Residential aged care workers, information by state
From 17 September 2021, COVID-19 vaccination became mandatory for residential aged care workers.
Residential aged care workers must have received a minimum first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of working in a residential aged care facility.
Each state has slightly different requirements for vaccination dates as well as single site working. See your state below.
NSW
From 9am on 17 September 2021:
Direction—unvaccinated workers not to enter residential aged care facilities unless the person has received at least 1
dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
After 9am on 31 October 2021 the following persons must not enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility unless the person has received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine—
(a) health practitioners,
(b) students
Public Health Order
Latest advice
Single site work latest information
VIC
By 17 September 2021, all workers must -
- have received a full COVID-19 vaccination
- received a partial COVID-19 vaccination and made a booking to receive a full COVID-19 vaccination by 15 November 2021 or
- have not received any doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and have
made a booking to receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 1 October
2021
On and from 17 September 2021 an operator must require a worker to comply with the following requirements: - wear PPE that includes at a minimum, a surgical mask and face shield
- only work at a single work premises
From 1 October 2021, it is intended that all workers will be required to have received at least a partial COVID-19 vaccination, and from that date will not be permitted to enter a work premises, subject to limited exceptions. It is intended that this requirement will
change to a full COVID-19 vaccination from 15 November 2021.
Public Health orders
ACT
From 17th September, 2021
A worker at a residential aged care facility must not enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility in the Australian Capital Territory if they have not received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Public Health Orders
NT
A person who is an officer, employee or contractor of an aged care facility must not enter or remain on the premises of the aged acre facility if the person has not had:
- on or before 17th Sept, 2021- the first dose pf a COVID-19 vaccine
- on or before 31st Oct, 2021- the second dose of a COVID-a9 vaccine.
An officer, employee or contractor of an aged care facility who works at another workplace must provide the name and address of the other workplace to the proprietor of the facility.
Public Health Orders
Latest advice fact sheet
QLD
This part applies to any person who is a residential aged care worker at a residential aged care facility, including:
- direct care workers, including nurses, personal care workers, allied health assistants;
- administration staff, including reception staff and management;
- ancillary staff, including food preparation staff, cleaners, laundry staff, gardeners and maintenance staff;
- lifestyle and social care staff, including for music and art therapy;
- transport drivers of residents of a residential aged care facility;
- a volunteer engaged by a residential aged care facility to undertake duties at a residential aged care facility;
- a medical practitioner and allied health professional, including paramedics and emergency services staff who regularly attends and provides care to residents of a residential aged care facility whether employed or engaged by the resident, residential aged care facility or another person.
Residential aged care workers to whom this Part applies must not enter, engage in work or duties or provide services, at a residential aged care facility unless the person has met the following COVID-19 vaccination requirements:
the person has: - by 16 September 2021, received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- for a health service employee - by 31 October 2021, received the prescribed number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
-for a residential aged care worker other than a health service employee - by 31 October 2021, received, or has evidence of a booking to receive, the prescribed number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
Public Health Orders
Latest advice
SA
From 17 September 2021, all RACF staff, contractors and volunteers are required to have received at least one dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine and have evidence of a booking to receive, or have received, a second dose.
Single site restrictions for personal care workers - To the extent reasonably possible, personal care workers must not provide personal care to residents at more than one RACF. Operators of a RACF should make best endeavours to support the personal care workforce to implement this practice but in the event that this is not possible, workers are not restricted from working across multiple sites.
Public Health Orders
Latest information
TAS
On and from 17 September 2021, a person is not permitted to enter, or remain on, the premises of a residential aged care facility unless the person is sufficiently vaccinated against the disease if the person -
(i) is employed, or engaged, by or on behalf of the residential aged care
facility, regardless of whether consideration is paid or payable for the
employment or engagement; or
(ii) is undertaking a clinical placement, or work experience, at the
residential aged care facility; or
(iii) is employed, or engaged, by or on behalf of the residential aged care
facility, to provide services, other than maintenance services, in
respect of the residential aged care facility or one or more residents
of the residential aged care facility, regardless of whether consideration is paid or payable for the employment or engagement;
A person is sufficiently vaccinated against the disease if -
- the person has received all of the doses of a vaccine for the disease
- the person has received at least one dose of a vaccine for the disease and has made a booking to receive, as soon as is
reasonably possible, all other required doses of the vaccine.
Public Health Orders
WA
On 17 September 2021, a residential aged care facility worker must not enter, or remain at, a residential aged care facility if the residential aged care facility worker has not been partially vaccinated against COVID-19.
On and from 12.01am on 17 November 2021, a residential aged care facility
worker must not enter, or remain at, a residential aged care facility if the
residential aged care facility worker has not been fully vaccinated against
COVID-19.
Public Health Orders
