COVID-19: For commissioned services

Page last updated: 1:00pm, 9 December 2021

Updates

The following is a summary of recent advice for people working in our commissioned services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please visit our COVID-19 homepage for urgent updates.

Notification of confirmed cases

Notify NWMPHN

All providers must immediately report all known diagnoses of COVID-19 of a staff member or client within the commissioned program/service to NWMPHN. Full information on COVID-19 reporting requirements is available here.

Notify WorkSafe Victoria

From 28 July 2020, employers are required to notify WorkSafe immediately on becoming aware that an employee or an independent contractor or a contractor’s employee has received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and has attended the workplace during the infectious period.

Self-employed persons are also required to directly inform WorkSafe immediately on receiving a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis if they have attended the workplace during the infectious period.

The infectious period begins on the date 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms or a confirmed COVID‑19 diagnosis (whichever comes first), until the day on which the person receives a clearance from isolation from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit the WorkSafe Victoria website for more information.
Inform your community

Updating opening hours and contact information

It is critical that you update your websites, social media channels and phone answering service to reflect the current availability or otherwise of your services.

Updating HealthDirect

Visit about.healthdirect.gov.au/contact-the-nhsd to create or update your listing on the government’s healthdirect app.

Updating HealthPathways Melbourne

Send changed service delivery information to HealthPathways Melbourne by emailing info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au for the information to be displayed on the COVID-19 Impact on Local Services page.
Infection control

This Australian Department of Health training module coves the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.

Go to site
Telehealth
Telehealth extension for Medicare-subsidised services

Telehealth (video conference) and phone consultation for Medicare subsidised services are now available to all Australians. This is stage four of the COVID-19 response.
- Visit MBS Online for all the item numbers and the latest information. Fact sheets for GPs, nurses and other health professionals are available here.
Telehealth readiness survey

We have developed a short survey to help identify what support we need to provide to help our providers use telehealth as part of their practice.

Go to survey
DHHS COVID-19 factsheets
DHHS has released the following fact sheets for the health and community sectors:
Please refer to the Patient resources section for more resources for specific audiences.
WorkSafe guidance
WorkSafe Victoria is adding information to its website about the prevention and management of exposure to COVID-19 in the health care and social assistance industry.

Posters that discourage violence or aggression towards health care workers are also available:
Current public health response status

The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Emergency in Victoria on Monday, 16 March 2020.

On 22 March 2020, Mr Andrews announced that Victoria will proceed over the next 48 hours to implement a shutdown of all non-essential activity across our state.

The Australian Government declared a human biosecurity emergency on Wednesday, 18 March 2020.

Visit the Victorian Government website for more information on the current status of the public health response in our region.
Communications to commissioned service providers in our region (archive)
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Resources

The following resources will help organisations running services commissioned by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network during the coronavirus pandemic.

Please also visit our patient resources hub for posters, fact sheets and translated resources.

HealthPathways Melbourne
Health professionals can access the following COVID-19 pathways available on HealthPathways Melbourne:
These form the suite of COVID-19 pathways, which are being regularly updated with the latest risk criteria and local referral information.

Health professionals should be aware of increased mental distress and risk of family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many mental health and family violence pathways on HealthPathways Melbourne, and these are being regularly updated to reflect current service options for your patients.

Need a login? Contact info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au
Guidelines for use of masks and personal protective equipment
The DHHS document, COVID-19 Health Care Worker PPE Guidance is regularly updated as new evidence becomes available. The document is available on the DHHS website.

Fact sheets
Videos
Visit our PPE page for more information on the distribution of PPE.

Guidance from the Australian Department of Health on the supply of masks from the National Medical Stockpile through Primary Health Networks:

  Tranche 1 (8 March 2020)
  Tranche 2 (17 March 2020)
  Tranche 3 (2 April 2020)
Infection control

This Australian Department of Health training module covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19:

Go to website
Cleaning and disinfection guide

Please refer to the Australian Department of Health’s Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for COVID-19 fact sheet.
WorkSafe guidance
Notify WorkSafe Victoria of all COVID-19 incidents

From 28 July 2020, employers are required to notify WorkSafe immediately on becoming aware that an employee or an independent contractor or a contractor’s employee has received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and has attended the workplace during the infectious period.

Self-employed persons are also required to directly inform WorkSafe immediately on receiving a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis if they have attended the workplace during the infectious period.

The infectious period begins on the date 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms or a confirmed COVID‑19 diagnosis (whichever comes first), until the day on which the person receives a clearance from isolation from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit the WorkSafe Victoria website for more information.

WorkSafe resources

WorkSafe Victoria is adding information about the prevention and management of exposure to COVID-19 in the health care and social assistance industry on its website.

Posters that discourage violence or aggression towards health care workers are also available:
DHHS COVID-19 fact sheets
DHHS has released the following fact sheets for the health and community sectors:
Please refer to the Patient resources section for more resources for specific audiences.
Isolation and Recovery Facilities for people experiencing homelessness

The Victorian Government has established four COVID-19 Isolation and Recovery Facilities including a Mobile Fever Clinic for people experiencing homelessness across inner Melbourne. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne will lead clinical care in all facilities.

More information
Fact sheets for health workers supporting people with disability

The Australian Department of Health has developed five fact sheets for health professionals regarding supporting people with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic, including one fact sheet specifically for primary health care workers.

These fact sheets have been developed as part of the implementation of the COVID-19 Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability, and are available on the Department’s website.
Webinar: Tips and strategies in using technology for mental health consultations
The Victorian and Tasmanian PHN Alliance, in partnership with the Mental Health Professionals’ Network, recently produced a hugely popular webinar on using technology for mental health consultations.

The webinar is now available to watch on demand.

Watch this facilitated panel discussion to be better equipped to:
- improve awareness of the opportunities, challenges and risks in conducting mental health consultations by telephone and/or videoconferencing
- identify practical tips and strategies which support good outcomes (for the practitioner and the client) for telephone and/or videoconferencing mental health consultations
- increase confidence in using telephone and/or videoconferencing to establish and/or maintain the therapeutic relationship with your client/s.

Return to the COVID-19 hub

Visit page

COVID-19: For commissioned services

Updates

Notification of confirmed cases

Notify NWMPHN

Notify WorkSafe Victoria

Inform your community

Updating opening hours and contact information

Updating HealthDirect

Updating HealthPathways Melbourne

Infection control

Telehealth

Telehealth extension for Medicare-subsidised services

Telehealth readiness survey

DHHS COVID-19 factsheets

WorkSafe guidance

Current public health response status

Communications to commissioned service providers in our region (archive)

Resources

HealthPathways Melbourne

Guidelines for use of masks and personal protective equipment

Fact sheets

Videos

Infection control

Cleaning and disinfection guide

WorkSafe guidance

DHHS COVID-19 fact sheets

Isolation and Recovery Facilities for people experiencing homelessness

Fact sheets for health workers supporting people with disability

Webinar: Tips and strategies in using technology for mental health consultations

Return to the COVID-19 hub

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