COVID policy

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We follow the Government's advice in regards to COVID restrictions. 

Please advise us before your appointment if any of the following applies to you:

Clinical Evidence of COVID-19 In the last 14 days:

•Fever (≥37.5 °C) or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills) 

•Acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) 

•Loss of smell or loss of taste

•Other symptoms may include:  headache, myalgia, fatigue, runny nose, acute blocked nose (congestion), muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite

Clinical judgement should be applied where there are alternative clinical explanations for symptoms or non-specific symptoms are present.

Epidemiological evidence In the last 14 days:

•close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 

•international travel with the exception of green zone countries

•workers supporting designated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation services

•international border staff

•international air and maritime crew

•people who have been in a setting where there is a COVID-19 case e.g.  

1. in close contact category at an exposure location
2. in casual contact category at an exposure location pending a negative COVID-19 test result
3. interstate exposure venues

•people who have been in areas with recent local transmission of SARS-Cov-2 

People who meet the ‘epidemiological evidence’ category may be in quarantine or subject to other public health orders.

Mask use by staff

Continuous surgical mask use is not required by workers and clients in during periods of low risk of community transmission of COVID-19. Continuous surgical mask use is required for workers during periods of moderate and high risk of community transmission of COVID-19, to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 between workers and clients.

The use of surgical masks when  providing care to people at increased  risk of severe illness/adverse outcomes and those with disabilities can sometimes cause additional problems. If the client gets or is likely to get distressed, alarmed or violent because the staff member is wearing a surgical mask or has communication difficulties  such as reliance on lip reading, staff may need to consider alternative  options after discussion with the client  and/or carer/appointed substitute  decision makers. Alternative options  may include, for example, discussing with the client/resident first from a distance greater than 1.5 metres, or using social stories to explain and reassure them, prior to putting on the surgical mask to assist them. 

Mask use by clients 

Depending on the current risk set by Queensland Health, you may be asked to wear a mask. This includes  support persons and/or household members.

Clients who are at increased risk of severe illness and adverse outcomes should not be required to wear a mask if:   

•they are affected by a medical condition, mental health condition or  disability that may be exacerbated or made worse in any way by wearing a mask, and/or

•it is important to be able to see their mouth for communication.

Home visiting services

For home visiting services, if required, we will fit our personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to entry of the premises and remove our PPE  immediately after leaving the premises/residence with all equipment placed in a sealed bag for transport and disposal.