Victoria’s lockdown has been extended until11.59pm Tuesday, 27 July. Disability support workers assisting people with disability by providing essential care are recognised as authorised workers and are permitted to travel outside their 5km radius for work if this cannot be done remotely.

Facemasks must be worn at all times other than at home or if an exemption applies. Only authorised workers may leave home to work.

Victorian border restrictions

Disability workers living in Victorian cross-border communities are advised to monitor the Victorian Government website in case evidence requirements change relating to essential border crossings.

Disability services restrictions

Restrictions remain in place for disability settings as detailed in the Table of Restrictions [PDF] from the Premier’s 15 July announcement.

All providers are permitted to deliver essential services and support via a mixture of in-person and virtual. The wellbeing of participants and residents should be monitored and the frequency of visits modified if the risks increase.

Service delivery may include telehealth, telephone contact or other digital platforms. Where possible, children should be supervised when using these platforms.

Community and non-residential service providers

See Factsheet for Community Services | DHHS website for detailed restrictions.

Residential service providers

See Factsheet for Community Services covered by care facilities directions | DHHS website for detailed restrictions

Authorised workers

Authorised workers, contractors and volunteers not on the  Table of Restrictions Authorised Worker List must not enter care facilities (note: workers carrying out vaccinations and testing are considered authorised and can enter).

Visitors

Visitor permissions have been identified in more detail.

End of life care visits

• Can include two visitors at a time (a group may exceed the “two visitors at a time” rule if dependents of a visitor are in the group and care for the dependents cannot be arranged)
• Do not have to be from the same household
• No time limits
• No specified purpose required
• No daily limit.

Visits for specified purposes

• To provide essential care or support for the resident’s immediate physical or emotional wellbeing
• Is the parent, carer or guardian of a person under the age of 18
• As a nominated person (as defined in the Mental Health Act, 2014)
• As an interpreter or to provide language support
• To learn to support the resident’s care upon discharge

Visitor restrictions for the above specified purposes

• Two visitors at one time
• Do not have to be from the same household
• No time limits
• No more than two visitors per day
• A group may exceed the “two visitors at a time” rule if dependents of a visitor (or patient in hospital) are in the group and care for the dependents cannot be arranged

Visits from prospective residents are not permitted.

Statutory bodies such as Community Visitors and the Disability Services Commissioner can continue to visit care facilities.

PPE requirements

Authorised disability support workers must wear a surgical mask that always covers the nose and mouth, indoors and outdoors. This includes all authorised visitors in residential settings.

All residential disability services, staff, contractors and volunteers must:

• Wear eye protection (face shields are preferred) when supporting COVID-19 negative residents
• Use P2/N95 respirators, eye protection (face shields are preferred), disposable gloves, disposable fluid-repellent gowns and hand hygiene for all suspected (low and high risk) and confirmed cases

Monitoring and testing

Providers should closely monitor emerging exposure sites and arrange for immediate testing as needed.

Providers must implement organisational COVID-positive protocols while testing and isolation is carried out.

Victorian vaccination update

A Victorian Vaccination update will be held this Friday, 23 July from 11.00am to 12.00pm. Join us to discuss the urgency of the vaccination uptake, any barriers workers and people with disability are experiencing, hesitancy and options to address these.

Please do not hesitate to contact NDS if you have concerns or if there is any clarification relating to disability services that NDS may assist with.

Useful links

• The updated Victorian Government disability services sector – COVID-19 website
• NDS COVID-19 Hub
• NDS COVID-19 Vaccine webpage
• NDS Member PPE Marketplace
• Victoria COVID-19 Response hub
• COVID-19 toolkit