All aged care workers across Victoria will now be required to wear face masks. This advice is from the Australian Minister for Health. Read on for the full media release and information from the NDIS - National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The Government continues to update official information as the COVID19 situation changes.
IDEAS share disability information as it comes out.
If you need to talk to someone about COVID-19 please call the Disability Information Helpline - 1800 643 787
Free Call Monday to Friday - 8 am to 8 pm.
See also New Advice on Wearing Face Masks which has links to videos, Easy English Information, type of masks and sensory issues.
Media Release - Two million more face masks for Victorian aged care and disability workers
from The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health
Date published: 17 July 2020
Media type: Media release
Audience: General public
The precautionary measure, expanded statewide after consultation between Federal and State Governments, will provide extra confidence that vulnerable senior citizens will receive the highest level of protection against COVID-19.
It applies to both residential care and home support care workers.
To support this requirement, the Australian Government will release a further one million masks from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS).
This is in addition to the four million released for aged care workers in the areas of Greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire earlier this week.
The Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, discussed the issue with his Victorian counterpart, Jenny Mikakos, who provided her full support.
Earlier this week, aged care workers in Victoria’s lockdown zones were required to wear surgical masks, following a recommendation from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
This advice also includes the recommendation of mandatory use of masks for disability workers in the hot spot areas with the provision of a further one million masks. Additional masks will be made available if required.
The Australian Government has also provided one million face masks for primary care workers in Victoria.
The Government secured a large supply of masks and other PPE for the National Medical Stockpile, to equip the nation for the pandemic.
Since late March, more than 295 million masks, more than four million gowns, more than 41 million gloves, and more than five million goggles and face shields have been placed in the stockpile.
Substantial amounts of PPE, including additional masks, will continue to arrive over the coming weeks and months.
Aged care providers in Victoria can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request masks for in-home and residential aged care workers delivering close personal care and clinical care, and other PPE like gloves and gowns to aged care services with a potential or confirmed COVID-19 outbreak.
In addition, for outbreak sites in New South Wales, half a million masks will be made available to aged care services in the areas of western Sydney in which the NSW Government has declared (Liverpool, Campbelltown and Wollondilly (Picton)) they should be used.
Disability providers and self-managed NDIS participants can request access to PPE from the NMS by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., where they cannot acquire the equipment they need through their usual channels.
More information for NDIS participants and their families is available on the NDIS website www.ndis.gov.au and more information for providers and workers about infection control, PPE and preparing for outbreaks in residential settings, is available on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website at www.ndiscommission.gov.au
17 July: New advice about face masks - from the NDIS
The Government has recommended the mandatory use of masksfor disability workers in Victorian hot spot areas. More than one million face masks will be available to disability support workers, providers and self-managed participants.
The recommendation to wear a face mask does not apply to children (people aged under 18), people with breathing difficulties and anyone who has physical conditions that make it difficult to wear a face mask.
Providers and self-managed participants who use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as a regular part of their support arrangements should continue to access PPE through their usual channels.
Where this is no longer possible, self-managed participants, and providers, can contact the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) to request face masks and PPE at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Participants are encouraged to talk to their provider about the use of face masks. Purchasing face masks is a personal decision. Participants cannot use their consumable budget to pay for PPE unless it is a regular part of their support arrangements.
If you live in an area in Victoria that is under stage three restrictionsthe Chief Health Officer has recommended the use of a face mask, such as a cloth mask or surgical mask if it is difficult to keep 1.5 metres apart from others when outside your home.
You can keep up to date with the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) health advice by visiting the Department of Health website.
For more information about using and getting access to PPE, visit the NDIS Commission website.
https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/advice-victoria
If you are searching for information on fabric face masks link to New advice on wearing face masks which discusses fabric face masks, how to make them, how to wear them and implications for people who live with a disability.
