What you need to know

• The vaccine will become mandatory for In-home and community aged care and disability support workers
• Disability support workers must have received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination by 30 November
• Disability support worker means a person providing intensive disability support services to a person with disability for or on behalf of a responsible provider in person
• The vaccination requirement does not extend to other behind-the-scenes staff in an organisation that provides intensive disability support services.

The South Australian Government has made it mandatory for in-home and community aged care and disability support workers to be vaccinated.

From 30 November 2021, disability support workers must have:

• received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination
• received, or have evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine within the approved interval after the first dose
• provide evidence of their vaccination status to their employer on request

The vaccination requirement is for disability support workers whose role means they are involved with:

• assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement
• group and centre-based activities
• specialised supported employment
• assistance with daily personal activities
• community nursing care
• therapeutic supports.

This Direction applies to both registered and non-registered NDIS providers.

In line with the healthcare setting Direction, a person can continue to perform duties as a disability support worker if they have a medical exemption, which is approved by the Chief Public Health Officer and is provided to their employer.

Providers and any person providing intensive disability services to a person with disability must ensure that relevant workers comply with the vaccination requirements, keep records of, and sight evidence of, the vaccination status of workers covered by the order.

NDS welcomes and supports the new Emergency Management Direction and has been advocating for COVID-19 vaccination to be made mandatory for anyone working in the disability sector because the people they are supporting are some of the most vulnerable people to the virus.

NDS is seeking further clarification and detail about the order and will further update members once more information is available. 

Article sourced from National Disability Services