24th February 2021
As the COVID-19 vaccinations start to roll out across Australia in the coming weeks and months, the Australian Government have set priority groups including those living in Supported Independent Living and workers in residential services and other people with a disability who are considered at higher risk.
We will continue to keep you informed as the COVID-19 vaccination roll out occurs and as more information becomes available.
Priority Groups:
Other priority groups include quarantine and healthcare workers, elderly people and workers in aged care homes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and frontline emergency workers.
The COVID-19 vaccination program is ongoing and anyone in a priority group will be able to access the vaccine at any time as it is rolled out.
If you want to understand more about the COVID-19 vaccine as the roll out commences and prior to receiving the vaccination, you can contact your GP to discuss this.
Each person has the right to make their own decision about whether to receive the vaccine and SASI recommends that you only consider official sources of information in making this decision, , such as those listed at the end of this letter. SASI’s preference is that everyone remains safe from the effects of COVID-19 and considers the vaccine a critical component to achieving this.
A safe and effective vaccine is only one part of keeping us safe and healthy. We must continue to apply all COVID-19 control measures including physical distancing, good hygiene, regular cleaning and maintenance, completing health declarations and ensure you do not attend work if you are unwell.
SASI has taken the position not to mandate the requirement for all staff and clients to have the vaccines. However please remember that this may change if the government mandates the vaccines for our sector. Therefore, request staff members to upload a copy of the vaccination record to your HR documents.
Staying Safe:
As the vaccination roll-out takes place it is important that we all continue to protect ourselves, our family and communities against COVID-19
We must continue to do the things that have kept us safe.
These include:
• If unwell, get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received
• Follow the guidelines for wearing a mask
For information about the vaccination in other languages you can go to:
- https://www.nds.org.au/news/media-releases/ndis-provider-newsflash-COVID-19-vaccine-update
- https://covid19inlanguage.homeaffairs.gov.au/
- https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/resources/coronavirus-COVID-19 -information
Stay safe, stay well.
Kath Ferry,
Chief Executive Officer
