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Vic COVID-19 Update: New guidance for cases in disability settings

What you need to know

  • Victorian Government has released new guidelines that provide a framework disability service providers can apply in the event of a COVID-positive case or exposure
  • From 22 October, fully vaccinated non-household primary close contacts (PCC) only need to quarantine for seven days
  • PCCs who are unvaccinated or share a household with a person who is COVID-positive will still be required to quarantine for 14 days

Contact Assessment and Management Guidance

There are new guidance documents on contact risk assessment and management which providers can apply when they have a COVID-19 case or exposure of staff to COVID-19.

The documents are to assist disability providers apply the new seven-day quarantine for primary close contacts (PCCs) in their settings.

Both guidance documents apply to disability settings. The guidance is general, and providers should note that specific risk assessment and tailored outbreak management through the Department of Health may be required in some circumstances.

The Contact Assessment and Management Guidance documents:
  • Assist providers with workforce planning and assessing risk when workers come into contact with potential COVID-19 exposure.
  • Guide assessment and management of when and how long workers should be furloughed if they encounter a positive case at work, as well as testing requirements.
  • Provide furlough and testing guidance based on levels of exposure to potential transmission, PPE use, and vaccination status.
To help identify which contact assessment document is most relevant, providers should follow the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing recommendations below.

Workplaces, business, and industry

Information and advice for the following disability providers with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace should follow the Contact assessment and management guidance for workplaces, business and industry.

Centre-based services, including:
  • disability day programs
  • supported disability employment settings
should also follow this same guidance. 

Primary care, community-based healthcare, and emergency services

Information to assist disability providers manage exposures to COVID-19 should follow the Primary care, community-based healthcare and emergency services guidance.

Residential and accommodation settings and services are best to follow this guidance, including:
  • residential disability services
  • Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
  • short-term accommodation and assistance dwellings
  • secure care services
  • supported residential services
  • residential care for children and young people
This guidance is also suitable for:
  • services providing supervision (including transport), care and services within a person’s home or a controlled environment
  • disability in-home support services
  • child protection

Subsidised Infection Prevention and Control training

NDS is offering a subsidised online Infection Protection and Control course for Victorian disability workers.

The online course features videos from the face-to-face training, highlighting infection transmission concerns, donning and doffing PPE, hand hygiene, minimising the risk of infection transmission, cleaning, waste management and vaccination.

With Victorian Government funding, limited subsidised places of $20 GST inclusive per person are currently available to the Victorian disability sector. See more about the course and register

Useful Links

Article sourced from National Disability Services