Single site arrangements declaring Greater Melbourne and the adjacent LGA of Moorabool Shire a hotspot

Published 22nd July 2021

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

Single site funding support extended to 14 August in affected regions in New South Wales

In line with recent announcements from the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, single site workforce arrangements and Australian Government funding is being extended to all local government areas across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Workers at residential aged care facilities in these areas are asked to continue to limit their work to a single facility to reduce the risk of transmission and protect workers and residents until at least 14 August 2021. Australian Government grant funding remains available to support implementation of these arrangements during this period through the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 Grant. Providers are able to make an application until 31 December 2021.

These arrangements may be further extended on the advice of the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and in line with the de-escalation criteria set out in the National COVID-19 Aged Care Plan, including an assessment of the risk to vulnerable populations such as those in aged care.

Providers can access guidance on how to implement single site arrangements, including employee relations expertise, through the Guiding Principles Support Hub website or hotline on 1800 491 793.

Single site workforce arrangements and funding support for Greater Melbourne in Victoria.

Given the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne and following the declaration of a COVID-19 hotspot by the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, 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 in Victoria during an initial two week period, from 16 July to 30 July 2021.

Based on advice from the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, and in line with advice from the Victorian Government, these arrangements are limited to residential aged care providers in the areas:

• Greater Melbourne (all Metropolitan Melbourne local government areas),
• Moorabool Shire,
• City of Greater Geelong,
• Borough of Queenscliff and
• Surf Coast Shire

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 were working the most hours prior to the outbreak.
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.

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

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 31 December 2021.

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