NSW Health update and single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas of New South Wales

Published 29th June 2021

NSW Health- Latest advice

The screening advice for Residential Aged Care Providers and Home Care Providers has been updated on 22 June 2021. The key messages for this update are:

• There are new close and casual contact locations in Greater Sydney.
• Residents are discouraged from leaving the facility to attend large gatherings in Greater Sydney.
• In Greater Sydney residents do not need to wear a mask in the facility however if they are leaving the facility they must wear a surgical mask.
• There are new close and casual contact locations in Queensland.

This information can change rapidly so please check the NSW Health at least daily for updates.

Single site funding support for COVID-19 impacted areas of New South Wales

The Australian Government is closely monitoring the situation in Sydney, New South Wales.

Given the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Sydney, workers at residential aged care facilities in impacted areas are asked to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents. Australian Government grant funding is now available to support implementation of these arrangements during an initial two week period, from 23 June to 7 July.

Based on advice from the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, and in line with advice from the New South Wales Government, these arrangements are limited to residential aged care providers in the following local government areas:

• City of Sydney
• Waverley
• Woollahra
• Bayside
• Canada Bay
• Inner West
• Randwick

Providers in these areas are asked to adjust their rosters and ensure staff are only working at one residential aged care facility within this region during this time.

Workers are encouraged to speak with their primary employer and look to work all shifts during this period with the residential aged care provider where they currently work the most hours. To the greatest extent possible, the employer should seek to match any hours no longer being worked with a secondary employer to ensure the worker is not financially disadvantaged. It is important workers also retain the security of any secondary employment. Where these arrangements result in additional workforce expenses, providers are able to seek reimbursement from the Australian Government through the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) Grant. The SACWIC grant opportunity remains open until 30 December 2021.

In addition to funding support, providers can also access guidance on practical implementation of single site arrangements, including employee relations expertise, through the Guiding Principles Support Hub website or hotline on 1800 491 793.

Source:
Unknown Author, 2021, Department of Health (https://www.health.gov.au/)