Disability support workers and in-home and community aged care workers in the ACT will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December.
The ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, will sign a new public health direction requiring these workers to be vaccinated as a condition of work or to provide in-home care or services.
These workers will need to receive their first vaccine dose by 1 November, and to be fully vaccinated by 29 November.
Under the public health orders:
- People working in the disability sector must be vaccinated to provide services to people with disability if they are engaged by a registered NDIS provider, or state or territory government, to assist with daily life tasks and personal activities, group- and centre-based activities, or provide disability support to clients who work at a social enterprise business.
- Professionals who provide community nursing care and therapeutic supports must also be vaccinated.
- People working in the in-home and community aged care sector must be vaccinated if they deliver home care services for the aged-care sector, or Commonwealth, state or territory government.
This requirement will apply to everyone who is engaged to work in these sectors and perform these duties, whether fulltime, part-time, casually, or on a voluntary basis.
Although most eligible Canberrans had been vaccinated, Commonwealth data indicated that rates were not as high among disability support workers, said Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Health.
“Although we have very high vaccination rates in the ACT, and have worked hard to ensure people with disability and older people have every opportunity to be vaccinated, it is important that those providing care in higher risk settings also have the highest possible level of vaccination,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Mandatory vaccinations for disability support and community aged care workers were recommended by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the key decision-making committee for health emergencies, Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Emma Davidson, ACT Minister for Disability, said this direction would mean more confidence for people with disability, more certainty for the sector, and protect more at-risk Canberrans as restrictions ease.
“The disability and aged care sectors provide a lot of essential support for many people, and make Canberra more inclusive. Some of the people they support have felt uncomfortable asking for a worker who is fully vaccinated, so this measure will provide more confidence in the sector and the organisations they access,” Ms Davidson said.
“It’s important that once support workers are vaccinated, they continue to follow public health directions and hygiene practices to help keep Canberrans well protected against COVID-19.”
Mandatory vaccinations for teachers and school staff were announced last week.
“This decision aligns vaccination requirements for the ACT’s disability support and community aged care workers with those for staff in residential aged care facilities, hospitals, schools, and early childhood education and care settings,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT Government will continue to consult stakeholders, including unions, before the Chief Health Officer signs a new public health order.
