants to be vaccinated 

The range of providers eligible to claim $150 per participant who is supported to be vaccinated has been extended. As of 1September support coordinators and providers who are registered for the following groups are eligible to claim this amount.  

• High Intensity Daily Personal Activities
• Assistance in Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports 
• Daily Personal Activities
• Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities
• Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement – effective 26 May 2021

With reports that vaccination rates for people with disability are lagging behind the general population, providers are encouraged to continue supporting participants to be vaccinated. 

The Department of Health has developed a range of resources and information for people with disability related to COVID-19 vaccines. Additional resources are also available on the NDS COVID-19 hub.

Obtaining a vaccination

There are a range of options available to obtain a vaccination.

•  NSW Health Clinics include priority appointments in LGAs of concerns
• Australian Department of Health Vaccine Clinic Finder or by calling the National Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 020 080.

Other options include:

• Commonwealth vaccination teams are providing Pfizer vaccinations to residents and staff either at group homes or in vaccination hubs located at disability provider locations.

There are also a number of providers who are hosting vaccination hubs to support people with disability and workers obtain a vaccine. Any providers hosting vaccine hubs are strongly encouraged to contact COVID19VacTFDisabilityServices1A@Health.gov.au to provide details of their vaccine hub so that this can be distributed.

Useful links 

• NSW Health COVID-19 Disability Service Providers webpage
• For Providers - COVID-19 | NDIS website
• Australian Government Department of Health - Disability provider Alerts
• Australian Government Department of Health - Providing disability support services during COVID-19
• Australian Government Department of Health - COVID-19 vaccine information for disability service providers
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged care providers, pathology providers and health care managers
• NDS COVID-19 hub for information and resources including PPE