NSW COVID-19 Update: Stay-at-home rules for all of NSW
What you need to know
- Day program group activities should be suspended across regional NSW
- Greater Sydney restrictions presently in place for residential and in-home support services now apply to regional NSW
- Permit for authorised workers to work outside of Greater Sydney will be required
- Financial support is available for eligible workers who are required to isolate
In addition to the order for Greater Sydney (current to 28 August 2021), stay-at-home orders have been issued for the rest of NSW.
Disability Day Program Group Activities
The Greater Sydney temporary suspension of disability day programs is extended to 28 August 2021.Disability day program group activities are also now suspended across the rest of NSW until 22 August 2021.
Supported employment
Supported employment organisations should continue to regularly monitor the latest Public Health Orders including rules that apply to the movement of workers, as information may change at short notice.Residential Disability Facilities
For all residential facilities:- Exclude all visitors except those providing essential caring functions. Visits should take place in a resident’s room. Essential visitors must also wear a mask.
- Residents should avoid leaving the facility except for permitted reasons, such as medical appointments, transfer to planned or emergency respite and must remain within their local government area.
- No non-essential staff are not permitted in facilities.
PPE for in-home support and home care service providers
NSW Health advises that all staff must wear a surgical mask and non-essential staff should be excluded. People receiving in-home supports are urged to also wear a mask.Permit for authorised workers to work outside of Greater Sydney
The NSW Government announced a permit system to enter regional NSW will be implemented from 21 August 2021.This will impact on disability providers with authorised workers from LGAs of concern who may be travelling into regional NSW.
We will provide additional information to the sector as soon as it is available.
Support for workers who are required to isolate
The ‘COVID-19 Test and Isolate Support Payments’ will commence next week helping to cover lost wages of casual workers and those who may have exhausted their sick leave or carer’s leave to isolate at home.
Eligible workers aged 17 and over who live in the LGAs of concern, get tested, and need to isolate until a negative result is returned, will be eligible for one $320 payment for lost wages in a four-week period.
Extreme hardship payments are also available for individuals.
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
