COVID-19 updates
Work Healthy Australia is committed to helping you get through these most unprecedented times.
Our priority is ensuring our staff and clients are safe. Here we will share our COVIDSafe Plan as it is updated to reflect the latest restrictions, along with any other updates as they come to hand. If you have any questions or require additional support please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
7 December 2020
Our COVID-safe Action Plan has been updated.
- Mask wearing is no longer mandatory indoors, unless physical distancing is not possible.
- Eye protection is no longer a mandatory requirement for Providers in VIC
If you have any questions or require additional support please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
Access Work Healthy Australia’s COVID-safe Action Plan.
28 October 2020
As of 28 October, Melbourne moved to Step 3 of the Victorian Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Roadmap to Reopening.
Allied health providers are now able to resume routine care subject to having a COVID-safe plan.
If you have any questions or require additional support please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
Access Work Healthy Australia’s COVID-safe Action Plan.
10 August 2020
As things change, we update our COVID-19 Action Plan to reflect the latest restrictions. Our priority is ensuring our staff and clients are safe. If you have any questions or require additional support please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
Key updates:
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As of 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August 2020, Stage 4 restrictions have been imposed on metropolitan Melbourne. These restrictions have been put in place to limit the amount of movement within these areas to reduce the spread of the virus.
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As a result, all metropolitan Melbourne based office staff will no longer be permitted to attend the Gisborne office and must work from home. All remaining office staff have been advised to work from home if they have the capacity to do so.
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All Victorian based Providers will no longer be permitted to attend the Gisborne office until further notice. Any required equipment will be sent out to the Provider’s home or client site. This will occur on a frequent basis to ensure Providers do not run out of supplies
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All Melbourne based Providers to carry a ‘permitted work permit’.
Access the updated COVID-19 Action Plan.
4 August 2020
As a result of the restrictions tightening in Victoria, we have updated our COVID-19 Action Plan to reflect our commitment to keeping our staff and clients safe. If you have any questions or require additional support please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
Key updates:
- All metropolitan and regional Victorians must wear a face covering when leaving home, which includes going to work.
- Eye protection is now mandatory for all Victorian providers whilst treating patients. At a minimum, a level 1 or type 1 surgical mask must be worn during consultations.
- Office staff who attend the office will need to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing. We have placed limitations on the number of staff allowed in an enclosed space at any given time.
Access the updated COVID-19 Action Plan.
Notifying WorkSafe of COVID-19 in the workplace
Employers are now required to notify WorkSafe immediately when they become aware that a worker has received a confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis. Further information on how to notify WorkSafe can be found on their website.
Additional COVID-19 mental health support
The Australian Government will provide 10 additional Medicare subsidised psychological therapy sessions for people subjected to further restrictions in areas impacted by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the press release.
7 July 2020
While most Australian states are experiencing a drop in the number of new COVID-10 cases, unfortunately Victoria’s numbers have significantly increased. In light of the recent announcement from the Victorian Premier, we felt it was important to further reassure you of our commitment to the health and safety of our patients and staff.
- All Work Healthy Australia health providers are required to complete a daily declaration before commencing their shift, confirming that they are not experiencing any symptoms and have not been in contact with any known cases of COVID-19.
- Any Work Healthy Australia health providers who present with symptoms are being immediately removed from rostered shifts, and are required to isolate until given clearance by way of a negative COVID-19 test result.
- All Work Healthy Australia health providers are receiving regular communications about the importance of following correct hygiene protocols in the treatment room.
- All equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after all treatments, and we have ample supply of face masks, gloves and sanitiser.
- All Work Healthy Australia staff are reminded of the importance of social distancing and practising good hygiene, and have been reminded to remain vigilant when out in the community (irrespective of their postcode).
- When possible, staff are strongly encouraged to work from home.
- Daily staff updates are conducted via video conference in the mornings and afternoons to keep our team up-to-date with all the latest health advice and announcements.
Please let us know if you have any questions with regards to Work Healthy Australia’s response to the recently introduced restrictions.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the team on 1300 734 643.
1 May 2020
Victorian Parliament passed a temporary amendment to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013.
The Act requires that workers be given 13 weeks notice before WorkCover payments cease (provided they are still incapacitated and unable to return to pre-injury duties).
The COVID-19 Omnibus Bill (passed on 24/4/2020) has extended the 13 week notice period to 39 weeks and can be backdated for those who received notice that payments would cease from 1st December 2019.
These temporary measures will be in effect until 1st June 2020.
Read the announcement from the Victorian Premier here.
Read the Acts here:
COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020
Workplace Injury Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2013
15 April 2020
Whether your employees are working from home, or have continued to maintain their regular working schedule, now is a great time to remind your team to look after themselves.
We’ve previously shared some resources to help you support your workers’ mental health in these challenging times, and we thought it would be handy to also share some other practical tips about staying healthy when working from home, as well as some diet and hydration facts.
Click on the images below to access some helpful resources to share with your team.
If your business needs assistance with Virtual Ergonomics & Risk Assessments for employees working from home please reply to this email, or give the office a call on 1300 734 643.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRTUAL SERVICES HERE
Minimising stress & anxiety in uncertain times
Update 06.04.2020
With recent announcements about lock-downs, shut-downs and restrictions, it goes without saying that the past few weeks have brought with them a level of stress and anxiety for a lot of people.
Whatever your situation, I think we can agree that we find ourselves interacting with our staff, colleagues, friends and families in a very different way than we were a couple of months ago!
People remaining at work may be feeling the pressure of an increase in workload, or feelings of loneliness and isolation if working from home. We all have a responsibility to look out for each other, and employers must continue to do what they can to minimise the psychological risks to workers under the model WHS laws.
What can employers do to minimise stress at this time?
Communicate Regularly
- Keep employees up-to-date with any changes happening in your business to deal with the current situation, daily if possible.
- Be well informed, communicate and only share advice from credible sources (for example: Department of Health, World Health Organisation)
Support your staff
- Provide workers with a central point of contact if they have any questions or concerns.
- Ensure your workers know who your EAP provider is and send regular reminders to utilise this service if needed.
- Share resources and information from other support services such as Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Head to Health.
Continuity of Care
Our physical and psychological health are closely linked.
- If a worker has been undergoing regular treatment for a physical injury, it’s important that they continue to receive support.
- In addition, if a worker sustains a physical injury, this must be assessed and treated as soon as possible.
Utilise Work Healthy Australia’s Virtual Health Consultations to ensure continuity of care.
Virtual Health Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Update 27.03.2020
What measures are WHA putting in place to prevent the spread?
Our Health Providers complete a health declaration every day, and if they are feeling unwell in any way, they are asked to stay home.
All of our providers have up-to-date training in Hygiene and Infection Control. Hands and equipment are thoroughly cleaned before seeing any patients, along with any other common surfaces in our treatment room.
We are also offering flexible scheduling for our clients still utilising our onsite services, limiting the number of providers servicing their site, or allocating a dedicated provider for their business.
In the event that we are not visiting patients physically/onsite, we have deployed a comprehensive virtual consultation service that allows us to assess and treat workers without direct contact.
What can you do to protect your employees and your business?
Implement a daily health declaration for any staff entering the premises, ensuring anyone who is feeling unwell stays home. Enforce hygiene standards to the highest level, and provide training in correct hand-washing techniques as well as safe coughing/sneezing practices.
Conduct regular inspections and audits on PPE, hygiene and work-station cleanliness.
Follow social distancing guidelines, and if possible, have as many staff as possible working from home.
If staff are to remain onsite, consider splitting shifts into AM and PM, allowing time in between for thorough cleaning of all surfaces and equipment.
OHS obligations and Risk Management
Your OHS obligations haven’t changed. Employers still have a duty of care for the health and safety of their workers and others at their workplace. These laws still apply if an employee is required to work at home.
If you have people working from home, it is recommended that you take the time to ensure employees are aware of your Work from Home policy, complete a WHS checklist for their home work-space, and also receive an Ergonomic & Risk Assessment via our virtual services.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME ERGONOMIC & RISK ASSESSMENTS HERE
How can we ensure people working from home are staying safe?
By checking-in regularly via phone, video chat or email, you can monitor the health & wellbeing of your at-home workforce.
Ensure you are communicating and actively encouraging workers to take regular breaks, stretch and move their bodies, remain properly hydrated, and continue to practice healthy eating habits whilst at home.
What kind of services can we deliver virtually that are usually delivered onsite?
Via our virtual platform we can continue to deliver most of the services we currently delivery onsite. This includes:
- Early Intervention Injury Triage & Management
- Rehabilitation Programs
- Stretching & Exercise Recommendations
- Sharing self-care resources
- Ergonomic & Risk Assessments
- Screening new starters
How do we screen people returning to work after self-isolation?
It is important to note that clearance for return to work after a period of self-isolation isn’t currently a legal requirement, however, we highly recommend implementing this as a business requirement to ensure employees are safe to return to work.
There are a number of factors that need to be considered, and WHA’s Health Providers follow a strict process to ensure employees have fully satisfied the requirements of self-isolation, and pose no risk of transmitting COVID-19 to your workforce.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEARANCE ASSESSMENTS HERE
Are Allied Health Professionals classed as an essential service?
It’s important to note that Work Healthy Australia does not operate as a private allied health clinic.
Restrictions are not currently in place, however, if this were to happen it is likely to only apply to private clinics, open to the general public, where the risk of infection is much higher.
WHA providers are, in most cases, currently restricted to servicing one client only, further reducing the risk of transmission. We also have some strict policies in place to limit their movements, as a further safe-guard against infection.
CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING VIRTUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Working From Home
Ergonomic & Risk Assessments
Update 26.03.2020
With the latest stage of announced restrictions, many businesses are now instructing workers to remain home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you are allowing your employees to work remotely, you remain responsible for their health and wellbeing whilst working from home.
What you need to know if you have employees working from home…
While your worker may not be physically present in the workplace, your business may still be liable for any injuries that are aggravated by, or sustained whilst an employee is working from home.
How can I ensure my employees are safe when working from home?
All businesses should have a Working from Home Policy in place. Any employee who has been asked, or has requested to work from home should also complete a Work Health & Safety Checklist.
In addition to the Work Health & Safety Checklist, Ergonomic Risk Assessments should be conducted on the home-office space to identify and correct any potential health or injury hazards.
Work Healthy Australia can deliver Ergonomic and Risk Assessments via our Virtual Health platform, ensuring your workers remain safe and healthy whilst working from home.
CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH WORK FROM HOME POLICY AND HEALTH & SAFETY CHECKLIST TEMPLATES
Further information and resources:
WorkSafe Victoria: Minimising the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19): Working from home
Comcare: Coronavirus Information Resources
Media Release
Update 25.03.2020
For the past 20 years, Work Healthy Australia has been delivering onsite injury treatment, health & ergonomics assessments, injury rehabilitation plans and training.
With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, it’s now even more important that we continue to support our clients and patients through this unprecedented situation.
Why? Put simply, workplace injuries aren’t going to go away. People are still going to hurt themselves at work, and those who are already carrying an injury are at risk of it worsening.
Employers still have an obligation to monitor the health and wellbeing of their workforce, ensuring access to care is readily available.
With the introduction of our Virtual Consultation Services, we are now able to ensure continuity of care for our patients, triage and manage any new injuries, while also offering ongoing support & resources to our valued clients.
“The new offering will reduce the stress on the medical system. GPs are currently overwhelmed, and a potential health risk. We can reach people at work or at home with no risk. Patients will be able to get back to work sooner”
CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS USING VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Returning to work after self-isolation
Update 24.03.2020
With the Australian medical system under immense pressure and an increased risk of transmission in public places, we believe that offering this via an online consultation is the safest method of delivery.
It is important to note that clearance for return to work after a period of self-isolation isn’t currently a legal requirement, however, we know that some of our clients are making this a business requirement in order to ensure the health and safety of their workforce.
Our team of experienced Allied Health Professionals are well placed to assist with the screening of workers after a period of self-isolation.
How does it work?
The employee will join a private and secure online service using a dedicated link (in line with AHPRA privacy guidelines).
An allied health professional will ask a series of questions and conduct a visual examination of the patient to determine if they are fit to return to work.
WHA providers have a thorough understanding of the information and guidelines set out by the Australian Government Department of Health.
Our team will ensure staff returning to work have complied with the requirements of self-isolation and are clear from known risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19. When appropriate, workers may be referred to the Public Health Unit and/or Coronavirus Health Information Line.
CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS USING WHA’S VIRTUAL CLEARANCE ASSESSMENT SERVICE
Virtual Consultations
Update 20.03.2020
Work Healthy Australia recognises the importance of continuity of care for your injured workers, as well as the potentially heightened risk of Workers Compensation claims if these workers are unable to access ongoing care.
We want to ensure that we are able to provide a high level of care for patients with open care plans, while continuing to provide early intervention injury management, self-treatment instructions and health advice for those workers who are most at risk.
To address this, WHA has fast-tracked the development of our
VIRTUAL CONSULTATION SERVICES
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL CONSULTATION
Employers have a duty of care to monitor the health and wellbeing of their workers.
By continuing to support workers with a virtual alternative to hands-on treatment, you can substantially reduce the risk of injuries worsening or progressing to compensation claims.
Now, more than ever, it is important to address our workers with a consistent, reassuring message, particularly when it comes to managing workplace injuries and health concerns.
Workers who need to take time off
If there is little or no leave available to a worker and they need to take time off while they are receiving care for a work-related injury, there is a chance that they may turn to the Workers Compensation system.
Receiving ongoing, consistent care from your dedicated Work Healthy Australia Health Provider can reduce this risk.
When workers are feeling stressed
Many workers are now facing an increase in workload or a potential reduction in income as a direct result of the recent recommendations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is, without a doubt, having an impact on everyone’s stress levels.
During times of high stress (personal or work-related) we often see an increase in secondary stress claims in addition to a primary work-related musculoskeletal injury claim. Considering our current situation, there is now also an increased risk of stress claims.
CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS USING VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS