Under NSW public health orders, relevant care workers who live or work in areas of concern must have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 30 August, or have proof of a medical exemption.

Which workers are impacted?

The definition is broad but includes:

• Any worker ‘providing disability and support services in person to persons with a disability’ under the NDIS
• Workers providing similar types of services in person to people with disability are also included even if these supports are not funded under the NDIS
• Workers providing assisted school transport funded by NSW Education

Areas of concern

The requirement applies to workers living or working in the following LGA’s:

• Bayside
• Blacktown
• Burwood
• Campbelltown
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Cumberland
• Fairfield
• Georges River
• Liverpool
• Paramatta
• Strathfield
• the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys (within the Local Government Area of Penrith)

Obtaining a vaccination

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.

Workers aged 16-39 who live in or work in areas of concern can continue to access priority vaccines.

Vaccines can also be booked through the Australian Department of Health eligibility checker 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.

Medical exemptions

Any worker living or working in an area of concern who has a medical contraindication will need to have a NSW Health COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Contraindication form completed by their medical practitioner.

Proof

Impacted workers will need to carry evidence that they have received at least dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or are medically exempt. This includes:

• evidence from the Australian Immunisation Register that they have had 1 or 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine e.g. an online immunisation history statement or COVID-19 digital certificate from the Australian Immunisation Register
• NSW Health COVID 19 Vaccine Contraindication form

• their employer
• the occupier of the worker’s place of work (eg person with disability or their carer if providing in home supports)
• a police officer, or other authorised officer

Providers are reminded to continue to check the NSW Health website as information can change quickly.

NDS understands that the current timeframe for implementing the public health order is very short and will be making contact with members in LGA’s of concern to identify impacts on their workforce.

Members may also find our vaccination pulse survey useful to capture information about the vaccination status of your workforce (available in word or an MS Form), noting it can be edited to meet individual provider needs.

Members are also invited to attend our NSW COVID-19 CEO and Senior Leader discussion meeting on 27th August 2021.

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