As we approach the end of the current lockdown and easing of restrictions we would like to update you on our plans over the coming months.
It has been a challenging year and we have been very focussed on keeping everyone safe whilst maintaining essential services. We have developed comprehensive checklists and processes, which ensure the consistency of our COVID outbreak response across our whole organisation. Our staff have been very vigilant in following guidelines to keep everyone safe. Each activity we engage in with our participants is individually risk assessed and mitigation strategies put in place. At every step we have ensured that our services are provided in line with the advice of the relevant state and territory health departments. We have been working hard to ensure that our participants and families who are still accessing our essential services, such as those who live in our group homes, are having the best possible experience that we can offer, particularly for everyone who is living under the stay-at-home orders.
Vaccination rates continue to be a key focus for us. Ninety-six percent of our clients who live in our group homes have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, and ninety-three percent of those residents have received their second dose. We have hosted a total of 42 clinics at our sites over the last 5 months, delivering a total of 1876 vaccinations to clients, their families, staff and partner organisations. So far vaccinations have not been mandated for disability service providers except in specific locations of concern. However, you can be assured that we are focussed on ensuring staff and clients have access to vaccines and we are already recording the vaccination status of front line workers should a mandate come into effect.
We are very much looking forward to the future, when we can start to reopen some of our community based and group programs, once the stay-at-home orders are lifted.
In the coming weeks, our staff will be reaching out to participants and families for evidence of vaccination status. This is to ensure that, when we are on outings in the community, we can provide evidence of vaccination status, if required. For anyone who is not yet vaccinated (or would prefer not to be vaccinated), we will be organising separate activities in order to be compliant with public health orders.
Our primary goal throughout this period has been to keep everyone safe – our clients, staff and families alike, and we are proud of our record to date. This is an ever-changing situation and we have worked hard to accommodate everyone’s needs while still complying with the guidelines issued by health departments.
As activities and groups start to reopen, we are looking forward to seeing everyone again. We have missed you!
