The NDIA is closely monitoring the outbreak of Coronavirus (now referred to as COVID-19) and is taking necessary steps to prepare if the government declares a pandemic.

People with disabilities, especially those that are older and/or have complex conditions, are more vulnerable to the illness than the general population.

As an NDIS provider, what can you do to ensure both participants and workers are safe?

Having effective infection control policies and processes in place is vital at all times. Continuing to follow key tenets of infection control will help you identify a possible case of COVID-19. It will also help to ensure that you and your organisation has appropriate prevention and response measures in place.

Know the symptoms

According to the Australian Department of Health, the most commonly observed symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• high temperature/fever

• flu-like symptoms (e.g. coughing, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose)

• shortness of breath.

Make workers and participants aware of these symptoms and encourage them to seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. Give participants the necessary assistance they require to contact health services.

Keep everyone informed and plan your response

Encourage good infection control practices by sharing information across your organisation. Make sure all information you provide is in a format that can be easily understood by participants and workers.

In addition, ensure that you have a contingency plan in place if someone within your organisation is suspected of having or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Consider the following questions:

• how will you manage COVID-19-related risks to participants and workers?

• do you have appropriate infection control policies in place across your organisation?

• are any of your workers/participants particularly vulnerable?

• what will you do in event of a suspected case or diagnosis?

• what back-up plans do you have in place to ensure continuity of supports?

• what is your plan if services have to be scaled back significantly or you have to cease operations?

Practice proper hand hygiene

Reinforce the importance of practicing good hand hygiene across your organisation. Encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) and avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands.

Workers should wash their hands before and after:

• working with participants and/or their surroundings

• any exposure to bodily fluids

• food preparation and consumption.

Everyone should also wash their hands after:

• using the bathroom

• blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing

• handling waste and unwashed linen/clothing

• handling animals.

Maintain cough etiquette

You can help maintain correct cough etiquette by encouraging everyone to:

• cover their nose and mouth when they are coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose

• if there are no tissues, sneeze or cough in their elbow (rather than their hands)

• wash their hands right after coughing, sneezing and/or blowing their nose

• dispose of used tissues immediately.

Utilise correct personal protective equipment (PPE)

Make sure you have appropriate PPE and use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. PPE that may help and manage the threat of infection includes:

• gloves

• face masks

• gowns and aprons.

In addition, make sure you have other hygiene equipment available (e.g. soap, alcohol-based hand rub and paper towels).

Seek reliable information

Staying informed as the situation develops is important. However, make sure to get your updates and information from reliable and authoritative sources in order to avoid unnecessary alarm. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Department of Health are two such sources. The former also has a free online training course that gives guidance for managing COVID-19. Check the NDIS disaster response page for disability-related updates and advice, or the central information page for the NDIS Commission. Registered providers will have also received key updates from the NDIS Commission. Remember to proactively seek additional advice/assistance if you need it.

Need help managing infection control practices? Centro ASSIST provides an infection control policy as well as suite of other policies and processes for providers delivering services under the NDIS. Find out more about our products.

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