TUESDAY, 4 AUGUST 2020

Please ensure you join the Victorian Facebook group for more immediate updates.

 

COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria and what this means for your business

*Exercise services must be clinically necessary, and clients must be referred by a GP or medical specialist*

ESSA has been advised that a lot of crucial questions in relation to allied health service access are still being clarified by the Victorian government's public health team – that includes key issues such as referral requirements for access to services, access for private patients, definitions of vulnerable patients, which settings are considered aged care settings, and requirements in relation to COVID-safe plans for health providers. The likelihood is that we won't have clarification until very late on Wednesday and possibly even later than that. Err on the side of caution until we get more information.

Given that, our strong recommendation are:

• Consider which appointments you have on Thursday and Friday and if they are likely to be considered clinically necessary health care or not.
• Consider if that client has a current referral. This must be from a GP or medical specialist.
• Apply an overarching principle of minimising travel movements wherever possible, both your own and that of your patients.
• Consider utilising telepractice wherever possible.
• Implement the PPE guidelines where an in-person appointment must occur – eye shields and face covering are mandatory, click here for more.

Remember, Victoria is in a ‘State of Disaster’ – we are all working together to minimize the spread of COVID-19. To do this, we need to consider how all of us, as individuals, can support this.

Under Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions, the default is that workplaces in metropolitan Melbourne are closed unless the workplace is part of a permitted industry as set out here. All Victorians are required to work from home, except where this is not practicable. Sole operators can continue to operate, if they do not have contact with the public, or with people other than those persons living in their primary household.

The Premier has stated that people who have tested positive or are close contacts will no longer be able to leave their homes for exercise.

 

What clients can I see during the Stage 4 metropolitan Melbourne lockdown?

AEPs must only see clients that require clinically necessary treatment referred by a GP or medical specialist.

AEPs are required to use their clinical judgement and undertake a thorough risk stratification to determine whether an in-person service is clinically necessary at this time.

Your decision should consider the following:

• current health status of clients and whether they are vulnerable clients, as defined by the DHHS here
• client needs and goals (ensuring they are clinically relevant)
• risks including precautions and contraindications, e.g. what is the risk of a client not being seen in-person? What is the risk of a client being seen in-person?)
• exclusion criteria for telehealth service, e.g. barriers to safe and effective services such as health/digital literacy, visual, auditory or cognitive impairment, language and cultural barriers
• need and availability for a client support person to assist in consult, e.g. family, carer, allied health assistant
• legal requirements (such as Victorian public health orders, directives, Australian Government aged care and NDIS requirements)
• Worksafe Victoria requirements and services including the COVID Safe Plan, e.g. community health services will be different to private practice such as workplace environment, who is responsible for decisions about services and types of services.

 

COVID Safe plan: Under the Stage 4 restrictions, workplaces that remain open must have a COVID Safe Plan in place that is regularly updated (unless you are a small business with fewer than 5 employees). We strongly recommend that small businesses complete a COVID Safe plan as well.

Please note: Unless an exemption applies, ensure that workers do not work across multiple sites, or for multiple employers. This is to reduce spread. For your obligations see specific information from the Victorian government here. In addition, please see ESSA’s Fact Sheet on COVID Safe plans here.

 

New ‘Worker Permit’

With new restrictions on business and industry coming into force from Wednesday night, employees working in permitted industries who cannot work from home will be required to carry a new ‘Worker Permit’ when travelling to and from work. From 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August, employers will be required to issue signed permits to their employees to allow them to attend a workplace – to prevent people trying to get around the tough new restrictions. Key workers, such as police officers or nurses, will be able to use their hospital or Victoria Police IDs.

The paperwork will be posted to the Department of Health and Human Services website later today (4 August 2020) with further details about what information will be required.

 

WorkSafe Notification

Employers and self-employed persons, with management or control of a workplace, must notify WorkSafe immediately after becoming aware that:

• an employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has received a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19); and
• the employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has attended the workplace within the relevant infection period.

For more information, click here.

 

Business grants: Additional business support has been announced, to apply for a business grant click here. We will provide details on further support as they are made available.

Management of employees: You may need to may change to your staffing numbers and/or hours. Please reach out to our HR partner, Strawberry Seed Consulting if you need assistance navigating the changes. Click here to make an appointment

Pandemic leave: Some employees will have access to unpaid pandemic leave during quarantine and self-isolation. Under the Health Professionals and Support Services award and Aged Care Award, eligible employees can take up to two weeks leave. Click here to visit Fair Work for more information. Other employees working outside of these awards may be able to access may be able the Victorian Test Isolation and Worker Support Payments. More information about Australian Government pandemic leave payment will be available tomorrow  (Wednesday, 5 August 2020). Details on Australian Government payments for Victorians are here.

 

FAQs

Can I work with clients 1 on 1 in a gym closed to the public? No. Gyms must be closed.

Can I perform PT services indoor or outdoor? No.

Can I work at multiple locations? No, if you are employed by one business working across different clinics. If you have multiple jobs, you need to strongly consider if the work you are doing is meeting the criteria of essential allied health work and are you following all PPE/COVID Safe Plans. Our goal is reduce the spread.

Can I provide service outside of curfew hours? No. Exceptions are made for urgent medical support (e.g. hospital visits).

Can I film or do ZOOM calls in my gym? We have no firm advice whether this allowed but at this stage we recommend working from home.