IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ - firstcall HEALTH

Dear Valued Firstcall Health team member,

As the COVID-19 situation evolves and changes, we would like to thank you for your support during what will very well be a challenging time ahead.

As you would be well aware, the Victorian government has announced that from 11.59pm on Thursday 27 May 2021 until 11.59pm Thursday 3 June 2021, Victoria is now in a 7 Day Circuit Breaker Lockdown and there will be new restrictions that apply.

The 5km radius rule will be reinstated and facemasks will be mandatory outdoors and indoors (except in your home). There are only five reasons to leave your home:

· Shopping for food and other essential supplies

· Authorised work

· Care and caregiving

· Exercising, for up to two hours, with one other person

Getting a vaccination

Please click here for Victoria’s latest COVID-19 restrictions COVIDSafe Settings | Coronavirus Victoria

As a provider of essential services/care you are able to continue your amazing work. Your ID badge and docket book are more than sufficient if you are required to provide proof of work so please carry these with you at all times. We have not been advised that work permits are required at this stage.

All firstcall HEALTH staff are required to wear a mask and in some cases full PPE dependant on where you are working. It will be at the facilities discretion so please ensure you are always following the direction of the site you are working at.

For anyone providing any care in the home, you must wear a mask at all times during client contact. To be inline with current restrictions when working and caring for someone in the home the following applies:

We cannot take clients for recreational drives to the beach, wander to the shops, attend community group meetings or go to the movies.
We can instead offer social support by spending time with clients at home reading, doing a jigsaw, doing crafts, watching a movie at home etc.
We can offer to support the client with a walk outside to get some gentle exercise.
We can offer to book a carer for a “phone welfare check” if clients don’t want to have someone in their home.
We can transport clients to medical appointments, pick them up from hospital appointments etc.
Clients can opt to go shopping with the carer, but our recommendation is for the carer to do the shopping unaccompanied to reduce the risk to the client.
The client must wear a mask if they are leaving their home.

Gardening, domestic assistance, meal prep etc. are still permitted based on these being required to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our clients.

With the main focus on ensuring the safety of our staff, clients/patients & residents they are caring for all other potential visitors attending our premises, we have implemented some changes to ensure that we are providing the highest quality compliance at all times.

Our office has converted to appointment only and any or all appointments which are urgent are being conducted online. In the event a staff member requires to pick something up facemasks are worn at all times by internal and external staff.

QR Code at Entry Point

We have transitioned from a register to an online QR code register for anyone entering our office. This has been implemented for the last month and has been followed by all.

Firstcall HEALTH staff are also aware there are COVID-19 screening and entry obligations at every site. It is a condition of entry at all sites that you comply with these entry obligations and you may be turned away in the event that you don’t.

Staffing Obligations

All facilities have visitor restrictions in aged care homes and in hospitals the only exceptions are end of life situations and circumstances.

Visitor restrictions –

Non-essential contractors are restricted from entry
Hairdressing and entertainers are to be ceased until further notice
Café’s inside the homes to remain open but for take-away only for residents and staff.
No visitors or contractors.

We must comply with the processes outlined at each site/facility you are working. Please also be aware that if the following applies to you, it must be reported to the agency immediately:

(a) if they have been exposed to and/or made aware of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 at another location attended

(b) for a close contact with someone who is suspected, yet to be confirmed negative or positive with a case of COVID-19; or

A close contact is having face-to-face contact for more than 15 minutes with someone who has a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) or sharing a closed space with the person for more than 2-hours.

In the event that any of the above applies to any of our staff, you will be required to get tested and immediately isolate until a negative result is received.

We are also communicating updates daily to the exposure sites listed via Case alerts – public exposure sites | Coronavirus Victoria which we suggest you are checking daily and must advise us immediately should you have frequented any of them.

Should you have any symptoms of any kind no matter how minor, you are also required to be tested and isolate for the full 14 days regardless of the result prior to being able to work again.

Influenza Vaccinations

All firstcall HEALTH staff must have a current influenza vaccination. The only exception to this is if you have recently had the COVID-19 vaccine some doctors advised their patients they must wait a number of days prior to being able to have a top up of the influenza vaccination. If this applies to you please report this to the agency immediately. Unfortunately if you have not done so by today we are going to need to place your file on hold until such time as you organise to have it done.

Firstcall HEALTH fully supports the government and health advice on managing the ever evolving COVID-19 situation and encourages everyone to stay home if you’re unwell, get tested if you have symptoms or suspect you are a close contact, or if you have frequented any of the listed exposure sites as above via the link.

If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination do not wait, make an appointment or attend a vaccination site. It will be the best way to protect those that are most vulnerable. Should you require an Employee Proof of Occupation letter please feel free to email angela@firstcallhealth.com.au today and we can arrange to have this sent to you.

For further information on the current COVID-19 situation and vaccination please visit:

COVIDSafe Settings | Coronavirus Victoria

Case alerts – public exposure sites | Coronavirus Victoria

Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | COVID-19 Chief Health Officer update (dhhs.vic.gov.au)

Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Coronavirus (COVID-19) (dhhs.vic.gov.au)

COVID-19 vaccines | Australian Government Department of Health

Book your vaccine appointment | Coronavirus Victoria

COVID-19 vaccines | Coronavirus Victoria

Be safe everyone and take care,

Angela Zulumovski

Director – firstcall HEALTH

p: 1300 984 400 f: 9731 0521