Queensland businesses are required to take steps to manage COVID-19 in the workplace and should have a workplace health and safety plan which includes COVID-19 planning in place to demonstrate this. As this is an existing measure linked to current workplace health and safety legislation we recommend that this plan — or a summary of it — is what should be displayed as evidence that a business is COVID SAFE. View the Framework for COVID Safe Businesses for more information. As these directions can change, businesses should regularly check this website.
COVID-19 information for service providers, workers and volunteers
People with disability may be impacted more significantly by coronavirus (COVID-19) especially if they have underlying medical conditions.
For all the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Queensland please check the Queensland Health COVID-19 updates.
Information for disability service providers
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All providers are expected to continue to meet the immediate needs of the people they support and make arrangements to ensure their clients are not left without essential services.
NDIS providers are expected to continue delivering supports to NDIS participants and prioritise supports to meet the immediate needs of participants. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is advising providers of their obligations and is issuing Provider Alerts in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
These include NDIS provider obligations in relation to:
- business continuity
- NDIS Code of Conduct
- NDIS Practice Standards
- conditions of registration
- risk management
- notifying the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission of certain events including your ability to deliver ongoing supports to NDIS participants.
For more information visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website.
Service providers delivering disability services funded by the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services, should contact the department to discuss any service delivery issues they may be experiencing due to COVID-19 and to make arrangements to ensure essential services continue to be available to the people they support.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has an online training module for existing and new support workers on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. The training covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19, including: COVID-19—what it is; signs and symptoms; keeping safe–protecting participants and your workforce; and myth busting.
NDIS Providers need to refer to the NDIS website about how to access PPE.
Providers should continue to access PPE through their usual means. Where this is no longer possible, they should approach the National Medical Stockpile (NMS).
Access to PPE will also be prioritised for those NDIS providers who deliver personal care and other activities that require close physical contact where there is an immediate threat to continuity of safe quality care due to lack of access to PPE, or where the participant has a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has important information about coronavirus for NDIS service providers, including provider obligations, how to reduce the risk to participants, and links to updates and resources, including a Notification of changes and events related to COVID-19 form.
It is a condition of NDIS registration providers notify the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner of certain changes and events, especially those which substantially affect your ability to provide the supports and services you are registered to provide.
Find out more about the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The National Disability Insurance Agency is supporting providers and sharing advice about any changes that may affect their business throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
Find information on financial support, as well as updates to claiming and cancellation policies, support coordination and provider obligations on the NDIS website.
Fact Sheet: First 24 hours – managing COVID-19 in a residential aged care facility
- CSIA Industry Hotline 1800 027 420
- Industry Preparedness and Planning—Business continuity accelerator, scenario and continuity planning
- Resources on workplace infection Control—Guidelines, Log sheets, managing an outbreak, flowcharts and talking points with staff
- Managing Social Distancing in Congregate Care settings
Work Safe Australia