12/04/2022 – Update to mask mandate

Masks in airports to be scrapped, while visitor restrictions at aged care to be eased, healthcare is required to have three doses of Covid 19.

Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions will ease from next week, with mask requirements, vaccine mandates and isolation rules all set to be relaxed.

The tranche of changes is due to be introduced from 11.59pm on Friday, June 24, with further easing of restrictions earmarked for the end of winter. 

“This is a sensible implementation of minor and progressive changes,” Minister for Health Martin Foley said.

“Business wanted a bit of time in the run-up to that and the public health advice was more than happy to give that.”

Airport mask rules, third dose mandates lifted.

In line with a statement from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) earlier this week, masks will no longer be required to be worn in airports. 

They will remain mandatory on flights, as well as all other forms of public transport, such as trains, trams and buses.

Workplace vaccine mandates are also set to change, with Victoria’s high vaccination rate credited as a major factor.

Government-imposed three-dose mandates in education, food distribution, meat and seafood processing and quarantine accommodation sectors will be scrapped.

Education workers will also be able to return to work without a third dose.

However, workers in sectors that interact with vulnerable people — such as residential aged care and disability care, healthcare and emergency services — will still be required to have three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Rules requiring general workers to work from home unless they are double-vaccinated will also be lifted. 

Employers will still be able to set their own workplace conditions with regards to vaccination status.

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid19-restriction-checker/face-masks/vic

12/04/2022 – Third dose vaccination requirements

The following workers (including contractors, volunteers, and students on placement) are required to show evidence to their employer they have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to continue working outside their home.

You are eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if you received your second dose, three or more months ago (i.e. if you got your second dose on 1 October, you would be eligible for your third dose on 1 January).

Read more about receiving your third dose, which includes booster doses or the third primary dose.

Third dose vaccination requirements do not apply to workers (including volunteers) aged under 18 years or those with a medical exemption.

Third dose vaccination requirements

The following workers (including contractors, volunteers, and students on placement) are required to show evidence to their employer they have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to continue working outside their home.

You are eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if you received your second dose, three or more months ago (i.e. if you got your second dose on 1 October, you would be eligible for your third dose on 1 January).

Read more about receiving your third dose, which includes booster doses or the third primary dose.

Third dose vaccination requirements do not apply to workers (including volunteers) aged under 18 years or those with a medical exemption.

You must have already received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (or have an exemption) to be able to work in a healthcare setting.

Who is a healthcare facility worker?

Healthcare workers

A healthcare worker is a person (including a volunteer or student) who is employed or engaged as a contractor, to perform work at a health setting (including businesses operating within the health setting) including:

• direct care and interaction roles
• medical practitioner, dental professional, nurse and midwife
• allied health professional (AHPRA-registered and Department of Health Classification)
• personal care attendant
• palliative care worker
• coroner
• phlebotomist and pathology worker
• lifestyle and social therapist
• formal language and interpretation service.
  • Note: if you are providing healthcare services in an education facility, vaccination requirements for education workers apply.
• administrative and ancillary roles
  • administrative, clerical, and managerial worker, including assistant and delegate worker
  • food preparation, cleaning, laundry
  • patient service assistant, porter
  • operating theatre technicians
  • security, maintenance and repair, information technology, gardening and landscaping
• ambulance and patient transport service roles
• workers in retail businesses operating within health settings
  • such as cafés, restaurants, newsagents and florists, among others.

Healthcare settings are:

• hospitals including outpatient settings and in-reach services
• ambulance and patient transport services
• community health centres and services (including community-based mental health services, maternal and child health services, and drug and alcohol counselling services)
• general practices
• COVID-19 related healthcare delivery settings, including testing sites, vaccination centres, and hotel quarantine
• dental surgeries and practices
• day procedure centres
• health clinics (e.g. where health appointments are delivered by medical specialists and allied health professionals)
• pharmacies
• diagnostic and medical imaging centres
• mobile health services
• blood donation services
• educational settings where health care students undertake placement / registration and / internship
• health services embedded in other government agencies or sectors (e.g. healthcare workers providing services in correction settings)
• coroners court

businesses operating within health settings (e.g. workers at the café/restaurant/ newsagent/ florist within a hospital).

25/02/2022 – Mask wearing requirements for allied health private practice

Details of the impact of changes to the Pandemic (Movement and Gathering) Order (effective as of 11.59pm tonight) for mask wearing requirements for Allied Health private practice.

Under this order, masks are required in publicly accessible areas of a healthcare premises. This requirement extends to patients/clients, clinical staff and administrative staff who access these premises.

The definition of healthcare premises captures:

• a community health centre, including mental health, child and maternity, and drug and alcohol counselling services centres; or
• a general practice; or
• a COVID-19 related healthcare site, including testing sites, vaccination centres and hotel quarantine premises; or
• a dental surgery and dental practice; or
• a health clinic, including medical specialist and/or allied health professional operated clinics; or
• a diagnostic and medical imaging centre; or
• a premises at which mobile health services are provided; or a premises at which blood donation services are provided;

25/02/2022 – The ‘Close Contact Exemption’: private practice allied health in the context of the Pandemic (Quarantine, Isolation, and Testing) Order 2022 (No.3) and Directions 

Public Health has advised the Exemption of Specific Workers – Contacts Conditions and Other Directions (No. 3) is broadly applicable to healthcare workers who provide or coordinate the delivery of healthcare services at a hospital or primary healthcare facility.  For this purpose, primary healthcare facilities can be interpreted as inclusive of private practice allied health services.

Refer to: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/exemption-of-specific-workers-contacts-conditions-and-other-directions-no-3.pdf for the full list of healthcare workers who are eligible for an exemption.

Under this exemption, close contacts who are eligible for the exemption, but cannot work from home, may return to their workplace if: 

• The worker does not have any COVID-19 symptoms. 
• They notify their employer that they are a close contact. 
• Their employer requests and consents to their return to the workplace to prevent significant risk to safe service delivery. 
• The worker consents to return to the workplace during their self-quarantine period.  
• They travel directly to and from their home to their workplace, minimizing contact with others. Whilst in direct transit, they may only leave their vehicle to access toilet and bathroom facilities, pay for fuel, or purchase takeaway food or drink. 
• If they are not a healthcare worker, they wear a face covering (at minimum, a surgical mask) at all times when at, or travelling to and from, work. If they are a healthcare worker, they must wear a face covering (an N95/P2 respirator) at all times when at work, and wear a face-covering (at minimum, a surgical mask) at all times when traveling to and from work.  

• The face-covering requirement does not apply if the person is escaping harm or the risk of harm, is riding a bike or motorbike, is taking medicine, or eating or drinking, is smoking while stationary, for emergency purposes, or when required or authorized by law.

• They only access shared break areas at the same time as other exempted close contacts. 
• They do not share facilities or amenities with other staff, where practicable. 
• They take daily COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests and return a negative result prior to starting work, for 5 days after they have been defined as a close contact. 
• They do not use carpooling and where possible avoid public transport when traveling to and from the workplace. 
• They immediately advise all their employers if at any point they are no longer eligible for the exemption (e.g. if they develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive to a Rapid Antigen Test). 

Allied health professionals included within the definition of healthcare worker are:

• those that work within a discipline classified by the Victorian Department of Health as allied health, OR
• are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

25/02/2022 – The Victorian Government has announced a number of changes to pandemic orders and public health recommendations that will come into place

Return to the office

The public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will be removed.

Masks rules to ease

Masks will only be required indoors in the following circumstances, unless an exemption applies:

• people on public transport, in taxis and rideshare, on planes, and indoors at an airport
• people working or visiting hospitals, and indoor areas at care facilities
• workers in hospitality, retail and the court system
• workers at justice and correctional facilities
• students in year 3 or above at primary school, and workers at early childhood centres and primary schools (masks can be removed in secondary school)
• people working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending
• in special circumstances, such as if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact and you’re leaving home.

Masks are recommended for other workers serving or facing members of the public (for example, if you are at reception, meeting guests or serving customers).

Vaccination requirement updates

The Minister for Health will also declare a number of temporary exceptions and deadline extensions for workers required to receive three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine:

• The third dose deadline for workers in education facilities who were fully vaccinated on or before Monday 25 October 2021 will be extended by a month, provided that workers have a booking within that time. This means all education workers have until Friday 25 March 2022 to be ‘up to date’.
• Fully vaccinated workers who aren’t yet eligible for a third dose will have a third dose deadline of three months and two weeks from when they had their second dose.
• Workers who are recent international arrivals will have a new third dose deadline of four weeks from the date of their arrival, provided they have evidence of a future vaccine booking.
• Workers whose temporary medical exemption has expired (for example, because they had COVID-19) will have a new third dose deadline of two weeks following the expiry of the medical exemption.

Further details on the new restrictions coming into place will be published online at coronavirus.vic.gov.au from 11:59pm on Friday 25 February 2022.

For more information on the $200 million Business Stimulus Package, including when each program opens, visit vic.gov.au/business-stimulus-package

21/02/2022 – Third dose has been mandated for Allied Health Professionals in VIC including their staff

You must have already received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (or have an exemption) to be able to work in a healthcare setting.

When you need to receive your third dose

• If you were eligible to receive your third dose on or before 12 January, you are required to get your third dose by 12 March 2022. You must have a booking to receive your third dose by 12 February 2022 in order to work on site.
• If you did not become eligible until after 12 January, you are still required to get your third dose by 29 March 2022. There is no requirement to book your third dose by a certain date.

Who is a healthcare facility worker

Healthcare workers

A healthcare worker is a person (including a volunteer or student) who is employed or engaged as a contractor, to perform work at a health setting (including businesses operating within the health setting) including:

• Direct care and interaction roles
• medical practitioner, dental professional, nurse and midwife
• allied health professional (AHPRA-registered and Department of Health Classification)
• personal care attendant
• palliative care worker
• coroner
• phlebotomist and pathology worker
• lifestyle and social therapist
• formal language and interpretation service.
  • Note: If you are providing healthcare services in an education facility, vaccination requirements for education workers apply.
• Administrative and ancillary roles
  • administrative, clerical, and managerial worker, including assistant and delegate worker
  • food preparation, cleaning, laundry
  • patient service assistant, porter
  • operating theatre technicians
  • security, maintenance and repair, information technology, gardening and landscaping
• Ambulance and patient transport service roles
• Workers in businesses operating within health settings
  • such as cafés, restaurants, newsagents and florists, among others.

Healthcare settings are:

• hospitals including outpatient settings and in-reach services
• ambulance and patient transport services
• community health centres and services (including community-based mental health services, maternal and child health services, and drug and alcohol counselling services)
• general practices
• COVID-19 related healthcare delivery settings, including testing sites, vaccination centres, and hotel quarantine
• dental surgeries and practices
• day procedure centres
• health clinics (e.g. where health appointments are delivered by medical specialists and allied health professionals)
• pharmacies
• diagnostic and medical imaging centres
• mobile health services
• blood donation services
• educational settings where health care students undertake placement / registration and / internship
• health services embedded in other government agencies or sectors (e.g. healthcare workers providing services in correction settings)
• coroners court

businesses operating within health settings (e.g. workers at the café/restaurant/ newsagent/ florist within a hospital).

18/02/2022 – Slight easing of restrictions (from 6.00pm).

Key points:

• QR check-in will no longer be required in shops, schools and many workplaces
• Surveillance testing will continue at schools with more free rapid antigen tests to be distributed to students
• The Premier has flagged there could be an easing of mask requirements in offices in a week’s time

15/02/2022 – Victorian Allied Health PPE Guidelines updated

Updated PPE Allied Health Guidance (as of 3rd Feb, 2022) can be found here

You can find further information regarding Health care and social assistance sector guidance here.

04/02/2022 – New support, tools and services to help Victorian businesses stay COVIDSafe

Rent relief for small and family businesses

Rent relief has been extended for small and family businesses experiencing financial hardship due to the latest wave of the pandemic.

New COVIDSafe Plan template

A new COVIDSafe Plan template (PDF) is now available to help you reduce the risk of COVID‑19 at your business and manage a COVID‑19 case in the workplace.

Contact management tool

An online tool has been developed to help businesses manage a positive COVID‑19 case in the workplace, measure potential exposure risk and provide instant advice on steps to protect workers and customers. The tool is in addition to information and advice regarding cases in the workplace.

19/01/2022 – Latest Updates for Victoria

For the latest information regarding the current Code Brown and the exemptions to essential workers who are close contacts in Victoria, please visit https://www.health.vic.gov.au/covid-19/covid-19-chief-health-officer-update

You can also find further details about who is exempt here (please scroll down to exemptions section), noting that allied health professionals are listed under the Healthcare worker section.

12/01/22 – PPE Update

Personal protective equipment (PPE) from the National Medical Stockpile has been made available to PHNs to support eligible primary health care professionals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPE that is issued is intended to enable eligible health professionals to see their patients safely during a COVID-19 outbreak and when experiencing commercial supply delays or issues.

Allied Health
General PPE Requests
(issued as per Department of Health Tranche 4 PPE Guidelines)

• Surgical masks

HOW TO REQUEST:
PPE Request Form

Please Note: The provision of PPE from the National Medical Stockpile only applies to surgical masks and only if there is no available commercial supply and allied health professionals are working in higher-risk clinical areas and with higher risk vulnerable patients or in areas where there may be community transmission of COVID-19.

For further information regarding the updated COVID-19 third dose vaccination reporting requirements for Healthcare workers, click here

11/01/2022 – Vaccination update

The Victorian Government has announced a number of changes to further protect the highest-risk health care and hospitality settings – and key workforces – from the risk of outbreaks and super-spreader events. Please find further information provided by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions below.

Under new pandemic orders coming into place at 11:59pm Wednesday 12 January 2022:

Vaccination Requirements in Key Sectors

Workers in key sectors who are already required to be fully vaccinated must get their third dose before being permitted to work onsite. This applies to workers in:

• healthcare
• aged care
• disability services
• emergency services

Workplaces must sight and record proof of vaccination.

Workers eligible for a third dose on or before Wednesday 12 January 2022 will have until Saturday 12 February 2022 to get their third dose.

Workers not yet eligible for a third dose will be required to get it within three months and two weeks of the deadline to receiving their second mandatory dose.

This means:

• residential aged care workers must receive their third dose by 1 March
• disability, quarantine accommodation, correctional facilities, emergency services, and food distribution workers will need to receive their third dose by 12 March
• health care workers must receive their third dose by 29 March.

All Victorians continue to be encouraged to get their third dose as soon as they become eligible. Bookings can be made www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine.

If you have COVID-19 or you’re a contact.  Victoria’s isolation rules have changed.

To see what you have to do if you test positive to COVID-19, or you have been told you are a contact, you can follow your checklist – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist

Reporting Rapid Test (Positive) – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report

More information for Health Services and Professionals – https://www.health.vic.gov.au/covid-19/for-health-services-and-professionals-covid-19

For further information regarding the updated COVID-19 third dose vaccination reporting requirements for Healthcare workers, click here

06/01/2022 – Sensible Steps to reduce Testing Queues And Transmission

Please see the latest release below from the office of the Victorian Premier regarding Covid-19 testing.

In the biggest change to the COVID-19 testing system since the beginning of the pandemic, Victorians won’t have to line up to get a PCR test and wait for their result to be diagnosed with COVID-19 – meaning shorter wait times and faster access to clinical care.

Under new pandemic orders that come into effect at 11.59pm tonight, people who test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will be considered probable cases and be subject to the same requirements as confirmed cases from a PCR test – they must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts.

It will be mandatory to report the result of a positive RAT to the Department of Health through an online form or by phone – ensuring people can access the care and information they need, including monitoring for worsening symptoms and financial support for isolation.

Once a probable case has reported their positive RAT result, they will be asked questions about their symptoms and directly provided critical information about their next steps, how long they must isolate and how they can get care and advice – just as they would if they tested positive on a PCR test. Probable cases will be reported alongside confirmed cases in Victoria’s daily numbers.

Until RATs are in increased supply, Victorians who have symptoms, or asymptomatic household contacts required to use RATs, can still get a PCR test if they can’t access any RATs.

Moving forward, this change means PCR testing can increasingly be reserved for confirmation of clinical diagnoses in vulnerable settings and critical workforce testing.

A PCR test continues to be recommended for people who test positive on a RAT but don’t have symptoms and who aren’t contacts. Due to the increased accuracy of RATs in higher-risk groups, PCR tests will be discouraged for contacts or people with symptoms.

The online and phone reporting system will go live on 7 January. The process includes a series of simple questions including a symptom check for triaging care. Privacy will be protected, and translation support will be available through the Coronavirus hotline.

In addition, the new pandemic orders require that a density quotient of one person per two square metres be introduced indoors at hospitality venues, including restaurants, cafés, pubs and nightclubs along with along with entertainment venues including arcades and amusement parks, casinos and gaming venues across Victoria.

This change is similar to the measures already in place in New South Wales and aims to reduce the risk of superspreader events in these settings. It is also recommended that entertainment and hospitality venues and their patrons opt for seated service only and avoid indoor dancefloors.

It is strongly recommended that if possible you undertake a RAT prior to visiting aged care facilities or hospitals.

The strong recommendation to work from home and study from home for adult education if you can will remain in place until Australia Day – this will continue to be assessed.

Non-urgent elective surgery will temporarily be reduced for public and private hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne and major regional cities across Victoria, helping hospitals respond to the increasing number of patients with coronavirus.

All emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue. Elective surgery procedures where the patient is already scheduled for admission on 6 and 7 January may still occur where it is not safe or logistically possible to postpone.

Yesterday, free RATs were successfully distributed at four of the state’s largest testing centres as part of a pilot which is continuing today and tomorrow – while Victoria awaits the arrival of the first significant delivery of the 44 million ordered tests.

More information on how Victorians can report their Rapid Antigen Result will be on the Coronavirus website from 7 January. Information on updated COVIDSafe settings will also be published when the orders come into effect. Remember to book your third dose, or your child’s first dose, at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine.

21/12/2021 – Current Pandemic Orders

As of last week’s announcement from the Victorian Government, COVID-19 restrictions have now been updated and eased under the new Public Health and Wellbeing Act signed by the Chief Health Officer and Minister for Health, Martin Foley, while the Omicron variant is monitored and investigated.

The pandemic orders, which took effect from 11.59pm Wednesday 15 December, will be in place until 11.59pm on 12 January 2022, and we encourage you to refer to the current COVIDSafe Settings outlined here.

MASKS & FACE COVERINGS

Under the revised orders, the wearing of masks continues to be required for workers and visitors in indoor healthcare settings including community health centres (including mental health, child and maternity, and drug and alcohol counselling services centres), general practices, COVID-19 related healthcare sites (including testing, vaccination and hotel quarantine facilities), health clinics (including medical specialist and allied health clinics), diagnostic and medical imaging centres, mobile health services or blood donation centres.

Acting VIC Allied Chief Health Officer – Sharon Downie – has advised Chiropractic Australia that:

“…face mask requirements in healthcare settings (aside from hospitals and residential care facilities) are covered in the Stay Safe Directions, which specify that masks should be worn ‘while in an indoor space that is a publicly accessible area of a healthcare premises’.This Direction is inclusive of settings such as allied health private practice settings, and requires patients/clients attending the premises to wear a face mask when in any publicly accessible area (for example, foyer, waiting areas and treatment rooms/spaces).”

QR CODES

Every business must use the free Victorian Government QR Code Service to check-in customers, workers and visitors, with some limited exceptions. Every visitor must check-in, regardless of how long they are at the premises.

Businesses are required to provide an alternative record-keeping method for members of the public (or workers) that do not have a smartphone. This could include a kiosk option (via a tablet) or, as a last resort, pen and paper.

WORKPLACE COVIDSAFE SETTINGS

– A density quotient does not apply.

– For general business COVIDSafe Settings visit How we work: Victoria.

– Telehealth services are the preferred first option when clinically appropriate.

– When services operate from a residential address they must:

i) have a COVIDSafe Plan

ii) be registered as a business premises

iii) follow PPE guidance issued by the Victorian Department of Health.

Additional PPE requirements apply for allied health professionals in private practice settings:

Coronavirus disease – COVID-19 PPE for Private Practice Allied Health PDF274.27 KB Coronavirus disease – COVID-19 PPE for Private Practice Allied HealthWord113.36 KB

It is also important to note that whilst workplaces exposed to a positive COVID-19 case will no longer need to be deep cleaned, after mounting international evidence that coronavirus is an airborne or droplet-borne disease and the likelihood of becoming infected by touching a surface is very low risk, all workplaces will still need to maintain their COVIDSafe Plan.

16/12/2021 – Update on Public Health Protection

“The mandatory vaccination requirement will be removed for all customers in retail, except hair and beauty services, and will also be removed in real estate, places of worship, weddings and funerals. Mask settings in retail remain unchanged.

Under the pandemic orders, restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are still only open to fully vaccinated patrons and staff. Workers are required to wear masks.

Face masks no longer need to be worn at weddings, funerals, or ceremonial settings. If these events are held at places of worship there will not be any vaccination requirements or limits on participants, nor any requirement for organisers to check vaccination status. If the ceremony is at a hospitality setting, vaccine requirements will apply.

Workplaces exposed to a positive coronavirus case will no longer need to be deep cleaned, after mounting international evidence that coronavirus is an airborne or droplet-borne disease and the likelihood of becoming infected by touching a surface is very low risk.

In addition, tour and transport operators, gyms and creative arts premises such as theatres and cinemas will not need to clean equipment between uses. Workplaces will still need to maintain CovidSafe plans.” – Click Here

16/12/2021 – COVID-19 restrictions are being updated

The Victorian Government has announced COVID-19 restrictions are being updated to ensure Victorians enjoy more freedoms this festive season, while the Omicron variant is monitored and investigated.

After consideration of advice from the Chief Health Officer, the Minister for Health Martin Foley will today sign pandemic orders under the new Public Health and Wellbeing Act.

The pandemic orders, which will take effect from 11.59pm tonight, Wednesday 15 December and will be in place until 11.59pm on 12 January 2022, update the current COVIDSafe Settings.

This will include:

• The mandatory vaccination requirement will be removed for all customers in retail, except hair and beauty services, and will also be removed in real estate, places of worship, weddings and funerals. Face masks will be still required for customers and workers in retail settings
• Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are still only open to fully vaccinated patrons and staff. Workers are required to wear face masks
• People under 18 will no longer be required to show proof of their vaccination status at all venues, including hospitality
• Face masks no longer need to be worn at weddings, funerals or ceremonial settings. If these events are held at places of worship, there will not be any vaccination requirements or limits on participants, nor any requirement to check vaccination status. If the ceremony is at a hospitality setting, vaccine requirements will apply
• Workplaces exposed to a positive COVID-19 case will no longer need to be deep cleaned
• Tour and transport operators, gyms and creative arts premises, such as theatres and cinemas, will not need to clean equipment between users
• Workplaces still need to maintain their COVIDSafe Plan.

All Victorians who are eligible for a booster are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible. COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for anyone aged 18 and over who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine five or more months ago.

You can get a COVID-19 booster dose from a GP or pharmacy, or a Victorian vaccination centre.

For more information, including advice for workplaces with a confirmed COVID-19 case, please go to coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

18/10/2021 – Easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne

Please find below the latest advice for Victorian Allied Health workers in Metro Melbourne, provided to Chiropractic Australia via the Department of Health.

Following the Premier’s announcement of further easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne aligned to achievement of 70% full vaccination (effective of 11.59pm Thursday 21 October), we have confirmed with Public Health that private practice allied health services will be able to resume routine care (including group interventions) with density quotients/COVIDsafe plans in place.

Further information will be available via the Business Victoria website in the coming days.

18/10/2021 – Easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne

Please find below the latest advice for Victorian Allied Health workers in Metro Melbourne, provided to Chiropractic Australia via the Department of Health.

Following the Premier’s announcement of further easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne aligned to achievement of 70% full vaccination (effective of 11.59pm Thursday 21 October), we have confirmed with Public Health that private practice allied health services will be able to resume routine care (including group interventions) with density quotients/COVIDsafe plans in place.

Further information will be available via the Business Victoria website in the coming days.

18/10/2021 – Easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne

Please find below the latest advice for Victorian Allied Health workers in Metro Melbourne, provided to Chiropractic Australia via the Department of Health.

Following the Premier’s announcement of further easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne aligned to achievement of 70% full vaccination (effective of 11.59pm Thursday 21 October), we have confirmed with Public Health that private practice allied health services will be able to resume routine care (including group interventions) with density quotients/COVIDsafe plans in place.

Further information will be available via the Business Victoria website in the coming days.

18/10/2021 – Easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne

Please find below the latest advice for Victorian Allied Health workers in Metro Melbourne, provided to Chiropractic Australia via the Department of Health.

Following the Premier’s announcement of further easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne aligned to achievement of 70% full vaccination (effective of 11.59pm Thursday 21 October), we have confirmed with Public Health that private practice allied health services will be able to resume routine care (including group interventions) with density quotients/COVIDsafe plans in place.

Further information will be available via the Business Victoria website in the coming days.

01/10/2021 – COVID vaccination requirements for Victorian healthcare workers

Please find below the latest advice regarding COVID vaccination requirements for Victorian healthcare workers, provided to Chiropractic Australia via the Department of Health.

For more information regarding Chiropractic Australia’s stance on mandatory vaccinations, please see our Position Statement and Rationale Document.

17/08/2021 – Update for Metropolitan Melbourne

Further to yesterday’s guidance, please see below the amendment provided to Chiropractic Australia by Acting Chief Allied Health Officer – Sharon Downie – regarding the criteria for urgent clinical care:

The definition of urgent clinical care for this purpose is:
Direct clinical care (and other clinical support activity necessary to support direct clinical care) that prevents a significant change/deterioration in functional independence necessitating escalation of care OR is required as an adjunct to other urgent medical/surgical interventions.

For example, urgent clinical care;
• that avoids a potential hospital admission or emergency department presentation
• that avoids serious acute consequences or acute deterioration
• that presents/delays the need for further specialist medical or surgical intervention
• that prevents an increase in care needs that would necessitate additional carer supports or change in accommodation needs
• that limits secondary complications post surgery
• where deferral would lead to long term adverse consequences (i.e.. delays to child development)

We would also reinforce that face-to-face group interventions are not permitted in metro Melbourne at this time.

16/08/2021 – Two-Week Lockdown Extension Announced for Metropolitan Melbourne

The current lockdown in Melbourne has been just extended by an additional two weeks – until 11.59pm on Thursday, 2 September – and a curfew will be put in place across Metropolitan Melbourne as of 11.59 pm tonight (16 August 2021). Following the Premier’s announcement today regarding revised public health directions for Metro Melbourne, Chiropractic Australia has been in contact with Acting Chief Allied Health Officer – Sharon Downie – to provide clarification around these restrictions and key terminology in relation to Allied Health Professionals; a summary of this guidance is outlined here.

We would also like to remind our Victorian Members that received a business grant under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension, that you may also be eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three; which serves to provides additional support to eligible small to medium businesses in sectors affected by the current restrictions in metropolitan and regional Victoria.

11/08/2021 – 7-day Lockdown Extension Announced for Metropolitan Melbourne

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has declared that the current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne will remain in place until at least 11:59pm, Thursday 19 August. Please visit https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/extended-melbourne-lockdown-keep-victorians-safe for further information.

05/08/2021 – Snap 7-Day Lockdown Announced for Victoria

A snap seven-day lockdown has just been announced for Victoria – going into effect as of 8pm tonight – August 05, 2021.

You can find the full details of the restrictions here.

Chiropractic Australia has been in contact with Acting Chief Allied Health Officer, Sharon Downie, to provide clarification around these state-wide restrictions and what they mean for Allied Health Professionals; a summary of this guidance is outlined below.

Under these settings, clinical care may only be provided by Authorised Workforce. Allied Health professionals are recognised as an authorised workforce for the following services:

•    Allied health services provided by allied health professionals working as authorised workers in hospitals or in residential care facilities providing critical clinical care or as directed by the hospital; or
•    Allied health workers professionals working in private or public community services, whether clinic-based or home-based, providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate; or
•    Allied health services provided by allied health professionals working in private practice providing care through telehealth and other virtual care options; or
•    Allied health students on placement providing authorised care in hospitals or in residential care facilities, or through telehealth; or
•    Pharmacies.

For this purpose, essential clinical care is defined as:

• to prevent a significant change/deterioration in functional independence which would result in an escalation of care needs (e.g. an increase in frequency of treatment needed, an increased need for prescription medication due to a significant increase in pain, requirement for specialist input or review, an increase in care needs, and/or a substantial increase to anticipated recovery time associated with a delay in receiving services)
• to provide assessment and diagnostic services to clients / patients whose care have been delayed as a result of previous restrictions, with any further delay likely to result in deterioration in functional independence or adverse health outcomes (including access to diagnostic imaging services or assessment for prescription of assistive equipment and technology)
• to provide services that are essential as part of a broader plan of care with a medical practitioner (e.g. fitting a brace post-surgery)
• to provide services that are part of a conservative management plan to avoid or delay elective surgery (as agreed with treating team)
• to provide services immediately following elective surgery that prevent secondary complications or aid functional recovery (as agreed with treating team).

*Please note that Routine care is not permitted*

Specific restrictions for Metro Melbourne & Regional Victoria – at this time – are as follows:

Allied Health Intervention –private practice settings

•    Individual face to face services for essential care – only if care/service is not able to be provided via telehealth
•    Group face to face interventions not permitted
•    No restrictions on care/service types provided via telehealth

Group Interventions    

•    Group face to face interventions not permitted

Movement

•    Wherever practical, individuals should work at a single practice/clinic
•    Movement between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria only as required for authorised work only

Face Coverings

•    Must be carried at all times
•    Must be worn indoors except if at home, or if an exemption applies
•    Must be worn outdoors

Density Quotient

•    Applies to all venues and spaces that are accessible to the public (and in closed workplaces, to shared spaces such as lunchrooms) – 1 to 4m2

QR Codes

•    All businesses and workplaces must ensure all workers and visitors check in using the free Victorian Government QR Code Service; https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-victorian-government-qr-code-service

•    Exemptions to the use of QR codes cited for support groups and health services related to confidentiality are very much focused on significant risk issues (eg. family violence services), and will not apply to the majority of Allied Health services

Please note: The above guidance is based on information provided by the Victorian Government as of 5:15pm August 05 2021, which Chiropractic Australia understands to be correct as of this time, however this may be subject to change over the coming days and we will update our guidance accordingly should this be the case. If you require specific clarification and further details regarding the current restrictions, please visit Seven Day Lockdown To Keep Victorians Safe | Premier of Victoria.

30/07/2021 – COVIDSafe and PPE Guidance for Allied Health Professionals

You can find the latest COVIDSafe guidance and an FAQ section specific to Allied Health Professionals at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-work-current-restrictions#allied-health-faqs. The most current version of the PPE guidance for Allied Health and private practice is also available at Health care and social assistance sector guidance | Coronavirus Victoria.

27/07/2021 – Easing of Victorian Lockdown Restrictions effective as of 11.59pm tonight (Tuesday 27th July)

As per the Premier’s announcement this morning, changes to the current Victorian lockdown restrictions will come into effect as of 11.59pm tonight – Tuesday 27^th July: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/lockdown-lifted-across-victoria. For both metro Melbourne and regional Victoria, individuals will be able to leave their homes for any reason, however the requirement for COVIDsafe behaviours will remain in place – namely the requirement to wear a mask and check-in to public locations using the QR code system. The Authorised Worker List will no longer apply, meaning businesses and venues can reopen, with industry specific restrictions.

21/07/2021 – New Support For Victorian Businesses

The Victorian Government has announced a range of new supports to bolster communities and businesses most affected by the current restrictions, and further information regarding this additional injection of funds can be found at https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/support-builds-businesses-through-lockdown.

Please note: Businesses that previously qualified for – and received – financial support as part of the Business Costs Assistance Package Round Two will automatically receive the additional funding of $2800 (taking total payment to $4,800); there is no need to apply again or take any further action. Businesses that had chosen not to apply for these previous support programs in relation to the May/June lockdown, or had been ineligible to apply but are now eligible, are welcome to apply for July lockdown support payments and will be considered outside of the automatic top-up process.

15/06/2021 – Snap Lockdown in Victoria

A snap 5-day lockdown has just been announced for Victoria – going into effect as of 11:59pm tonight, July 15, 2021 – and these settings are expected to be in place until 11:59pm on Tuesday July 20, 2021. You can find the full details of the restrictions and you can access the full Table of Restrictions here.

According the document above, Allied health professionals working in private or public community services, whether clinic-based or home-based, providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate are classifed as authorised workers.

In addition to the above conditions pertaining to the provision of allied health services, it should also be be noted that face masks must be worn indoors at all times (except at home) and outdoors when it’s not possible to physically distance.

09/06/2021 – Easing of Circuit Breaker Restrictions in Victoria

Chiropractic Australia welcomes the announced easing of restrictions in Victoria – effective as for 11:59pm on Thursday 10 June, 2021 – and the ability for Victorian Chiropractors to return back to work at this time. You can see the full Statement from the Acting Premier here and you can access the full Table of Restrictions here.

27/05/2021 – 7-day Circuit Breaker Restrictions in effect across Victoria

11.59PM THURSDAY 27 MAY to 11.59PM THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 

7-day Circuit Breaker Restrictions have just been announced for Victoria – going into effect as of 11:59pm tonight – and these settings are expected to be in place until 11:59pm on June 3, 2021. For full details of the restrictions please click here.

Chiropractic Australia has been in contact with Donna Markham – Chief Allied Health Officer – to provide clarification around these restrictions and key terminology in relation to Allied Health Professionals; a summary of this guidance is outlined below.

Under these settings, only Authorised Health Services will be permitted, which are defined as;

• Allied Health services provided by allied health professionals working as authorised workers in hospitals or in residential care facilities providing critical clinical care or as directed by the hospital: or
• Allied Health workers professionals working in private or public community services, whether clinic-based or home-based, providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate; or
• Allied Health services provided by allied health professionals working in private practice providing care through telehealth and other virtual care options
• Students, medical/nursing/midwifery/allied health on placement providing authorised care in hospitals or in residential care facilities, or through telehealth.

*Please note that Routine care is not permitted*.

With regards to face-to-face provision of Allied Health services permitted under the 7-day Circuit Breaker Restrictions, essential clinical care is defined as:

• To prevent a significant change/deterioration in functional independence which would result in an escalation of care needs (e.g. an increase in frequency of treatment needed, an increased need for prescription medication due to a significant increase in pain, requirement for specialist input or review, an increase in care needs, and/or a substantial increase to anticipated recovery time associated with a delay in receiving services)
• To provide assessment and diagnostic services to clients / patients whose care have been delayed as a result of previous restrictions, with any further delay likely to result in deterioration in functional independence or adverse health outcomes (including access to diagnostic imaging services or assessment for prescription of assistive equipment and technology)
• To provide services that are essential as part of a broader plan of care with a medical practitioner (e.g. fitting a brace post-surgery)
• To provide services that are part of a conservative management plan to avoid or delay elective surgery (as agreed with treating team)
• To provide services immediately following elective surgery that prevent secondary complications or aid functional recovery (as agreed with treating team).

25/05/2021 – Additional COVIDSafe Measures for Greater Melbourne

Due to the recent cases in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, additional COVIDSafe Measures have been put in place in Greater Melbourne.

From 6pm tonight (May 25th 2021), face masks will need to be worn by everyone aged 12 years and older when indoors, unless an exemption applies.
Victorians who live in Greater Melbourne and need to travel to regional Victoria can still do so however, the restrictions travel with them. As outlined in yesterday’s Member Update Email, use of the Service Victoria QR code service will still be mandatory in all venues and facilities that are required to have mandatory electronic record keeping from Friday, 28 May.

What this means for you & your practice:

• All staff and patients over 12 will be required to wear a mask.
• Any Melbourne-based patient attending a clinic outside Greater Melbourne will be required to wear a mask.
• Any person entering your practice needs to sign in via the Service Victoria QR code service from Friday.

21/06/2022 – Vaccination Requirement Update received from NSW Health on 21^st June 2022

The Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Workers) Order 2022 expired on the 19 June 2022 and was not remade so the requirements for stage 2 healthcare workers (including Chiropractors) to have at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are no longer in force. This is because requirements for COVID-19 vaccination of health care workers are transitioning from Public Health Orders to a workplace health and safety risk assessment model. Under this model, employers will conduct their own risk assessments and consider vaccination requirements for their workplaces.

Although the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Workers) Order 2022 has lifted, COVID-19 vaccination has already become a mandatory condition of employment for some workplaces, including all NSW Health employees. Further information and latest updates from the NSW Government can be found here.

22/02/2021 – COVID-19 HEALTHCARE PRACTICES IN THE COMMUNITY – RISK ASSESMENT MATRIX

NSW Health has released a revised document designed to support healthcare services in the community to risk assess COVID-19 exposures in your own practice/facility.

Healthcare practices including Chiropractic, are considered to be at high risk of transmission of COVID-19. In addition, they are considered different to general workplace settings due to the potential susceptibility of patients, the duty of care related to providing health services and the recommended use of controls in place including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

When a person with COVID-19 attends the premises during their infectious period as a staff member, client/patient or carer, a risk assessment should be undertaken. Exposures can occur during individual clinical consultations, in group scenarios and whilst in non-clinical settings such as a waiting room.

A risk assessment should be undertaken when you become aware that a COVID-19 positive staff member, client/patient or carer has attended the premises during their infectious period. The infectious period is either 48 hours before the case’s symptom onset until the present, or if the case is asymptomatic, 48 hours before the positive test until the present. Your practice/facility is responsible for undertaking the risk assessment. The level of risk will determine the actions required by the practice/facility and those exposed to the COVID-19 case(s).

It is important to follow the appropriate actions outlined in the COVID-19 Healthcare Practices in the Community document to minimise the risk of further COVID-19 transmission. You can also refer to relevant risk matrix, Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Exposure Risk Assessment Matrix Table to assess the risk following exposure.

If you have queries that cannot be addressed when utilising these NSW Health tools outlined in the links provided, please contact your local Public Health Unit (PHU) on 1300 066 055.

17/02/2021 – NSW Premier announces scaled-back COVID-19 Rules

The NSW Government has just announced the easing of some COVID restrictions (summarized below) and we will update members as further details come to light. 

From tomorrow:

• 2 square metre density limit removed
• QR code check-ins only required at nightclubs and large music festivals. Hospital, aged care and disability facilities will continue to use their existing systems, as appropriate.
• Singing and dancing permitted at all venues except music festivals
• Recommendation of working from home will change to the employer’s discretion

From next Friday:

• Masks will only be mandated on public transport, planes and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, correctional facilities and indoor musical festivals with more than 1,000 people
• Masks will continue to be encouraged indoors where physical distancing is not possible, and for customer service staff
• Singing and dancing permitted at all music festivals
• Hotel quarantine will also be reduced for unvaccinated travellers from 14 days to 7 days

07/02/2021 – Updates from NSW Health & CHO

The advice for residential aged and disability care facilities, and home care service providers as at 10 January 2022 has been updated to align with the recent changes to contact management and overseas arrivals in NSW.

– Updated residential aged care facilities advice

– Updated residential disability care facilities advice

– Updated home care service providers facilities advice

Additional updates to the information for residential aged care facilities include:

– The addition of information for RAT and PCR testing

– Change to the information for staff – NSW Ministry of Health Aged Care Branch has endorsed the Commonwealth Permissions and Restrictions Framework for Workers in Residential Aged Care Facilities – Interim Guidance for private residential aged care facilities and community aged care providers

– NSW Health facilities should continue to use the NSW Health – Health Care Worker COVID-19 Exposure Risk Assessment Matrix

18/01/2021 – Public Health Orders and Exclusive Telehealth Providers

Please see below an ammendent regarding mandatory vaccination obligations and telehealth service provision.

Under the current NSW Public Health Order (PHO), practitioners that fall under the category of stage 2 healthcare workers (as well as supporting staff) who provide services exclusively via telehealth are exempted from mandatory vaccination requirements under the PHO provisions for registered health providers.

As outlined here, a stage 2 health care worker is exempt from the vaccination obligations if they:

• provide health services with no physical contact with members of the community being provided with the service; and

• provide that health service entirely from a place where there are no patients, clients and others accessing the health care onsite the premises.

Stage 2 health care workers (who are not considered Stage 1 health care workers) include the following:

• registered health practitioners, being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, dental practitioner (including dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental prosthetists and oral health therapists), medical practitioners, medical radiation practitioners, midwives, nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists

• a person who does work in connection with the provision of a heath service by a registered health practitioner or an unregistered health practitioner at the premises on which the health service is provided, e.g. a receptionist at a doctor’s surgery.

Mandatory vaccination requirements for allied health professionals in New South Wales (update)

Mandatory vaccination requirements for allied health practitioners in NSW have now been updated and expanded to include Stage 2 health care workers. The following information regarding these amendments has been provided to Chiropractic Australia by NSW Chief Allied Health Officer, Andrew Davison.

“The NSW Minister Health and Medical Research has made the Public Health (COVID-19 Health Care Workers Vaccination) Order (No.3) 2021 which revokes and remakes the Public Health (COVID-19 Health Care Workers Vaccination) Order (No.2) 2021 with amendments.

The current No 2 order requires certain health workers to be vaccinated in order to work, including staff of the NSW Health system and people who work at private health facilities. This existing group of workers will be known as Stage 1 health care workers in the No 3 Order. The No 3 Order continues these requirements and extends them to Stage 2 health care workers.

Stage 2 health care workers are non-government health service providers as follows:

• Registered health practitioners, being the 16 professions registered through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency;
• Unregistered / self-regulated health practitioners, being practitioners currently covered by the NSW Health Code of Conduct for Un-registered Health Practitioners. The Code covers any practitioner who provides a health service defined in accordance with the Health Care Complaints Act. This includes, but is not limited to, speech therapists, audiologists, massage therapists, dietitians and naturopaths and other alternative health care practitioners;
• Persons working in medical and community practices or premises where there is direct provision of health services by a health service provider, covering administrative and support staff working in medical and health practices
• Persons working for such a practice offsite, where they have direct physical contact with members of the community
• Certain other persons working in the broader public system, including board members and other appointees appointed by the Minister or Governor under certain health related legislation, such as board members of LHDs and HAC and health professional council members, the and staff of the HCCC

Stage 1 health care workers continue to need to have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to work (unless they have a medical contraindication).

Stage 2 health care workers will only be able to work if the worker:

• has received the first dose by 31 January 2022, and
• second dose by 28 February 2022

Consistent with Stage 1 health care workers, there are obligations on the responsible person (usually the employer) for the stage 2 health care worker to ensure compliance and there are provisions enabling workers with a medical contraindication to continue to work.”

21/12/2021 – Current Public Health Order (PHO) for New South Wales

Following Premier Dominic Perrottet’s announcement regarding the updated Public Health Order for NSW on 15 December 2021, other restrictions have now been significantly eased and aligned for everyone (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) across the state.

Under these revised settings outlined in the Public Health Order (PHO):

QR CODES

There is no requirement for private health practitioners to have QR codes under the new Public Health Order (PHO).

MASKS & FACE COVERINGS

There is no requirement for private health practitioners to wear face coverings / masks

Although mask mandates are no longer in place, NSW Chief Allied Health Officer – Andrew Davison – has provided Chiropractic Australia with the following advice regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with specific reference to masks face and coverings:

“Although the PHO does not specifically require private health practitioners to wear masks, I would strongly encourage all allied health and other health practitioners to continue wearing masks and other PPE, and continue screening patients coming into their practices for the following reasons:

1.     Due to the increasing case numbers, NSW Health has today (December 15th) reverted back to Red Alert which requires all our staff to wear masks and other PPE and screen visitors.

2.     Private health practitioners, including allied health, see very vulnerable people at a high risk of serious health complications resulting from COVID-19 and face masks significantly reduce the risk of transmission to and from patients.

3.     There have been ‘clusters’ of positive COVID-19 cases in NSW resulting from private allied health practices, particularly practices where face masks have not been worn by clinicians.

4.     Wearing face masks also reduces the risk to private allied health businesses because if clinicians are vaccinated and wearing ‘appropriate’ PPE they are less likely to be considered a ‘close contact’ if one of their patients is COVID-19 positive and therefore the requirement and timeframe to self-isolate is reduced.”

For more information about this and risk assessing and managing the exposure of vaccinated staff and PPE see: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/risk-matrix-hcw-vaccinated.pdf

For information about risk assessing and managing the exposure of unvaccinated staff and PPE see: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/risk-matrix-hcw-unvaccinated.pdf

For more advice for health care professionals, including PPE and screening patients, please go to https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/advice-for-professionals.aspx

————————–

Vaccination order to be extended to primary care and private sector health service providers

According to the update from NSW Health on December 16th, Mandatory vaccination requirements will be extended to all primary care and other private sector health service providers across NSW, with these workers required to have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 31 January 2022.*

*Please note: Whilst this change is expected, it is yet to be formerly enacted. Chiropractic Australia has reached out to NSW Health and will update members regarding this ammendment and when it commences as soon as this information comes to light.

The revised Public Health Order will extend vaccination requirements to health practitioners working in private and community settings, as well as support staff working in these practices, consistent with the with requirements in other states and territories; including Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Obligations for employers to take reasonable steps to ensure workers comply with these vaccination requirements, and for workers to provide evidence of vaccination will also apply. Workers will not be able to work in these settings unless they are vaccinated or have a medical contraindication certified by a medical practitioner.

14/12/2021 – NSW COVID restrictions to ease on December 15th, changes to masks, check-ins, unvaccinated freedoms

The changes – which were unveiled that has a updated roadmap by Premier Dominic Perrottet in November – will also see restrictions align for all, regardless of vaccination status. Under the plan, masks will only be required on public transport, planes and airports and for unvaccinated front-of-house hospitality staff, density limits will also be scrapped, as will QR code check-ins for most retail and hospitality venues.

To view the full list of rules and restrictions that apply to businesses throughout NSW Click Here

07/09/2021 – Mandatory vaccination requirements for allied health professionals in New South Wales

03/05/2022 – Updated Advice for Mandate RE Healthcare

07/02/2022 – Updated Advice for High-Risk Settings

27/05/2022 – Transition to the Public Health Act

After more than two years, the Major Emergency Declaration has been lifted on 24^th May 2022.

Amendments have been made to the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 to enable some important public health measures to remain. This is essential to protect the South Australian community and ensure the health system’s resources can manage COVID-19 cases.

Under the Public Health Act, existing requirements will continue to apply, including requirements for:

• isolation of positive COVID-19 cases
• close contacts
• mask wearing in health care settings, correctional services, passenger transport, and airports and airplanes
• COVID-19 vaccination for health care, residential aged care and in-home disability care workers
• testing of international arrivals
• COVID Safe Check-In in hospitals, residential aged care and disability care facilities.

More information is available on the SA Health website.

Consolidated Measures Direction

The Emergency Management (COVID-19 Requirements) (Consolidated Measures) Direction 2022 came into effect this week. This includes the current Activities, Arrivals, and Exposure Sites, Contacts and Diagnosis Requirements Directions.

This Direction, alongside the Residential Aged Care Facilities, Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination and In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Workers Vaccination, will continue to be in force under the Public Health Act.

I would like to thank all of you for your continued support in keeping South Australia healthy and safe.

More information is available on the www.covid-19.sa.gov.au website.

28/01/2022 – Latest Updates for South Australia

From 29 January 2022, people who work in South Australia healthcare settings are required to have a COVID-19 booster shot (or evidence of a booking to receive one) within 4 weeks of becoming eligible: this applies to all allied health professionals. Further information regarding the new Direction can be found here.

This direction – the Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 6) Direction 2021 – came into effect at 12:01 am on 29 January 2022 and revokes the Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 5) Direction 2021.

– Full details here.

18/01/2022 – Latest Updates for South Australia

This direction may be cited as the Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 6) Direction 2021.

It came into effect at 12:01 am on 29 January 2022 and revokes the Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 5) Direction 2021.

– Full details here.

19/01/2022 – Latest Updates for South Australia

Third dose mandate for healthcare workers in SA: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/documents/emergency-directions-covid-19/healthcare-setting-workers-vaccination/Emergency-Management-Healthcare-Setting-Workers-Vaccination-No-5-Direction-06012022.pdf

More information on self isolation: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/about+covid-19/self-isolation+and+quarantine+advice+for+covid-19+%28coronavirus%29

16/12/2021 – South Australia Borders

The South Australian border is now open to interstate travellers.  Rules apply – Click here for more info

30/06/2021 – Level 5 Restrictions in South Australia

As of 6:00 pm, 20 July 2021, Level 5 restrictions are now in effect across South Australia as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state. With regards to provision of care by chiropractic practitioners and other allied health professionals, it is important to note that only essential health services are authorised at this time.

According to the current settings outlined by the SA Government, accessible at Current activity restrictions | SA.GOV.AU: COVID-19, the following are classified as essential health services;

– Allied health services provided by allied health professionals working as authorised workers in hospitals providing critical clinical care or as directed by the hospital
– Allied health services provided by allied health professionals working in private practice providing care through telehealth and other virtual care options
– Students, medical/nursing/midwifery/allied health on placement providing essential care in hospitals or through telehealth
– Allied health services in the aged care or disability sector
– Allied health services for relief of chronic pain

For more information, please visit https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/.

30/06/2021

Please be reminded that Chiropractors and Osteopaths and their patients must wear masks. For full details of the restrictions, click here. 

04/11/2022 – End of WA State of Emergency

The WA Department of Health have confirmed that with the end of the WA state of emergency there will be no further legal directives issued under the Emergency Management Act. 

All remaining directions issued under the Emergency Management Act and the Public Health Act will be revoked, on 4 November 2022 including:

• proof of vaccination
• mandatory vaccination
• face mask use in high-risk settings
• visitors to residential aged care facilities (including requirement for influenza vaccination)

WA Hospitals

Mask wearing requirements will be managed by hospitals under their local policies for infection prevention and control, as they do for other respiratory illnesses. At a minimum, surgical masks will still be required for health care staff who have direct interaction with patients, with increased PPE measures for high-risk areas of the hospital and when dealing with more vulnerable patients.

Allied Health private practice

Health professionals are encouraged to develop infection control policy (including mask wearing and PPE use) for their practice using the below resources :

• Infection prevention and control and PPE page at the WA Health website COVID-19 information for health professionals
• Allied Health Professions Australia – Infection Prevention and Control in Allied Health Practice
• NHMRC Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019).

20/10/2022 –MANDATORY ISOLATION REMOVED

Following an agreement at National Cabinet, the mandatory isolation requirements for COVID-19 positive cases and their close contacts were removed on 14 October 2022. However, Western Australians are still encouraged to take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect others.

Anyone who is COVID-19 positive or experiencing symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever) is strongly encouraged to stay home until they have recovered.

It is recommended that those with COVID-19:

• stay at home for at least 5 days and until symptoms clear
• register their positive rapid antigen test (RAT) with WA Health
• don’t visit people at high risk of severe illness, such as aged or disability care facilities or healthcare facilities, such as GPs, physio or dentists for 7 days after testing positive
• notify their employer and discuss when to return to work.

More information

Mandatory Isolation removed for positive cases and close contacts

State Health Incident Controller Communique 18 October 2022

WA Health Clinician alert #88 – 14 October 2022

COVID in the workplace

Chief Health Officer advice

EXCLUSION PERIOD

While mandatory isolation requirements for COVID-19 cases and close contacts has been removed, some settings require ongoing risk management to protect those most vulnerable to severe illness.

People who work in a public hospital or public healthcare facility cannot attend work for 7 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

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 health service facilities including public hospitals, public mental health services and public community dental services
• should not enter high-risk settings including disability and mental health and aged care residential facilities and healthcare settings (e.g. private hospitals, ambulance services, GP clinics, physiotherapy).

Asymptomatic close contacts who work in high-risk settings can attend work with the agreement of their employer, provided they meet certain conditions.

The WA Health COVID-19 Framework for System Alert and Response (SAR) was developed to provide proactive and coordinated guidance to the WA health system to respond to the changing risks of COVID-19. Private hospitals and healthcare settings are not required to follow this framework, however, may use it as a guide when creating their own policies.

MASKS STILL REQUIRED IN HIGH RISK SETTINGS

Masks are still required for people aged 12 years and over (year 7 and over for schools):

• at hospitals and healthcare settings
• at residential aged care facilities and other residential care facilities
• in ambulance and patient transport services
• at primary health clinics (including general practitioner clinics, Aboriginal health services, private nurse offices and maternal, child, and dental health clinics)
• at specialist outpatient services and day procedure centres
• at allied health services including radiology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.

Masks are not mandated for healthcare settings that do not have face-to-face interaction with patients (including telehealth services, pathology laboratories and corporate areas within health facilities). If you believe you need wear a mask in certain circumstances, you are encouraged to do so.

More information

Baseline public health and social measures

COVID Transition (Face Covering) Directions (No 10)

MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION

WA’s mandatory vaccination policy only applies to workforces working with the most vulnerable to protect them from severe disease.

This means workers in the following sectors must be triple dose vaccinated to be able to enter their work premise:

• healthcare and health support workers in hospitals and primary health care settings
• workers in residential aged care facilities
• workers in residential disability settings.

More information

Primary Health Care Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 4)

20/07/2022 – Reinfection period reduced from 12 weeks to 4 weeks

Western Australians who have recovered from COVID-19 will need to test again 28 days after recovery, if experiencing symptoms.

https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/covid-19-reinfection-period-reduced-12-weeks-4-weeks

07/07/2022 – Fourth dose now available for more Western Australians

From Monday 11 July, 2022, the COVID-19 fourth dose is available and encouraged for anyone aged 30 and over.

Read more here

10/06/2022 – Public health measures phased out for most workplaces

Effective from June 10, 2022, WA’s mandatory vaccination policy will be updated in line with health advice and will only apply to workforces working with the most vulnerable to protect them from severe disease.

This means workers in the following sectors must be triple dose vaccinated to be able to enter their work premise:

• Healthcare and health support workers in hospitals and *primary health care settings;
• Workers in residential aged care; and
• Workers in residential disability settings.

The vaccine requirements in place on other workforces will be removed from this date. Read more here.

*Under Primary Health Directions (Restrictions on Access) No2 and Booster vaccination Directions No 2, allied health workers and private clinics are considered “primary health”.

There have been no changes advised regarding face masks. Face coverings must continue to be worn by people aged 12 years and over in a health care setting, which includes any health facility where health care is delivered to patients face-to-face, in places where patients have access. This includes hospitals, primary health clinics, specialist outpatient services, allied health services and ambulance and patient transport services. Read more here.

03/05/2022 – COVID-19 guidelines for healthcare practices in the community

The COVID-19 guidelines for healthcare practices in the community (PDF 644KB) will assist healthcare practices in assessing the risk following a COVID-19 exposure. Healthcare practices are at high risk of transmission of COVID-19. In addition, they are considered different to general workplace settings due to the potential susceptibility of patients and the duty of care related to providing health services.

The Guidelines will ensure that healthcare practices in the community can risk assess COVID-19 exposure and ensure continuity of critical services, particularly in remote and rural WA, and that healthcare practitioners are better positioned to support patients in their ongoing health needs.

29/04/2022 – Public health measures ease from today; Masks remain mandatory in high risk settings

Public health and social measures to ease from today Friday 29 April, with the removal of masks in most settings, density and capacity limits, proof of vaccination, G2G Pass requirements, and new asymptomatic close contact protocols. Read the announcement here.

The latest communique from the Department of Health on 28 April, has indicated that:

 Masks remain mandatory in high-risk settings for people aged 12 years and over, including healthcare settings.

Healthcare setting is defined as a public or private health facility where health care is primarily delivered via face-to-face services provided to residents, patients, clients and others.

This will include mainstream primary health care (so not iridology, massage therapy etc), but exclude telehealth services, pathology laboratories and corporate areas. The changes described above represent the minimum public health and social measures required. Individual hospital and healthcare sites are free to impose additional restrictions as appropriate to their settings.

CA is currently seeking clarification from the WA Department of Health on the details around restrictions for allied health.

03/03/2022 – COVID Transition (Healthcare Critical Worker) Directions

COVID Transition (Healthcare Critical Worker) Directions for have been released and are now in effect. Healthcare services, including allied health; and health care support services, such as administrative, clerical and managerial services are included in the directions.

These directions set out requirements for a person who is a healthcare critical worker and is a close contact attending work and are for the purpose of limiting the spread of COVID-19 in Western Australia while facilitating the continuity of essential operations.

07/02/22 High case number protocols commence from Tuesday 8 February

As Western Australia begins to experience a high caseload environment, new protocols announced in January will be introduced across the State from Tuesday, February 8.

Based on the latest health advice, considering the high level of Omicron in the community and the number of cases in self-quarantine, the new settings will help manage community transmission and minimise disruption caused by the virus in the community and to the economy.

The high caseload settings previously announced will be implemented from 8 February:

• New close contact definition;
• Removal of casual contacts;
• New testing and isolation guidelines;
• Mandatory positive Rapid Antigen Test registration. 

07/02/22 – Third-Dose Vaccination Requirements

WA workers who come under an existing vaccine mandate, which includes allied health, are required to have a third dose within one month of eligibility as part of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, with this information found here. A calculator to find out when individuals are eligible for their third dose can be found on the Roll up for WA website.

Directions for employers, health workers and health care workers can be found here and further details regarding the Booster Vaccination Directions can be found here.

05/02/22 Covid-19 Test Isolation Payments for eligible workers and carers

Western Australians can now apply for the McGowan Government’s $320 Test Isolation Payment if they are required to isolate while awaiting a COVID-19 PCR test result and lose income as a result. Click here for more info.

25/03/2021 – COVID-19: Update On WA Lockdown Information for Allied Health Professionals

Stay at Home and Closure Directions are now in effect across Perth, Peel and Rottnest, with these new restrictions expected – on the most recent advice – to last until 12:01 am on Tuesday, 27 April 2021. In line with the limited exceptions outlined in section 41J (ii) of the Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA), Chiropractic Australia is encouraging practitioners in the region to provide services via telehealth where possible over the three-day lockdown period.

Chiropractic practitioners in WA should also refer to the official directions from the WA Government for specific details regarding provisional exceptions for face-to-face service delivery permitted under the conditions of ‘essential health service’ as described in paragraph 41J (i) of the document accessible here.

Chiropractic Australia is committed to keeping members up-to-date and informed about the current situation in Western Australia, and will continue to update those affected as new details come to hand.

31/10/2022 -Removal of Public Health Directions

From 6 p.m. Monday 31 October 2022

• there are no Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask, but you may still be asked to wear one.
• Decisions on mandatory vaccinations for workers are now made by the owner or operator of a business or facility
• Although isolation is no longer mandatory, if you’re sick or test positive, we continue to recommend you follow this advice

Face Masks:

From 6 p.m. Monday 31 October 2022, there are no Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask.

Masks are still recommended:

• if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 or have symptoms of an acute respiratory infection
• if you’re a close contact
• wherever you can’t socially distance

Queensland Health’s traffic light system will help you understand the current level of risk and take appropriate precautions.

You may still be asked to wear a mask

Businesses and facilities may still require masks to be worn in certain circumstances. For example:

• your general practitioner may ask you to wear a mask when in their waiting and consulting rooms
• a hospital may require you to wear a mask when visiting patients or in certain areas
• a carer may be asked to wear a mask when providing care to a vulnerable person

If you’re asked to wear a mask, we ask that you cooperate with that request.

Traffic light system

Coinciding with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on 31 October 2022, Queensland Health has introduced a traffic light system to help Queenslanders understand the current level of risk and take appropriate precautions.

04/03/2022 – Easing of Restrictions in Queensland

COVID-19 update | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

From 6pm AEST Friday 4 March 2022:

• Masks will no longer be required indoors, except in hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation, prisons, public transport, airports and on planes.
• Masks will no longer be required in schools, including for staff, students and visitors.
• Masks will still be recommended whenever you can’t social distance.
• There will be no limit on the number of visitors you can have in your home at one time.
• Venues and events will no longer have capacity limits.

Until then, current face mask requirements and other public health and social measures remain in effect.

07/02/2022 – Changes Coming to Check In Qld App Requirements

The QLD Government has just announced that requirements for businesses to collect contact information using the Check In Qld app will be changing, with more information to made available here soon.

07/02/2022 – Escalated Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Queensland Health is providing further advice on escalated use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), given the recent community COVID-19 cases and community transmission. These precautions are intended to limit the further spread of this variant in the community and allow an assessment of risk of any further exposure in the community. This advice follows on from previous advice of 17 December 2021 that all LGAs in the state are at moderate PPE unless otherwise notified and categorised as ‘high-risk’.

For the latest COVID-19 PPE and infection control information, please visit Personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control guidance | COVID-19 | Queensland Health.

21/12/2021 – Current Public Health Order (PHO) for Queensland

On 2 December 2021, Queensland’s declared public health emergency for COVID-19 was extended to 11.59pm on Saturday 26 March 2022.

The Public Health (Further Extension of Declared Public Health Emergency—COVID-19) Regulation (No. 4) 2021 was made by Queensland’s Governor in Council, and extends all active Public Health Directions issued by the state’s Chief Health Officer.

Regarding workers in healthcare settings, the latest directions (in effect from 16 December 2021) are outlined here.

This public health direction applies to workers in healthcare (which includes AHPRA-registered practitioners) who enter, work in, or provide services in a healthcare setting (which encompasses private provider facilities including allied health consulting offices).

REMINDER: From 23 December 2021, a worker in healthcare must be fully vaccinated; excepting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to a current medical contraindication and for which additional conditions (including daily testing) applies.

17/12/2021 – Queensland Health Business directives for Covid-19

From 1am AEST Friday 17th December 2021,

people undertaking a business will need to have double vaccination as per the Queensland health guidelines.

Click here for more information.

13/12/2021 – Queensland makes major changes to quarantine rules

From 1am AEST Monday 13th December 2021, Border restrictions will change for people travelling to Queensland from a hotspot, the border zone and overseas. 

Click here to view the rules and regulations for Queensland.

09/07/2021 – Queensland: Compulsory Use of QR Code​

In addition to the hospitality sector, from 9 July 2021 the Check In Qld app will be mandatory for a number of new sectors. For the full the full list, click here. By definition, chiropractic and osteopathy falls under the category of Massage (therapeutic) and practitioners will therefore be
required to display and use the Check In QLD app. To apply for your QR code, click here.

For visitors without a digital device, other check-in forms must be available using a method outlined in paragraphs 13 and 14 of the previous page link. We acknowledge the challenges COVID-19 continues to have on our community, we encourage you to continue to visit
QLD Health.

Chiropractic Australia, as the peak body for the Chiropractic Community, continues to liaise with government departments in relation to the impacts of COVID-19. We will continue to share information as it comes to light and will provide this on our website.

25/06/2022 – Face mask changes

From 12:01 on Saturday 25 June 2022, face masks will no longer be required in schools, early childhood centres or on public transport (including the Spirit of Tasmania vessel and its terminals).

Some public transport providers, schools and childcare centres may still require face masks to be worn based on their individual risk assessment.

Although wearing face masks will no longer be required in these settings, individuals can choose to continue wearing masks if they wish.

From 1 July 2022, the requirement to wear face masks in all remaining settings, such as hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability providers and correctional facilities, will be based on individual risk assessments for each of these settings.

Close contacts will still be required to wear face masks when they are in indoor settings outside the home.

Face masks, along with other COVID-safe behaviours, remain an important way to help reduce the risk of COVID-19. Although not mandatory, mask wearing is still strongly recommended in public places, especially where physical distancing is not possible.

15/06/2022 – Further COVID Restrictions to be eased

As part of our ongoing transition to live with COVID-19 and in line with public health advice, Tasmania will gradually step down a number of our last remaining restrictions in the coming weeks.

From 12.01am Saturday 18 June, there will no longer be a requirement to wear masks in Tasmanian airports, although people will still be required to wear masks while on planes, in line with the national approach.

From 12.01am Saturday 25 June, people will no longer be required to wear face masks on public transport, including the Spirit of Tasmania, and it will no longer be a requirement for masks to be worn in schools, or early childhood education and care centres.

Additionally, from 30 June 2022, we will transition out of the Public Health Emergency Declaration, meaning the requirement to wear face masks in all other remaining settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities, disability providers and correctional facilities will not be mandatory, but will be based on a risk assessment for each setting.

I can also advise that large cruise ships will once again be welcomed back to our shores, with cruise ship visits to Tasmania anticipated to commence with the next cruise season in October 2022 – providing a welcome boost to local businesses and our economy after nearly three years without.

These are sensible steps forward as we continue to transition to living with COVID-19 and make personal choices regarding COVID protections, and adapt to a more normal way of living.

However, positive COVID-19 cases will still be required to quarantine for a minimum of seven days, and close contacts of positive cases will still be required to wear face masks in indoor settings when outside the home.

And while cases are trending downwards, it remains our collective responsibility to look out for one another by continuing to follow COVID-safe behaviours.

Please continue to practice good hand hygiene, follow social distancing, test when you have symptoms, wear a face mask in vulnerable settings or when around vulnerable people, and stay home when you are unwell.

And, remember to stay up to date on both your COVID and flu vaccinations, which are currently free for all Tasmanians at GPs, pharmacies and state-run vaccination clinics.

More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff

More Media Releases from the Premier

25/01/2022 – Additional critical industries included in the temporary exemption framework

Please note that additional critical industries have been added to the  temporary exemption framework, which now includes Chiropractic.

25 January
Additional industries that are essential for the supply of critical goods and services to the community will be able to register from Friday 28 January 2022 for staff to be exempt from the quarantine requirement for close contacts if they are identified as a critical worker.

Read the list of new and existing critical industries.

This contingency framework that allows these exemptions only applies to businesses within identified sectors and does not provide exemptions in advance of shortage issues arising. The exemption from the quarantine requirement only becomes available once there is a critical shortage to staff due to the quarantine requirement for close contacts.

For more information and to register see Framework for critical industries.

19/01/2022 – COVID Updates

For the lastest community updates, please visit https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/important-community-updates

20/12/2021 – Masks

As of 12.01am 20.12.2021 masks are required to be worn in all settings across Tasmania.

07/02/2022 – CHO Direction Updates

There have been a number of updates and amendments to the Directions from the NT Chief Health Officer, with new information posted regularly here. You can also read more about current restrictions, mandatory mask requirements and lock-ins for selected areas here.

06/01/2021 – Territory-wide Lockout

The NT Governement has just declared a territory-wide lockout from 1pm today (06/01/2022). You can learn more here.