As a response to the recent NSW Health Order, we have complied a list of Frequently Asked Questions in order to help us navigate these times as a team.
Q: I don’t work in Lifemaps or with a client with a disability. Does the mandate impact me?
A: Yes. As an organisation we provide services across a range of areas, residential care, disabilities, foster care, outreach, mentoring, education etc. In each of those services we have clients who receive funding from the NDIA. We can’t restrict services to our clients based on the vaccination status of individual workers. In addition to this as you would know, we approach our work in a wholistic way, we have camps, lunches, Christmas meals and other gatherings that involve staff and clients getting together from across the organisation. While we need to understand what this will look like post 1 December, 2021 we will still operate with this wholistic approach and can’t exclude clients from participating in these activities. In addition to this, a lot of our services are provided through our head office at Charlestown and we all share those spaces with all clients. Specifically in relation to front line staff, all staff are employed to work across both the residential care and disability spaces. Our placement groupings can and do change and at any time even if you are not specifically working with a client funded under the NDIA right now, this could change at any time. You may have a client who has an undiagnosed disability who suddenly gets diagnosed and receives NDIA funding.
Q: Will I lose my job if I don’t get my first vaccination by 25 October?
A: No. Any staff member that does not adhere to the mandate will not be able to attend work. You will effectively be stood down. Once this occurs, People, Support & Culture will commence a process with people on an individual basis to understand your specific reasons for not complying. It is a possibility that at some point, your employment may be terminated if you don’t comply with the Public Health Order and our directions to follow the order.
Q: Will I be paid while I am stood down?
A: No. Casual staff will not be entitled to any benefits. Part Time staff will have to take leave without pay. Part Time staff can also nominate to use any annual leave accruals that they have. We will support staff accessing annual leave at half pay.
Q: What does it mean if I have a medical exemption?
A: A medical exemption means that as an employer we have to assess if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to your role to allow you to continue to safely do your job. It does not mean you can continue in your role without further assessment by People, Support & Culture. If you have grounds for a medical exemption it needs to be documented on this certificate and sent to Covidtesting@allambicare.org.au as soon as possible to allow us to complete this assessment. It is highly likely that staff in face to face roles will not be able to continue to work in that role, even with a medical exemption.
Q: What about my medical privacy at work?
A: The People, Support & Culture team maintain an employee file for each employee. The mandate requires the sharing of this medical information. Employee files already contain medical information (such as medical certificates from when you are sick and other reports from Doctors etc that have become necessary to obtain as it relates to someone’s employment). These files are restricted. The Covidtesting@allambicare.org.au email address is a closed recipient group made up of the same staff who have access to the personal information on your employment file. All information about your health sent to this email address is then saved directly to your employee file and is treated as confidential. While it is necessary for other people (direct managers and others coordinating care to clients) to understand your vaccination status at work, we do not share specific information with anyone else except your vaccination status.
Q: What happens after 1 December, 2021?
A: The government “road map” is based on the full opening of the community on 1 December, 2021. This opening doesn’t change the requirements that employers have to assess and manage work, health and safety obligations in a workplace. Further to this, public health orders will likely continue for high-risk areas (such as health, aged care, disabilities etc) post 1 December, 2021 and may be in place for a very long time. Based on the information we have now, you will not be able to return to work unvaccinated after 1 December, 2021.
Q: How do I get proof of vaccination and what do I do with it?
A: You need to send proof of your vaccination to covidtesting@allambicare.org.au Follow the below link to get instructions on how to access your vaccination history and full vaccination certificate. Your Medicare record is updated usually the same day or within 24 hours after your vaccination is received.
Directions on how to get your COVID Digital Certificate
