An NDIS Commission Provider Alert issued today contains information from the Australian Department of Health about the vaccination rollout for providers under Phase 1a.

During week one of the rollout only people with disability are being vaccinated. Disability support workers will be vaccinated after the first week but plans have not been released.

The Department of Health is contacting service providers in advance of vaccinations to discuss preparations that should be made. Ahead of this, providers are encouraged to talk with participants and staff about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

The Department of Health Disability Provider Alert contains information about the vaccines including easy read and Auslan resources.

The Alert also encourages providers to:

• Begin working with participants, families and carers around gaining informed consent and completing consent issues ahead of vaccination day. Information about consent is contained in the alert
• Conduct preliminary planning including where vaccinations could be conducted and where people can be monitored for 15-30 minutes after their vaccination.

NDS is advocating for mandatory vaccinations

As noted in earlier member communications, NDS is advocating at federal and state levels for COVID-19 vaccinations to be mandatory for all disability support workers who do not have a valid exemption. We are seeking for the vaccine to be mandated via Public Health Orders.

This is driven by a concern that relying on voluntary vaccination will leave people with disability and their support workers, dangerously exposed to the virus.

NDS understands that some disability service providers are actively considering whether they should make vaccination mandatory for their front line staff, which we know is opening a range of untested legal questions and issues for which the answers are not always clear.

Our partnership with WorkPlacePLUS can, however, provide NDS members access to discounted, tailored IR and HR advice.