State based information

Australia is a world leader in double vaccination rates against COVID-19 among its aged care workforce.

To continue to protect senior Australians living in aged care facilities and the community, all aged care workers are strongly encouraged to get a booster dose as soon as they are eligible – three months after their second dose.

People who receive a booster dose reduce the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19, and are less likely to transmit COVID-19 to others.

It is a mandatory condition of employment for residential aged care workers to receive a COVID-19 booster dose in Victoria, and for all aged care workers in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

New South Wales has also indicated its intent to mandate boosters for aged care workers.

All aged care workers can request a priority booster appointment at:

• State and territory vaccination clinics
• Visiting GPs or pharmacists
• Local health service in-reach vaccination (where available)
• Community pharmacies
• General practices.

If you are a residential aged care worker and your facility has not yet had its on-site booster clinic, workers who are eligible can receive a booster dose at this clinic.

Commonwealth vaccination hubs dedicated to aged care and disability workers are being established.  Priority is being given to those jurisdictions which have now mandated booster doses as a condition of employment for aged care workers.

The first dedicated workers hubs are located in Victoria in Ballarat, Doncaster, Hawthorn and Williamstown. These hubs are only for aged care (residential, in-home and community aged care), disability; and for people with a disability.

Aged care workers in the Northern Territory 
Residential, in-home and community aged care workers in the Northern Territory are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose as announced on 29 January 2022 - Mandatory vaccinations | Coronavirus (COVID-19) (nt.gov.au).

• All aged care workers are required to receive a booster dose by 11 March 2022, as is required for all workers in high risk settings.

Aged care workers in South Australia
Residential aged care workers in South Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 45) (COVID-19) Direction 2022.

• Under the order residential aged care workers must receive a booster dose of an approved vaccine within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with guidelines set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

In-home and community aged care workers in South Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Emergency Management (In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Support Workers Vaccination No 3) (COVID-19) Direction 2022.

• Under the direction in-home and community aged care workers must receive a booster dose of an approved vaccine within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with guidelines set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

Aged care workers in Victoria
Residential aged care workers in Victoria are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Pandemic COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Facilities) Order 2022.

• Under the order, which comes into effect today, residential aged care workers who received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine before 12 September 2021 must receive a booster dose by 12 February 2022.
• For residential aged care workers who received two doses after 12 September 2021, the booster deadline is 1 March 2022.

Aged care workers in Western Australia 
Residential, in-home and community aged care workers in Western Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the ‘Booster Vaccination (restrictions on access) Direction’.

• The direction – for workers in industries covered by previous vaccine mandates – requires aged care workers to receive a booster dose by 5 February 2022 to further limit the spread of the Omicron strain.
• The Direction sets out arrangements for workers that are not eligible for their booster by 5 February.

Residential, in-home and community aged care providers required to report on booster vaccinations

It is a mandatory requirement for all residential, in-home and community aged care providers to report each Tuesday via My Aged Care provider portal on workers’ booster doses.

In addition, residential aged care providers must report on residents’ booster and third dose vaccination rates. Third doses are for people who are severely immunocompromised.

All providers should now be reporting each Tuesday on their resident booster vaccination rates.

Failure to report weekly on booster vaccination rates may be referred to the Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for possible regulatory action.

For the most recent updates from ACT Health, please visit their website for specific information for health professionals.

Visit the ACT Health COVID Homepage for general information and latest updates.

The following links may also be of use to practitioners:

• Capital Health Network is the ACT Primary Healthcare Network who also have information and resources for Primary Care practitioners
• Capital Health Network information for Health Professionals

NSW Health has updated their COVID-19 advice for staff in high-risk community and/or private settings, which is live on the NSW Health website.

It is also accessible through the COVID-19 Clinical guidance and resources page.

Other resources

COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual

If your occupation falls under one of the categories, you are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine in line with the CHO Direction, even if it is not directly specified. Click here for examples of the types of workers required to have the COVID-19 vaccination.

Essential workers

During a lockout or lockdown there may be different requirements for essential workers.

A list of essential workers is provided from page 14 in CHO Direction (No.22) and amended by CHO Directions (No.29).

Physiotherapist have been identified as essential workers. 

For further information about essential workers, click here. 

Mask Update – 14 October 2022

From 14 October it is no longer mandatory for people who test positive for COVID-19 in the Northern Territory to self-isolate.

Until Friday 11 November 2022 the following Chief Health Officer Directions will remain in place:

• People in the NT who test positive to a Rapid Antigen Test need to declare their result using the online declaration form.
• Face masks must be worn in high-risk settings.

The below Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions are in force.

Masks

• Post-emergency direction 9/2022 PDF (410.2 KB) - Directions to wear face masks. Effective 05 September 2022 at 12.41pm.

Read more about masks.

Testing

• Post-emergency direction 3/2022 PDF (389.3 KB) - Directions for testing. Effective 16 June 2022 at 12.01am.

Read more about what to do if you test positive for COVID-19.

Wearing of masks in private physiotherapy clinics is not mandated under CHO Direction (No.41) as attached and below:

These Directions apply to the following high risk places:

1. a hospital;
2. a residential facility within the meaning of section 2 of the Disability Services Act 1993;
3. a custodial correctional facility within the meaning of section 11 of the Correctional Services Act 2014;
4. a detention centre within the meaning of section 5 of the Youth Justice Act 2005;
5. an aged care facility;
6. a renal hostel;
7. a family violence shelter;
8. a sobering up shelter;
9. a homeless shelter.

However physiotherapists need to use their clinical reasoning to ascertain the risk of each individual patient situation and observe other COVID-19 practices such as safe distancing where possible and managing good hygiene practice.

Helpful links:

• Business and work
• Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

For most up-to-date information, visit:

• Northern Territory Health
• Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

Update Monday 31 October 2022

The declared public health emergency for COVID-19 for the State of Queensland has expired and there are no longer any COVID-19 Public Health Directions in effect.

Queensland Health have provided transitional tools for the ongoing management of COVID-19 in the community and by industry, including allied health professionals.

COVID-19 Community Traffic Light

Queensland Health have developed a COVID-19 Community Traffic Light, which provides advice for the community on measures they should consider following when there is a risk of COVID-19. Queensland Health will set the current level based on consideration of a broad range of epidemiological and other COVID-19 risk factors.

Keep track of traffic light status level changes via the Queensland Government website.

Infection Prevention and Control Manual

Queensland Health has developed a COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual for acute and non-acute healthcare settings (Manual). The Manual outlines recommended minimum requirements for managing patients with suspected for confirmed COVID 19 and other acute respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. The Manual provides a framework for deciding whether to escalate or de-escalate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Link to the Manual.

Quick links:

Find the most up-to-date restrictions via the Queensland Government website.

Information for clinicians found at the Queensland health website.

Important information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations

Direction under the Emergency Management Act 20044

All persons engaging in work or duties at a health care setting are required to comply with the (South Australian Emergency Management Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 No 3.

All persons engaging in work or duties at a Residential Aged Care Facility health care setting are required to comply with the Emergency Management (Residential Aged  Care Facilities No 442) (COVID-19) Direction 201.

Proof of vaccination can include your COVID-19 digital certificate accessed via Medicare or an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register. More vaccine information is available in the FAQs.

Update 14 October 2022

The following directions are revoked:

(a) Emergency Management (Activities General No 3) (COVID-19) Direction 2021;

(b) Emergency Management (Activities—Associated Direction No 23) (COVID-19) Direction 2022;

(c) Emergency Management (Arrivals No 2) (COVID-19) Direction 2021;

(d) Emergency Management (Arrivals—Associated Direction No 20) (COVID-19) Direction 2022;

(e) Emergency Management (Exposure Sites, Contacts and Diagnosis Requirements No 7) (COVID-19) Direction 2022;

• People who test positive to COVID-19 are no longer legally required to isolate.
• The removal of all legislated mask requirements, including for allied health (With provision to reinstate masks in residential aged care facilities when there are cases amongst residents).
•  The removal of all legal close contact requirements.
• The removal of government legislated vaccine mandates for phase 2 and 3 healthcare settings (including allied health, GPs and pharmacies)

The remaining COVID-19 legislation in South Australia expires on 24 November 2022, and the following requirements remain until sector policies are in place:

• Mandatory reporting of positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results.
• Vaccination mandates for people work in hospitals (public and private), ambulance services, disability, and in-home and community aged care.
• Key parts of the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 49) (COVID-19) Direction 2022.

What do you need to do as a provider of health care to those at higher risk of COVID? With the removal of a number of mandated public health measures, the following policies must be considered and developed by your practice to meet workplace health and safety obligations, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your clients (Particularly those most at risk of severe disease) and the health and safety of your staff:

• Mask policy
• Visitor policy (including restrictions on COVID positive clients entering a facility for non-emergency care)
• Workforce policy (including return to work for COVID positive and close contact staff)
• Vaccination policy

COVID-19 positive people must not enter hospitals, disability and aged care facilities In removing the isolation requirement, National Cabinet also advised that COVID-19 positive people must not attend or visit hospitals, disability and aged care facilities, unless of course to seek care.

The control on COVID-19 positive people entering these settings is not possible by state legislation. This means that operators of these high-risk facilities need to prevent the entry of COVID-19 positive people to their sites through both workplace and visitor policies and protocols from 14 October 2022.

Health care services includes the following:

1. private and public hospitals;
2. general practice;
3. private and public medical specialist services and practices;
4. private and public mental health services and practices including drug and alcohol services;
5. private and public allied health services, including those provided by a counsellor, speech pathologist, sonographer, social worker, rehabilitation counsellor, radiation therapist, radiographer, psychologist, prosthetist / orthotist, podiatrist, physiotherapist, music therapist, osteopath, orthoptist, optometrist, occupational therapist, genetic counsellor, exercise physiologist, dietitian, counsellor, chiropractor, audiologist, art/creative art therapist, or bowen therapist;
6. services provided by social workers in a public or private health care centre;
7. private complementary and alternative therapy services and practices including Chinese medicine practitioners;
8. community health services including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services;
9. private and public dental services;
10. private and public reproductive services and sexual health services including termination of pregnancy;
11. private and public radiology services including screening services;
12. private and public disability and rehabilitation services.

For more information, click here. 

Helpful links:

• South Australia Health guidance for physios in private practice – ‘Assessing and managing the risk: COVID exposures in primary and community health care settings’. This document also details the quarantine and testing requirements of COVID-19 contacts who work in primary and community health care settings.  
• South Australia Allied Health release  –  Permissions for close contact for critical workers
• South Australia Fair Work guide – assist employers with staff who have to stand down during quarantine period

To keep up-to-date on the latest, visit the following links:

• Government of South Australia COVID-19 Response
• South Australia Health

Face masks

Wearing a face mask is mandatory for people aged 12 years and older (unless exempt) in the following healthcare settings:

• Hospitals (not patients)
• Residential aged care facilities (not residents) and in-home and community aged care
• Residential disability care facilities (not residents) and in-home care, including disability support provider and NDIS-funded services
• Health care and medical facilities and services/treatments, including allied health

Click here for further information of face masks.

Changes to close contact quarantine and checking in from 2 May

Close contacts of COVID-19 cases will no longer be required to quarantine from 12.01am Monday 2 May 2022. The quarantine requirement will be replaced by close contact rules that must be followed for seven days to reduce any risk of potential spread of COVID-19.

Close contacts can leave home if they have no symptoms and return a negative test when notified they are a close contact. They must do the following for seven days:

• test for COVID-19, daily if they plan to leave home
• wear a face mask in all indoor settings when outside the home
• not attend high-risk settings, unless as a critical worker and an exemption is in place
• inform their workplace that they are a close contact
   

Responding to a case in the workplace

To assist in keeping all Tasmanians safe, workplaces should ensure all staff continue to practice COVID Safe behaviours including wearing masks while indoors, practicing hand hygiene and advising staff to avoid having meal breaks and meetings together in enclosed spaces. Employers should encourage vaccination for all staff – including a booster.

Review and activate your COVID-19 Safety Plan and/or Outbreak Management Plan.

Organise cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas, as outlined in your COVID-19 Safety Plan. Read about cleaning and disinfection after a case.

Public Health will only be in contact if several cases are linked to your premises or event.

*Important: depending on the circumstances, if the confirmed case is an employee, you may also be required by law to notify WorkSafe Tasmania of the case.

Further information on responding to a case in the workplace.

Vaccination requirements

The Public Health Direction, Vaccination requirements for certain workers, requires that a person covered under the Direction is sufficiently vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The Department of Health Emergency Coordination Centre have recently updated the FAQ section of their website to provide further guidance on how the Mandatory Vaccination direction applies to individuals and organisations. Click here to view the health care settings section.

Tasmania Government COVID-19 Resources:

• Tasmania health website
• Case and outbreak management resources
• COVID-19 Safety Plans
• Cleaning and disinfection after a case

Face masks

The CAHO has recommended and advised that masks should continue to be worn by staff and visitors to sensitive settings, places where people are vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19, which includes:

• residential care facilities, including aged care, disability and other services
• other care facilities
• healthcare premises, including when health care services are provided in people’s homes.

COVID cases / close contacts

Given healthcare premises are sensitive settings the following strong recommendations continue to apply:

• Anyone who has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 should avoid visiting or working in sensitive settings for at least 7 days.
• Workers who are close contact should be asymptomatic and follow testing recommendations if they are required to work in sensitive settings during their 7 day close contact period.
• Close contacts who are not workers in sensitive settings should not attend any sensitive setting during their 7 day close contact period.

For more information click here.

Vaccination for healthcare workers

With the end of the pandemic declaration, there are only a limited number of healthcare workers required to be fully vaccinated and have received a booster (three doses in total).

This includes workers in the following settings:

• public health services
• public hospitals
• denominational hospitals
• private hospitals and day procedure centres
• ambulance services
• patient transport services that are engaged or contracted by a health service or Ambulance Victoria
• public sector residential aged care services

Individual Allied Health settings could elect to enforce a policy of requiring their workers to be vaccinated and enforce this as a condition of employment where they are required to attend a place of work away from their normal place of residence. This would be an employer by employer responsibility.

For more information click here.

WorkSafe's COVID-19 Information

• How to manage COVID-19 under your OHS obligations

Victoria Government COVID-19 Resources:

• COVIDSafe Plan – Information and resources to help your business prepare a COVIDSafe Plan
• Contact assessment and management guidance
• Infection prevention control resources and guidance
• Health and wellbeing resources for patients
• Staff support and wellbeing

Update 4 November 2022

From 12.01am Friday 4 November 2022 the COVID-19 Directions issued under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and Public Health Act 2016, including the face mask Directions and the COVID-19 vaccination Directions, will cease.

This will mean that there will be no mandatory COVID-19 requirements in WA from that time, though healthcare facilities and businesses may implement their own health and safety policies should they choose to.

Public hospitals will ask some staff to continue wearing masks, as a matter of policy.

General public health advise remains:

"Basic public health advice such as mask wearing as needed, staying home if unwell, getting tested and avoiding high-risk settings until symptoms have cleared are highly recommended, and these measures can be adopted as a requirement through businesses' own policies and work health and safety arrangements"

Close contact

To protect those most at risk from COVID-19, for 7 days after becoming a close contact you should not visit or work in high-risk settings including hospitals, disability, mental health and aged care residential facilities and other healthcare settings (e.g., ambulance services, GP clinics, physiotherapy). To protect those most at risk from COVID-19, for 7 days after becoming a close contact you should not visit or work in high-risk settings including hospitals, disability, mental health and aged care residential facilities and other healthcare settings (e.g., ambulance services, GP clinics, physiotherapy).

Further information can be found on the Western Australia Government website. 

Update 24 October 2022

WA Mask mandate for health care settings – Visitors and staff are all required to wear a mask or face covering as per the latest directions.

WA Isolation requirements:

The CHO has advised that there are no longer any mandatory isolation requirements for private and community healthcare staff. Staff are, however, strongly encouraged to refrain from entering the workplace for a period of 7 days after testing positive for COVID-19, hence the use of the term “should not” rather than “must not”.

Please note, for people who work at or visit high-risk settings and to protect those most at risk from COVID-19, for 7 days after testing positive to COVID-19:

• Workers and visitors must not enter public hospitals.
• Workers and visitors should not enter other high-risk settings include disability, mental health and aged care residential facilities and healthcare settings (e.g. private hospitals, ambulance services, GP clinics, physiotherapy).

Other high-risk settings, such as aged and disability care facilities, will have their own safeguards for their residents.

For most up-to-date COVID-19 information, visit Western Australia health.