On Friday 4 March 2022, the Deputy Director of Public Health signed a Direction under the Public Health Act for additional vaccination requirements. This direction applies to disability support workers, as well as aged care workers.

The direction requires that from 1 April 2022, a person is not permitted to provide high intensity supports to an NDIS participant, unless the person has received a COVID-19 vaccination booster dose. 

If the person is not due for their booster , they must provide their relevant supervisor with evidence and to receive that booster dose within four weeks of becoming eligible.

The requirement for a person to provide evidence of compliance to their relevant supervisor, such as a vaccination certificate, under the direction remains the same as set out in direction Vaccination requirements for Certain Workers. The obligations for relevant supervisors also remain the same.

Definitions relating to high intensity supports remain the same as set out in the Direction. That is:

• Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement: A worker provides assistance with tasks of daily life in a shared living environment. For example, supporting NDIS participants who live in Supported Independent Living (SIL), or group homes
• Group and centre-based activities: A worker assists NDIS participants to access community, social and recreational activities provided in a group setting, either in the community or in a centre. For example, centre-based community access
• Specialist supported employment: A worker assists participants who have high support needs to maintain work in a social enterprise, sometimes referred to as Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs)
• Daily personal activities: A worker assists with personal tasks of daily life to enable an NDIS participant to live as independently as possible. These supports are provided individually to participants and can be provided in a range of environments, including the participant’s own home. For example, providing personal care
• Community nursing care: Provide nursing care to respond to the disability-related health needs of an NDIS participant where that care is not the usual responsibility of the health system
• Therapeutic supports: A worker assists an NDIS participant to improve independence and enable participation in daily, practical activities such as language and communication, mobility and movement, personal care, interpersonal interactions and community living. For example, occupational therapy, speech pathology, dietetics, psychology, and so on

The Direction applies to both NDIS registered and unregistered providers.

Providers of certain NDIS registration groups can claim $100 per worker for a booster vaccination administered between 1 January and 30 June 2022.

The NDS Disability Interface Meeting on Tuesday, 8 March will be a good opportunity for providers to ask any queries they might have regarding this Direction.