With the cessation of the Pandemic Orders last October 2022, the Victorian State Government has taken a more hands-off approach to Covid controls in healthcare, allowing health services to assess their own local risk and hopefully respond accordingly.
As a consequence, VAHPA has been asking WorkSafe Victoria to play a more active role in ensuring employers are maintaining appropriate and consistent Covid protections for our members and your patients.
As part of that process, WorkSafe Vic has reviewed and updated their Covid guidance for the healthcare and social assistance sectors. This new guidance is now up on their website.
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/controlling-covid-19-risks-healthcare-and-social-assistance
VAHPA provided feedback during the consultation process for the new guidance, and we are keen to see it enforced in the workplace. If you experience or witness breaches of infection control at your workplace, or any unsafe Covid practices, please notify your Health and Safety Representative (HSR) and VAHPA. If you don’t have an active HSR, speak to VAHPA about becoming one (you have access to paid training leave).