Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources and updates

Team member education and communication

As a provider of services to older people, children and those living with a disability, McArthur Community Care has been in regular and frequent contact with our large workforce.

The advice provided to our team members has been in line with that recommended by the Australian Government Department of Health and, more specifically, has outlined when a team member is considered unfit to work. We will continue to follow this advice and provide it to our team members as needed.

At McArthur Community Care, we are working towards the protection of our service recipients by confirming with our team members that they are in good health when confirming a service.

We are increasing our focus on hygiene, including offering hand soap and sanitiser to guests and staff, cleaning equipment after each use and encouraging social distancing within our offices.

Also consider the ‘5 moments’ of hand hygiene before and after all Client contact are:

1. Before touching a Client
2. Before performing a procedure
3. After a procedure or exposure to body fluids/substances
4. After touching a Client
5. After touching Client’s surroundings

We have proactively requested all team members complete COVID-19 Declarations and additional trainings in preventing the spread of infection.   

• Australian Government Department of Health: Infection Control Training Module – How to protect yourself and the people you are caring for from infection with COVID-19 – Click here
• Coronavirus and Disability: Infection Prevention, Free online training. Click here
• COVID-19 and Aged Care. Free online training. Click here

Screening guidelines

Your Coordinator will contact you in due course and ask the following questions:

1. Have you, a person in your household, or a person who will be present in the home during service, had a fever (or a history of fever), respiratory symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath or a cough) or flu like illness in the past 14 days?
2. Have you, a person in your household, or a person in the home been diagnosed with or had close contact* with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 case in the last 14 days
3. Have you, somebody you live with, or someone who will be present in at the home returned from travel overseas in the past 14 days or are otherwise in self-isolation or self-quarantine?

*Close contact includes face to face contact for at least 15 minutes or being in the same closed space for at least 2 hours as someone who has tested positive when that person was infectious.

If either party answers ‘Yes’ to questions 1, 2 or 3, face to face support should not be provided

**In the case of question 3 seek further advice from the Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080 if it relates to another person in a household. If a person has serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 immediately for urgent medical help.

**In accordance with Government and general health requirements, if there has been a COVID-19 diagnosis or flu symptoms present, medical clearance should be provided before engagement can recommence. A copy should be provided to the impacted Worker/Client, McArthur Community Care and related Approved or Registered provider and/or Support Coordinator

If both parties answer ‘No’, shift can proceed with the agreement of both parties and protective measures and infection control procedures should be practiced.

If during a support shift, the client or a family member exhibit symptoms,

• Cease face to face service safely and suggest the person self-isolate.
• Call the Coronavirus Health Information Line (1800 020 080) or if symptoms are severe, call 000.
• Notify the person’s emergency contact
• Notify the person’s Approved/Registered Provider or Support Coordinator if they have one.
• Notify McArthur Community Care by phone or email
• Call the Coronavirus Health Information Line (1800 020 080) and discuss if you can access priority COVID-19 testing and/or if you should self-isolate.

Stay informed

You can view the latest information and advice from health authorities at:

• NDIS Frequently Asked Questions 
• NDIS Coronavirus Information
• Factsheet Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Health Plan
• The Australian Government’s Department of Health
• The World Health Organization

State and Territory-based health departments:

• ACT
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

You can also call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 or speak with your doctor.

As always, the health and wellbeing of our members, clients, staff and families is our priority.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.