Workers in a Healthcare setting directive No 2
The Chief Health Officer has revoked the previous public health direction, Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction (No 1) and replaced it with the Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction (No. 2), effective from 2.23pm AEST, 16 December 2021.
Some of the key changes are listed here, referencing the paragraphs as numbered in the Direction (No. 2):
• paragraph numbered 8,”COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements”;
• Part 2 headed “Part 2 - exceptions” and especially paragraph numbered 10 (see below);
• section headed “Participation in a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial”(paras. Numbered 13 to 15);
• section headed “Critical Support Needs” supplements the preceding section, “Critical Workforce Shortage” amongst other changes .
One of the key changes is set out in the below extract.
A worker in healthcare to whom paragraph 9 applies must:
- comply with the PPE guideline requirements for the healthcare setting and any COVID safe plans for the healthcare setting; and
- undertake a daily COVID-19 PCR test while engaged at a healthcare setting and provide the COVID-19 PCR test result to the responsible person for the healthcare setting as soon as reasonably practicable after the test result is received; or
Example: an unvaccinated worker in healthcare who works consecutive shifts several days in a row is required to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test each day. - where the worker in healthcare is a person to whom the Health Employment Directive 12/21 Employee COVID-19 Vaccination requirements (the HED) or the Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction (No.9) or its successor (the direction) applies, comply with the requirements relating to a medical contraindication or any other exceptions to mandatory vaccination requirements in the HED or the direction.
Example: an admissions clerk who provides evidence of a current medical contraindication is able to continue working in an alternative administrative role, using PPE consistent with the setting’s policies and the PPE guideline and must undertake a daily COVID-19 PCR test and provide a negative COVID-19 test result when it is received.
If you require any clarification on this Direction, please contact our Workplace Relations Team on (07) 3872 2222 or email workplacerelations@amaq.com.au