The Chief Health Officer has declared the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown commencing at 11:59pm on Sunday 19 September, with restrictions the same as those in the City of Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew. This obviously means that it is critical you are carrying your work permits for those travelling to or from Geelong. As it stands we are doing our very best to limit movement across sites and particularly LGA’s. We do urge that if you are working elsewhere that you let the agency know ASAP so it can be updated on your file and we do not send you to any sites not accepting staff that are working across multiple sites.
Caseloads in Greater Geelong and Mitchell Shire have increased in recent days, with 17 and 15 active cases in these Local Government Areas respectively as of 18 September. A further 2 new cases in Geelong, 2 on the Surf Coast and 7 new cases in Mitchell Shire were confirmed in this morning’s numbers.
Under lockdown restrictions, you won’t be able to leave home other than for necessary goods and services, caregiving or compassionate reasons (including medical care and getting a COVID-19 test), authorised work or permitted education, exercise and outdoor social interaction in limited groups, and getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Requirements for healthcare workers regarding vaccinations
Please note that regarding COVID-19 Vaccinations, our information shared is coming directly from https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ it is completely your choice to be vaccinated however keep in mind that we are required to follow the guidelines set by the services we provide staff to.
Please ensure you are keeping a copy of your vaccination details with you when going to shifts as you may be asked to show this evidence when arriving to your shift. Every site has their own way of keeping this recorded however we ask that while facilities are getting used to needing to report this kind of information that we all have some patience as they are all doing it differently. We do not pass on any details or information that you provide to us for example, copies of your vaccine details. We may be asked by the facilities to verify if you have been vaccinated and the dates are recorded for our information on a spreadsheet.
From 17 September 2021, residential aged care workers at public, private, and not-for profit residential aged care facilities in Victoria must be able to, as a minimum, provide evidence showing they have:
– received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 17 September 2021, or
– an appointment to receive at least their first dose by 1 October 2021, or
– an exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.
From 1 October 2021, residential aged care workers must be able to provide evidence showing they have:
– a full COVID-19 vaccination of two doses
– one COVID-19 vaccination dose and a booking for a second by 15 November 2021
– an exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.
From 15 November 2021, employers must ensure all workers entering a residential aged care facility are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.
Information for residential aged care facilities
What are residential aged care facilities required to do?
Employers must sight evidence from their workers of their COVID-19 vaccination status and keep up to date records of whether the employee has:
– had no COVID-19 vaccination
– had a partial COVID-19 vaccination
– had a full COVID-19 vaccination
– has an exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.
Employers must also inform current workers of their obligations and inform applicants applying for a position of their COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Between 17 and 30 September 2021, employers cannot allow a worker who has not provided evidence of their vaccination from entering the aged care facility unless they:
– provide evidence that they have an appointment to be vaccinated before 1 October 2021, and
– follow the additional safety obligations of wearing additional personal protective equipment (at a minimum, a surgical mask and face shield) or be restricted to working at a single facility.
General information
I have a medical condition. Can I get an exemption?
You may be exempt if you are unable to be vaccinated because you have a medical contraindication as determined by ATAGI clinical .
You will need evidence from a medical practitioner about this – such as a medical certificate or a letter.
The employer must sight and record evidence from one of the following authorised medical practitioners:
– general practice registrars on an approved 3GA training placement
– public health physicians
– general physicians
– infectious disease physicians
– clinical immunologists
– gynaecologist
– obstetrician
– GPs who are vocationally registered
– GPs who is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
– GP who is a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
Workers who have provided evidence of a medical exemption do not need follow the additional safety obligations, but other Chief Health Officer Directions may apply.
What if I can’t get an appointment in time?
Residential aged care workers can get a priority vaccination appointment.
To book a reserved appointment, call the Coronavirus Hotline?on 1800 675 398.
Which vaccine will I receive?
Residential aged care workers can choose which vaccine they would like to receive. At Victoria’s state-run vaccination centres, priority groups (including residential aged care workers) can access the Pfizer vaccine, regardless of their age.
