Omicron: Staying Safe At Work

Employers have a duty under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.

Employers also have obligations in their funding and service contracts to have continuity of service plans in place so that critical services to vulnerable people can continue during a COVID outbreak.

The Australian Services Union has produced this guide to help members stay safe at work.

We are by your side. Call the ASU on 0293104000 or email [email protected] for advice and support. 

Download A Guide to COVID Workplace Risk Assessments in Community and Disability Services here.

The Australian Services Union movement is calling for free RATs. Rapid Antigen Tests must be free for workers and the broader community. 

Far too many Australians are spending hours in massive testing queues or scrambling around multiple pharmacies looking for rapid testing kits.

 Sign our petition here. 

ASU IN THE MEDIA

Acting Secretary Angus McFarland spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald and Business Insider about the crisis in the disability sector.

LETTERS TO GOVERNMENT

We have written to the NSW and Federal Government about the shocking findings from our Frontline NDIS Survey conducted in January 2022. You can read the results and the letters to Minister Reynolds and Premier Perrottet here. 

USEFUL LINKS:

BOOK A VACCINE OR BOOSTER

• Australian Government Vaccine Booking Service – to make a booking for a booster near you
  • https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking/
    
    
• NSW Health Vaccine Clinics – note most of these do “walk-ins”, which means you do not need a booking, just show up!
  • https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/vaccination/get-vaccinated/nsw-health-vaccination-clinics

GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

• Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments
  • https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-new-south-wales

• NSW Test and Isolate Payments
  • https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-test-and-isolate-support-payment

NSW HEALTH ADVICE

• COVID-19 Exposure Risk Determination in Aged Care and Disability Care Settings
  • Download a copy here
    
    
• What to do if you get Covid?
  • https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Factsheets/confirmed-cases.pdf
    
    
• What to do if you need to isolate?
  • https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Factsheets/self-isolation-covid-and-close.pdf

TAKE ACTION

• Sign the petition for paid isolation leave for all workers (including casuals)
  • https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/paid-isolation-leave-for-all-workers
    
    
• Sign the petition for Free Rapid Antigent Tests
  • https://www.asumembers.org.au/free_rats_now
    
    
• Join Your Union
  
  • www.asu.asn.au/asujoin
  • https://www.australianunions.org.au/join/

GET ADVICE AND SUPPORT

We are by your side. Call the ASU on 0293104000 or email [email protected] for advice and support.