Month: February 2022

Senior Australians in residential aged care will have greater access to visitors and reduced lockdowns under new visitation guidelines response to the pandemic.

The Australian Government recognises the serious impact of social isolation on residents due to the strict requirements to manage the risk of COVID-19.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck welcomed the new advice, which has been endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and National Cabinet.

“The new advice will enable aged care providers to take a more flexible approach to visitation, and a more proportionate approach to locking down of facilities following an exposure or in the event of an outbreak,” Minister Hunt said.

“This decision will provide consistent guidance for states and territories, and we encourage them to reflect this in their public health orders.”

The new Interim Guidance on Managing Public Health Restrictions on Residential Aged Care Facilities has been developed based on expert medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

“We need to shift the balance from restricting visitors during an outbreak to providing access by at least one visitor per resident per day. This will assist to reduce the impact of the restrictions to date and provide families with more valuable time with their loved ones,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Every effort is made to protect residents and with these processes in the place, this provides the opportunity to safely increase visitation for residents.”

The new guidance encourages increased visitation and supports aged care providers to apply the least restrictive isolation requirements on residents. It was agreed that each resident should have access to one Essential Visitor at all times (including during an outbreak or exposure).

The Government is supporting increased visitation through the provision of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through the medical stockpile.  Over 12.2 million RATs have been deployed to the aged care sector since August 2021.  

Since 1 January 2022 the National Medical Stockpile has provided residential aged care facilities with approximately:

• 19.1 million masks
• 7.7 million gowns
• 23.6 million gloves
• 4.4 million goggles and face shields
• 74,544 bottles of hand sanitiser.

This Guidance will also assist all State and Territory Public Health Units to adopt a more consistent and risk-based approach to the management of COVID-19 outbreaks.

The increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant has created enormous challenges for facilities, as aged care workers have been forced to stay at home and isolate. The updated Interim Guidance on Permissions and Restrictions for Workers in Aged Care acknowledges risk of transmission cannot be eliminated and exposures will occur. 

Endorsed by AHPPC, the revised document provides clear advice on how aged care facilities can take a risk-based approach to use their workforce flexibly.

The guidance provides clear criteria for aged care providers to allow a worker to continue to work if he or she has been exposed to COVID-19 but tests negative, is asymptomatic and is willing to work.

It has been updated to align with the Updated COVID-19 Test and Isolate National Protocols which limits the time required for isolation following contact. This means that providers can reduce the detrimental loss of workforce by retaining existing staff in the workplace, using steps to limit transmission.

The new Interim Guidance documents will be published on the Department of Health’s website.

The Government encourages providers to use these guidance materials to provide a better balance between protecting residents from the potentially tragic impacts of COVID-19, and supporting their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes.

From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in the CGM Initiative will have the option of using the new Dexcom G6 CGM device, as the current Dexcom G5 CGM device is phased out.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said around 1.8 million people in Australia live with diabetes and more than 120,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year.

“CGM measures glucose levels to gain insight into patterns and trends—day and night.

Monitoring blood glucose levels helps prevent both short-term and long-term health complications including heart attacks and strokes, amputations, kidney failure and preventable blindness,” Minister Hunt said.

“The Morrison Government remains committed to ensuring all Australians have access to the latest health care products when and where they need them.”

Funded by the Morrison Government, CGM products are available through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) to help thousands of people manage their diabetes every day.

Thousands of Australians have successfully used the Dexcom G5 monitoring device but, due to international supply chain issues, the G5 would no longer be available in Australia. 

To ensure this doesn’t impact current G5 users, the Morrison Government has been working with the product sponsor and Diabetes Australia to make sure Australians can transition to the new G6 product before the G5 supple is exhausted.

To minimise the impact of this change, the listing for the G6 has been expanded so that all people eligible to participate in the CGM Initiative can access this option.

In addition, existing G5 users—about 7,500 people—will be automatically transitioned to G6 on 1 March to avoid any delays receiving their CGM product.

All products, including the new G6, provided under the CGM initiative remain free of charge.

The Morrison Government has invested more than $300 million in the CGM Initiative over four years. In 2020-21, the NDSS delivered more than 5.9 million diabetes products worth more than $186 million and more than $709 million in medicines for diabetes were dispensed under the PBS.

Last November, the Government released the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 to drive real improvements in the prevention, early detection, management, and care of people with diabetes.

With approximately one in 20 Australians affected by diabetes, the new strategy will bring together the latest research and evidence to ensure people living with diabetes, their family and carers have access to care, treatments and support where and when they need it.

As part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a strong economy, an additional $2.26 billion will be invested to complete the final stage of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor, creating thousands of jobs while ensuring residents get home sooner and safer.

The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project is the final stage of the North-South Corridor, and once complete, will deliver 78 kilometres of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, slashing 20 minutes of commuting time and bypassing 21 sets of traffic lights.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this funding would ensure the entire North-South Corridor is delivered.

“Our plan for a strong economy in South Australia is all about investing in life-changing infrastructure on our roads and in our important our defence industry projects, creating thousands of jobs in Adelaide,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our Government, together with the Marshall Government, is getting on with delivering what is the most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in South Australia that will ensure a jobs boom for the next 10 years.

“Today we’re announcing $2.26 billion to help ensure the delivery of the final piece of this complex project, bringing our total investment in the North-South Corridor to over $6.8 billion.

“The investment in this project alone is expected to support around 4,900 jobs and slash travel times by up to 20 minutes between the River Torrens and Darlington and help ensure South Australians get home to family and friends safely.”

The 10.5km T2D project will be delivered over two stages, with stage one (Southern Tunnel) connecting Darlington to the Anzac Hwy and stage two (Airport Link and Northern Tunnel) connecting the River Torrens and Anzac Highway.

The Morrison and Marshall Governments have already committed $5.422 billion to Stage 1 on a 50:50 basis.

Premier for South Australia, Steven Marshall, said having the funding locked in place for the whole T2D project means job security for South Australia’s construction sector for the next decade.

“This once-in-a-generation project is going to create a record number of jobs for South Australians and underpin the construction industry for the next ten years,” Premier Marshall said.

“Our strong partnership with the Morrison government means we are able to invest in projects that make a real difference to the everyday lives of South Australians and get people home faster and safer to spend more time doing what they love.”

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the funding for this project builds on the Commonwealth’s existing $10.7 billion commitment for infrastructure in South Australia.

“Set to unlock Adelaide’s traffic network, the T2D will stimulate economic activity, helping ensure people, produce and products arrive where they need to be safer and sooner,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The Morrison Government remains committed to funding the delivery of significant infrastructure projects across South Australia and the nation, getting Australians home sooner and safer and helping freight move more quickly between our cities.”

Federal Minister for Finance and Senator for South Australia Simon Birmingham said the T2D would complete South Australia’s largest infrastructure project to deliver commuters a 78 km non-stop transit link from Noarlunga to Gawler.

“The vision of linking southern and northern Adelaide with a non stop motorway will finally be fully funded, fully delivered and is set to be a drivers paradise,” Minister Birmingham said.

“The Darlington interchange and northern stretch of the motorway have been transformational for road users, with this tunnelling of around 60 per cent of the final stretch allowing motorists to bypass approximately 21 sets of traffic lights and have one of the best transport experiences in the nation.

“With close cooperation and coordination, the federal and South Australian governments are backing critical infrastructure projects that are necessary to improving supply chains and helping South Australian commuters get home sooner and safer.”

The design for T2D consists of two tunnel sections joined by a lowered motorway, with the Southern Tunnel to connect Darlington to Anzac Highway, while the Northern Tunnel will be located north of Anzac Highway and connect to Torrensville.

The $9.9 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on a 50:50 basis, with construction expected to start in late 2023 and be finished by late 2030.

For more information, visit the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport website.

The Morrison Government is continuing to break down barriers to the advancement of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with an additional $6.7 million in funding.

The investments will ensure the continued success of the Superstars of STEM program, as well as backing the important work of the Women in STEM Ambassador, including the national awareness raising initiative – Future You.

Making the announcement on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the funding demonstrated the Government’s commitment to supporting women and girls and built on the $147 million of investments to support gender equity in STEM.

“The Morrison Government is determined to break down barriers that stand in the way of girls and women studying STEM subjects and excelling in the careers that follow,” Minister Price said.

“The study of STEM subjects and pursuit of STEM careers is essential to our national prosperity and for growing our economy.

“Our investments will ensure our Women in STEM Ambassador Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith can continue to be a great advocate for gender equity in STEM and the incredible Superstars of STEM program can inspire even more role models.”

Minister Price said the Government wanted to see women and girls having equal opportunities in STEM subjects and careers.

“Supporting girls and women with opportunities to excel in these areas is not only an important issue of equity, but it bolsters the pool of available STEM-skilled workers,” Minister Price said.

“This additional funding will continue to address structural and cultural biases that lead to the under-representation of women and girls in STEM, through amazing programs like the Superstars of STEM.

“The new investment also recognises the work of the Women in STEM ambassador and the Future You campaign in encouraging women and girls to consider STEM subjects and careers.”

The Government will invest $2 million in the Superstars of STEM program, delivered by Science & Technology Australia, allowing it to develop an additional 120 women Superstars into future leaders.

The Government is providing an additional $2.4 million to support the Women in STEM Ambassador initiative.

Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith’s Future You campaign, designed for children 8 to 12 years old and their parents, has also reached 3.1 million children, parents and carers across Australia since its launch in October 2020.

Notably, only 20 per cent of girls reported being interested in STEM jobs before 2018, but today upwards of 68 per cent of girls are now interested in a STEM career.

The Government will invest an additional $2.3 million to expand this national digital awareness-raising initiative.

For more information on the work of the Women in STEM ambassador visit https://womeninstem.org.au/

To learn more about the Future You visit https://womeninstem.org.au/futureyou/

To learn more about the Superstars of STEM program visit www.scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/superstarsofstem

The Western Mine Workers’ Alliance has slammed as ill-conceived and inadequate an Isolation Care Package being offered to Rio Tinto’s Pilbara workers who are forced to isolate due to COVID restrictions.

Rio Tinto and its catering company Sodexo have prepared the care packs, which consist of a box containing a kettle, tea, coffee, milk, packet noodles and detergent, as well as an “in-room strength program”, for workers who test positive to COVID and must isolate for seven days.

AWU WA Branch Secretary Brad Gandy said the care packages were an absolute joke.

“Only recently Rio Tinto admitted it had a huge, long-standing problem with the appalling workplace culture at its WA mining operations and had to do better,” Mr Gandy says.

“Now this multi-billion-dollar corporation comes out with this cheap and manifestly inadequate effort. Is this really what Rio thinks ‘better’ looks like?

“Is this what a company that says it is serious about trying to change its culture thinks is suitable for Pilbara workers ISOing in the shoeboxes the company calls rooms?”

Greg Busson, Mining and Energy Union WA secretary, said: “The WMWA has still to receive a response to an earlier letter to Rio Tinto, sent on behalf of its Pilbara members, voicing serious concerns for their health and wellbeing while they are on its sites, particularly the management of positive cases and close contacts.”

The letter asked a series of questions included asking what steps Rio was taking to enable close-contact isolating employees to safely repatriate to isolate at home, and to enable COVID-19 positive employees to safely repatriate to isolate and recover at home?

“Unlike in the eastern states the WA resource sector has had plenty of time to properly plan for this situation,” Mr Busson said.

“Rio’s example shows we clearly can’t just leave this to the companies to manage. The government needs to get all the industry stakeholders together and find sensible solutions that work for the mining companies and their employees.”

Said Mr Gandy: “Mining workers and their families want to know that their employer are actually looking after them, but right now they feel like they are being treated like mushrooms when it comes to their own health and safety.”

“The lack of support and the company’s silence so far on our concerns for workers caught up in the COVID pandemic is a good reflection of how the new Rio is just the same as the old Rio. So much for culture change.”

The Western Mine Workers’ Alliance (WMWA) is a partnership between the Mining and Energy Union and the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).

A new phase of disaster relief assistance has commenced in Tonga, with Australian and Fijian military engineers undertaking clearance and recovery operations on Atata Island.

At the request of the Government of Tonga, soldiers from Army’s 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment are clearing debris and repairing or stabilising buildings and infrastructure which were damaged by the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The Australians have been joined by a Republic of Fiji Military Forces contingent, which flew from Australia to Tonga via a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft and then moved directly to HMAS Adelaide via Australian Army CH-47F Chinook helicopters.

A delegation of faith leaders, members of the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network, and veterans, are in Canberra to call on the government to offer more Afghan refugees safety, warning 15,000 over four years is not a proportionate response to the humanitarian crisis, nor in line with Australian community expectations.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced in January over the next four years 10,000 humanitarian and 5,000 family visas will be set aside for those who have or are fleeing Afghanistan. However, this intake isn’t additional to Australia’s already small annual intake of 13,750 people. Further, many of the approximately 5,500 Afghans who have already arrived in Australia this past year, will now need to apply for one of those 10,000 humanitarian visa spots.

“Australians are united in their shared responsibility to the Afghan people. They want a generous intake and to welcome those in need safely. However, from what we can make of the government’s recent announcement, all we have left is 4,500 remaining humanitarian places for those fleeing Afghanistan, when there are 150,000 Afghans who have made applications to

Australia for protection,” said Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO Media Diversity Australia, AfghanistanAustralia Advocacy Network. 

“Such a tiny offering isn’t a compassionate, humanitarian response, it is not commensurate with the crisis unfolding nor does it reflect Australia’s responsibility to the Afghan people. Australians know this.

“Christian leaders, Afghan Australians, and veterans have consistently called for 20,000 Afghans to be taken in as an additional intake – we will not stop our calls. Australia’s humanitarian cap was cut by 5,000 in 2020 to 13,750 – so we’ve been progressively shrinking our intake as it is.

“We spent two decades in Afghanistan as part of the military campaign – it is our moral duty to bring as many people to safety as we can.”

More than 162,000 people have signed onto the Action For Afghanistan change.org petition, every mainline Christian denomination as well as the Australian Christian Lobby has thrown its support behind the campaign Christians United for Afghanistan. More than 300 organisations, businesses and community groups signed onto a joint letter from the Refugee Council of Australia, with all these groups urging federal parliamentarians to commit to 20,000 additional humanitarian places.

There is precedent for Australia lifting its humanitarian intake in response to significant global conflict and upheaval. In 2017, the Abbott government offered an additional 12,000 people fleeing Syria and Iraq safety, on top of the annual humanitarian intake.

The delegation will make the case to the MPs it meets that the 2022 Budget provides the ideal opportunity for the Government to reset its response to the crisis in Afghanistan. 

“Since the 2019 election, we’ve lost 28,000 lost humanitarian visas from Australia’s planned intake, due to COVID shortfalls which were then made into permanent cuts,” said Rev Tim Costello, Executive Director, Micah Australia.

“It is well within the power of this Government to make space for a special additional intake of 20,000 places for refugees from Afghanistan over the next two years.  

“As the Abbott Government illustrated in 2015, this special intake can enable Australia to give priority to refugees in Afghanistan while not forgetting refugees in need elsewhere.

“There are currently more than 84 million people forcibly displaced in the world. There is so much need, but instead of growing our intake our federal government is keeping a very tight cap on our intake.

“If you have unexpected guests arrive at your house for dinner, you don’t just cut everyone a smaller slice of pie – you bake a bigger pie, you offer what you can.” 

The delegation will meet with politicians, including Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. The delegation includes:

•        Rev Tim Costello, Executive Director, Micah Australia

•        Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO Media Diversity Australia, Afghanistan-Australia Advocacy Network 

•        Arif Hussein, Senior Solicitor for RACS, Afghanistan-Australia Advocacy Network

•        Glenn Kolomeitz, Director at GAP Veteran & Legal Services

•        Wendy Francis, National Director of Politics, Australian Christian Lobby

•        Right Reverend Chris Edwards, Bishop of North Sydney, Assistant Bishop to Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel, Metropolitan of New South Wales and ACT.

•        Dr Tim McKenna, CAPSA Advisory Group Member and Chair of the St Vincent de Paul Society Refugee Network

•        Bishop Philip Huggins, Convener of the Anglican Church working Group on Refugee and Migrant Issues

•        Matt Darvas, National Director, Micah Australia

“The scale and severity of the Afghan humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) reiterates its call on the Australian Government to announce a special intake of at least 20,000 humanitarian visas for vulnerable people from Afghanistan additional to our annual humanitarian intake. Catholic Church agencies, parishes, schools, and community groups are already assisting Afghan refugees. We stand ready to do our part in a more ambitious, compassionate response.” – Tim McKenna, CAPSA Advisory Group Member and Chair of the St Vincent de Paul Society Refugee Network.  

“Afghanistan is arguably the world’s largest humanitarian crisis today. The ongoing brutal treatment, particularly regarding women, girls, and minority groups, must not be ignored or forgotten. This is why the Australian Christian Lobby is renewing its call for our government to urgently increase our refugee intake from the devastated nation, as well as giving existing Afghan refugees on TPVs in Australia the assurance of permanency. We can’t rescue everyone, but we can, and must, do more.” – Wendy Francis, National Director of Politics, Australian Christian Lobby  

 “After a 20-year military engagement and blood spilt in Afghanistan, I can’t understate the impact the Afghan visa crisis is having on our veteran community. The Government and Opposition should not ignore the level of support our veterans are showing for our Afghan colleagues and the people of that country more broadly. And it’s not just Afghanistan veterans who are sharing their concerns with me – I’ve had Vietnam Veterans tell me this is reminiscent of the fall of Saigon, but many believe Vietnamese refugees were treated better by the Australian Government back then than Afghan refugees are being treated now.” – Glenn Kolomeitz, Afghanistan veteran and principal lawyer at GAP Veteran & Legal Services.

“The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in our history. In that time, we made significant promises to the people of Afghanistan that included protection of persecuted groups, and women. Australia’s current commitments to those fleeing the Taliban does not begin to recognise our relationship with the war, our moral obligation to the people of Afghanistan, the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan right now, and the contributions of the Afghan-Australian community to Australia.” – Arif Hussein, Senior Solicitor at Refugee Advice and Casework Service, Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have deployed across Australia to residential aged care facilies in support of the Australian Government’s Department of Health.

Following induction and training, a further 38 personnel have deployed to facilities across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales to provide clinical and non-clinical support. There is currently 200 personnel in each state and territory available for tasking as part of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST.

These teams will supplement ADF personnel already supporting the aged care sector, including 17 personnel embedded with the Department of Health to coordinate Defence support.