Public Health Orders
On 10 November 2021, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) issued a statement recommending mandatory COVID‐19 vaccination for certain disability workers, noting that mandating of vaccination for workers providing services and supports to people with disability was considered to provide an important protection for people with disability during the COVID‐19 emergency.
With the more recent public health shift from emergency management towards living with COVID-19 permanently, many state and territory jurisdictions no longer have public health orders in place mandating worker vaccination.
Registered NDIS providers continue to be required, as a condition of registration, to comply with applicable public health orders (or applicable directions) in the state or territory in which they operate. Providers should check the websites of the relevant state or territory government for information about current public health orders and related requirements.
Obligations of NDIS providers
Under the NDIS Code of Conduct, NDIS providers and workers must provide supports and services to people with disability in a safe and competent manner with care and skill. Assisting participants to access COVID-19 vaccination, planning for an outbreak of COVID-19 and taking precautions to minimise infection risks are important considerations in meeting obligations under the Code and keeping participants and workers safe.
Registered NDIS providers have additional obligations under the NDIS Practice Standards in relation to the management of risks, provision of safe supports, and to have emergency and disaster plans in place for the continuity of support to participants including during a COVID-19 outbreak.
To support NDIS providers meet their obligations, Safe Work Australia has published information on its website about COVID-19 vaccination and meeting work, health and safety obligations.
Precautions to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission
Whilst isolation requirements for people who are COVID-19 positive ended on 14 October 2022, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care strongly recommends that disability support workers do not attend or provide disability support services for 7 days after testing positive for COVID-19 and while symptoms persist.
COVID-19 continues to present risks to many people with disability. Staying away from work while COVID-19 positive or symptomatic will reduce the risk of transmission to this group.
Further, disability support workers are encouraged to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination. Information for disability workers about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
NDIS workforce vaccination status
Current as of 07 October 2022
From 10 December 2021 to 23 September 2022, the NDIS Commission required NDIS providers registered to provide intensive disability support services to report on the COVID-19 vaccination status of workers they employ, or otherwise engage, to deliver NDIS-funded supports and services, and who are required to be vaccinated in accordance with in force state and territory public health orders. The below statistics reflect data reported to the NDIS Commission by NDIS providers at the conclusion of the reporting period.
|
Provider State |
Providers who have reported worker vaccination totals |
Required to be Vaccinated |
Total reported that are fully vaccinated(1)(2) |
Reported percentage that are fully vaccinated |
Part Vaccinated |
Reported percentage that are part vaccinated(3) |
|
Totals |
7330 |
423373 |
405453 |
96% |
10982 |
2.59% |
|
ACT |
140 |
12349 |
12301 |
100% |
25 |
0.20% |
|
NSW |
2614 |
130384 |
124219 |
95% |
4229 |
3.24% |
|
NT |
118 |
3684 |
3513 |
95% |
147 |
3.99% |
|
QLD |
1518 |
72899 |
70693 |
97% |
784 |
1.08% |
|
SA |
468 |
36079 |
34239 |
95% |
1386 |
3.84% |
|
TAS |
189 |
12671 |
12156 |
96% |
328 |
2.59% |
|
VIC |
1800 |
120730 |
115503 |
96% |
2716 |
2.25% |
|
WA |
483 |
34577 |
32829 |
95% |
1367 |
3.95% |
Note:
- ‘Fully vaccinated’ means in accordance with requirements under state and territory public health orders in force as at 23 September 2022.
- Remaining workers not included include those exempt from vaccination requirements, workers whose vaccination status was not verified by the provider at the time of reporting (such as workers on leave) and provider reporting anomalies.