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Risk
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Considerations
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Written Guidelines/evidence
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Clinician factors
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‘Yes’ response to any of the COVID-19 screening questions
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Do not continue to work
, seek medical advice and/or COVID testing. Stop providing
face to face speech pathology interventions until you have
been cleared to return to work
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Department of Health COVID-19 online symptom checker
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Speech pathologist’s age >70 years or 65 years with
chronic medical conditions (>50 for Aboriginal Torres
Strait Islander speech pathologist)
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Increased risk of more serious illness as defined by the Department of Health in older age groups.
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Department of Health Advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Department of Health advice for older people
Safework Australia Vulnerable Workers
National Indigenous Australian Agency - COVID-19 supports
State/territory based supports e.g. Victorian government’s COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
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Health - speech pathologist has increased risk of more serious illness as defined by the Department of Health due to health condition
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Consider personal circumstances and health risks
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Department of Health Advice for People with Chronic Health Conditions
Safework Australia Vulnerable Workers
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Working across multiple clinical sites in one day
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Potential increased risk of exposure for community
transmission of COVID-19 (clinician and client/others),
consider scheduling to reduce potential exposure
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
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Seeing 10+ clients /day
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The more clients seen, the higher the potential exposure to
community transmission.
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and
others
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Providing home visits
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and
others
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Providing sessions in highly populated environments e.g.
schools
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA guidance on returning to work
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
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Providing services to residential facilities, e.g. aged
care, group home
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Residents experience increased vulnerability to COVID-19.
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and
others
Department of Health advice for older people
Department of Health Advice for People with Chronic
Health Conditions
Safework Australia Working in aged care
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Providing services to COVID-19 patients, or "At Risk" wards
or sites (e.g. a residential and aged care facility with known COVID-19 history)
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Increased risk of transmission of COVID-19, consider local
health authority guidance and organisation
policies/procedures, modifications to speech pathology
procedures and additional precautions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
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Members of household residing over multiple residences
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g live or work where there is elevated risk of local transmission of COVID-19). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
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Lives or work where there is elevated risk of local transmission of COVID-19 (see state based health
departments for details)
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. age). Consider modifications to interventions as
per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
COVID-19: Geographically localised areas with elevated risk of community transmission
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Transport : public transport/car pool/taxi/uber
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Potential increased risk of exposure for community
transmission of COVID-19 (clinician and client/others),
consider alternatives or scheduling to reduce potential
exposure.
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
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Are you able to ventilate your workspace/s either during or between use?
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Consider in context of service delivery, including intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider modifications to interventions as per Speech Pathology Australia guidance.
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Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, World Health Organisation Publication (See page xx)
World Health Organization
SafeworkAustralia
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
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Are you and/or your client able to wear a surgical mask during the session?
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Increased risk of transmission of COVID-19; consider local health authority guidance and organisation policies/procedures and cohort risk (e.g. live or work where there is elevated risk of local transmission of COVID-19). Consider modifications to interventions as per Speech Pathology Australia guidance.
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NSW Government and Clinical Excellence Commission, FAQ Infection Prevention and Control
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
ASHA
SafeworkAustralia
DHHS
Department of Health
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Are you vaccinated?
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Consider in context of service delivery location and health risks
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Department of Health: News and Information about COVID-19 vaccines
Safe Work Australia: Vaccination
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance: FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines
Department of Health: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines
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Infection prevention and control considerations
(personal and environmental)
|
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Access to hand washing / sanitiser
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Regular hand cleansing is required to reduce risk of
transmission. Consider how to source appropriate resources
and how appropriate hygiene will be maintained
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Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
Safework Australia Health, hygiene & facilities checklist
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Completion of infection control training provided by
facility or self-sourced if private practice (e.g..,
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-training)
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Identify and complete appropriate training required for
workplace. Complete organisation training if available,
discuss appropriate training with employer
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Department of Health online infection control training
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Access to recommended PPE for task (See SPA's Guidance for
service delivery document for details)
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Identify what PPE is recommended for a particular
task/intervention, described in the SPA guidance and Health
Department advice. (Coming soon: Speech pathology infection
prevention and prevention protocol)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice for health and aged care sector
Department of Health PPE for the health workforce
Safework Australia: PPE and the early childhood sector
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Completion of PPE training as provided by facility or
self-sourced if private practice
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Identify and complete appropriate training required for
workplace. Complete organisation training if available,
discuss appropriate training with employer
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Department of Health wearing PPE
Access to surgical masks through PHNs
NSW Centre for Clinical Excellence PPE training videos
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Clinician control of environment, ability to set up environment? e.g. maintain physical distancing or separate
treatment area
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Consider ability to control environment, modifications to
interventions as per SPA guidance, can standard precautions
be undertaken), can intervention be modified
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
|
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Ability to appropriately disinfect equipment used in task
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken).
Consider using alternative equipment, single use equipment,
can standard precautions be undertaken), can intervention
be modified
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Safework Australia How to Clean and Disinfect your Workplace
Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
|
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Ability for sufficient time between clients for cleaning or to alternate consulting rooms between clients
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Safework Australia How to Clean and Disinfect your Workplace
Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
|
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Ability to maintain recommended social distancing in the work environment many include spacing of office chairs, staff desks, erected barriers, etc.)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
Safework Australia: physical distancing and early childhood sector
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Able to maintain lunch/staff area separate to treatment areas
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Safework Australia How to Clean and Disinfect your Workplace
Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
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Scheduling can be staggered to allow for cleaning (client appointments, staff lunch)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Safework Australia How to Clean and Disinfect your Workplace
Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
|
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Other staff, people present adherence to physical
distancing recommendations
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
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Environment cannot be disinfected appropriately (e.g. hard
surfaces)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Safework Australia How to Clean and Disinfect your Workplace
Department of Health advice for hygiene and cleaning
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Client/Consumer Factors
|
|
Yes response to any standard COVID Screening Questions
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Increased risk of transmission, consider local health
authority guidance and organisation policies/procedures,
modifications to speech pathology procedures and additional
precautions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health COVID-19 online symptom checker
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Client not asked COVID Screening Questions
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Ask questions prior to service delivery, consider routine
inclusion of questions in client contact prior to session
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health COVID-19 online symptom checker
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Client age >70 years or 65 years with chronic medical
conditions (>50 for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander client)
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Increased risk of more serious illness as defined by the Department of Health in older age groups
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Department of Health Advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Department of Health advice for older people
National Indigenous Australian Agency - COVID-19 supports
State/territory based supports e.g. Victorian government’s COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
|
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Health- client has chronic health conditions or at risk of more serious illness with COVID-19
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Some people are at greater risk of more serious illness with COVID-19 as defined by the Department of Health (e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people with a disability, people with chronic health conditions). Consider modifications that may need to be made, to procedures, interventions provided, length of session etc.
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Department of Health Advice for People with Chronic Health Conditions
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health - advice for people at risk of COVID-19
Department of Health Advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and remote communities
Department Health advice for people with disability
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Health status not known
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
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Ability to control behavioural regulation (poor behavioural
regulation may lead to issues with increased shouting,
saliva control, which increased AGP risk)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
|
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Client contact with adults - Daily close contact with 10 adults or more
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Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
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SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
Safework Australia: physical distancing and early childhood sector
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Involvement of other services. Does the client receive in person services from organisations other than yours which increase contact with other adults.
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
|
|
Members of client's household residing over multiple residences.
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and
others
|
|
Lives or works where there is elevated risk of local transmission of COVID-19 (see state based health
departments for details)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and
others
|
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Requires presence of carer some/all of the time, in close proximity
(less than 1.5 metres)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
|
|
Client catches public transport, car pool, taxi, Uber
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
|
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Length of Interaction 15 minutes or less, 15 minutes, - 2 hours, 2 hours or more
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
|
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Proximity to client at any time of service delivery less
than 1.5 metres
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster, can standard
precautions be undertaken)
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
Safework Australia: physical distancing and early childhood sector
|
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Orientation to client facing client all of the time
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
|
|
Task (undertaken by clinician or others) = Aerosol Generating Procedure, or potential to trigger an increase of aerosol particles (e.g.,
loud phonation; loud coughing)
|
Consider in context of service delivery, including age of
client, intervention/procedure being undertaken, cohort
risk (e.g. located in COVID-19 cluster). Consider
modifications to interventions as per SPA guidance
|
SPA Guidance for Service Delivery
Department of Health advice to protect yourself and others
Department of Health advice on physical distancing
|
|
Is your client vaccinated?
|
Consider in context of service delivery location and health risks
|
Department Health: News and Information about COVID-19 vaccines
Safe Work Australia: Vaccination
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance: FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines
Department of Health: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines
|