I have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or was at a location visited by a confirmed case, and am required to be tested for COVID-19 and isolate/quarantine. What does this mean for my work situation?

• Visit the HealthyWA website or phone the WA COVID Hotline on 13 26 843 for direction regarding the requirement for testing as well as isolation/quarantine requirements.
• If you need to be tested and are required to isolate, please notify your line manager and HR via the online Confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 form.
• You will be advised by the WA Department of Health if you require additional testing or are required to self-isolate/quarantine and must follow these directions.
• Follow the directions of the public health authority and your medical practitioner in relation to your medical care.
• If you are unwell while in self-isolation/quarantine, the focus should be on your health care and recovery, therefore the following leave options would apply:
  • Personal Leave (includes sick and carer’s). If leave is exhausted or the employee has insufficient leave, then;
  • Employees (including casuals) may apply for COVID-19 Leave, then;
  • Other forms of leave including Annual Leave or Long Service Leave, OR Unpaid Pandemic Leave as provided for in the Award. If leave is exhausted or the employee has insufficient leave, then;
  • Leave Without Pay.
• If you are not ill, your line manager will discuss options available for you to work from home, should this be possible.
• If a leave option is required, the staff member is responsible for making the leave booking by completing a Leave form.
• For advice on leave arrangements, please contact HR.
• The Australian Department of Health has this advice for home quarantine and isolation practices, including what to do if you begin to have symptoms while in quarantine.
• If you have tested positive to COVID-19, you are required to:
  • Notify your line manager and the Town via the online Confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 form;
  • Follow the isolation and other directions of public health officials; and
  • Have a medical clearance prior to returning to work.
• At the end of your self-isolation/quarantine, should you remain symptom-free, please contact your line manager to discuss.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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Can I travel for work or personal reasons?

• Work related travel requires approval by the Chief Executive Officer and must be conducted in line with current domestic and international travel restrictions in Australia. Approved travel is subject to the traveller acknowledging that the Town’s travel insurance will not cover COVID-19 related claims, including delays/cancellation of flights and accommodation.
• Travel to Western Australia is subject to the WA Government Travel and testing requirements and should be considered when planning travel outside of Western Australia.
• Staff who anticipate the need to travel outside of Western Australia for personal reasons, and who will or may be subject to quarantine requirements on their return, should discuss their proposed travel beforehand with their line manager. Travel arrangements are to be confirmed on the Leave Application Form. Your line manager will discuss options for you to work remotely or from home, should this be possible.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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I and/or members of my family are feeling anxious about COVID-19. Who can we talk to?

• Staff and their immediate family members can access free confidential counselling support through the Town's Employee Assistance Program by contacting Clear Health Psychology on 08 6424 8177 or [email protected].  
• Additionally, Lifeline and Beyond Blue offer a range of other mental health support services.
• For a mental health emergency, we encourage you to phone the WA Health 24/7 Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL) on 1300 555 788, or toll free on 1800 522 002.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What are the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements under the current Health Directives? When do they apply?

The Department of Health has issued an expanded mandatory vaccination COVID-19 vaccination policy for a majority of occupations and workforces in WA, to be introduced in a phased approach.

This is in addition to the multiple directions already in place for workers in high-risk industries, available on the WA Government website.

A full summary of the expanded mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements and associated dates for first dose and full vaccination is available on the WA Government website.

The WA Government announced on 22 December 2021 that all Western Australian workers who fall under an existing vaccine mandate will be required to have a third booster vaccination dose as part of the Government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

The Booster Vaccination (Restrictions on Access) Directions provide guidance on when the booster vaccination is required

• If the vaccinated directed person is eligible to receive a booster vaccination at the commencement of the Directions on 24 December 2021, the person is to be administered the booster vaccination by 5 February 2022;
• If the vaccinated directed person becomes eligible to receive a booster vaccination after the commencement of the Directions on 24 December 2021, the person is to be administered the booster vaccination within one calendar month of becoming eligible.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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Do the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements apply to me?

If, in the course of your work at the Town, you work in a high risk or critical occupation referred to in the Government’s expanded mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy and as outlined in the mandatory vaccination direction the requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 including the third booster vaccination applies to you, unless you have a medical or temporary exemption.

At the Town of Bassendean, this includes, but is not limited to, staff or contractors working in the following premises/locations or roles:

• Seniors and Disability Services
• Wind in the Willows
• Building Inspectors
• Environmental Health Officers
• Pool Inspectors
• Rangers
• Building Maintenance Staff
• Waste Services

If you are unsure whether the directions apply to you, please contact Human Resources or your line manager.

Town of Bassendean staff working at or attending off-site locations may increasingly find that other organisations or facilities may introduce mandatory vaccination requirements, with which Town of Bassendean staff will need to comply. It is recommended that you check with host organisations regarding their vaccination requirements if unsure of requirements.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What evidence of my COVID-19 vaccination status do I need to provide to the Town?

If you fall under any relevant health direction because of your employment at the Town of Bassendean, the Town will ask you to provide evidence of your vaccination status, including partial vaccination, third (booster) dose and exemptions.

Staff who are required to provide evidence will be contacted directly. Otherwise, staff are encouraged to voluntarily provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status or exemption by having it sighted by:

• Anita Biggin/Shelley Coleman – Seniors and Disability Services
• Sally Griffiths – Wind in the Willows
• Pauline Dillon – Depot
• Jacqueline Zagar / Kelli Bradbrook – All other Workplaces

By submitting your vaccination status, you agree that the Town may disclose evidence of your vaccination status to third parties, where it is required in relation to your employment activities, or required by law.

Non-Town of Bassendean facilities will have their own requirements as to how this COVID-19 vaccination status evidence will be recorded within their own systems to ensure they comply with the Health Directions. You will be required to provide such evidence upon their request.

Where organisations have introduced a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement outside the Health Directions, and this is relevant to your work-related duties, evidence of your vaccination status should be provided to the both the relevant organisation and to the Town of Bassendean.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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I have a medical certificate saying I cannot have the COVID-19 vaccine due to medical reasons. What do I do?

The Health Directions including provision for medical exemptions under specific criteria. Further information about criteria, and the health professionals who can grant medical exemptions, is available from the Australian Government website which specifies that the only reasons you might be able to get a medical exemption from having a COVID-19 vaccine are if you:

• had anaphylaxis after a previous dose of a vaccine;
• had anaphylaxis after a dose of any component of a vaccine, or
• are significantly immunocompromised—for live vaccines only.

Medical exemptions must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register and displayed on your Immunisation History Statement.

If you have a medical concern related to COVID-19 vaccination you should discuss your concerns with your General Practitioner and Line Manager. Further assistance can be provided by HR.

Medical exemptions must be sighted by:

• Anita Biggin/Shelley Coleman – Seniors and Disability Services
• Sally Griffiths – Wind in the Willows
• Pauline Dillon – Depot
• Jacqueline Zagar / Kelli Bradbrook – All other Workplaces

By submitting your exemption, you agree that the Town may disclose evidence of your exemption to third parties, where it is required in relation to your employment or required by law.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What happens if I choose not to get vaccinated without a recognised exemption?

We encourage staff who have medical concerns about being vaccinated against COVID-19 to discuss this with their General Practitioner.

An unvaccinated staff member without a temporary or medical exemption who falls under a relevant health direction or third-party organisation mandate, may not be able to access their workplace which may mean they can no longer perform their role.

If you decline to be vaccinated against COVID-19, do not have a medical or temporary exemption, and this is likely to affect your role with the Town, this should be discussed with your Line Manager and HR.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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I am a staff member who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 even though it’s not mandatory for me. Am I required to provide evidence of my vaccination to the Town?

If you aren’t covered by the Health Directives, it is not a requirement for you to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status to the Town of Bassendean.

However, if you wish for your COVID-19 vaccination status to be updated on the Town’s records, evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status can be sighted by:

• Anita Biggin/Shelley Coleman – Seniors and Disability Services
• Sally Griffiths – Wind in the Willows
• Pauline Dillon – Depot
• Jacqueline Zagar / Kelli Bradbrook – All other Workplaces

By submitting your vaccination status, you agree that the Town may disclose evidence of your vaccination status to third parties, where it is required in relation to your employment or required by law.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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I am captured under the mandatory vaccination directions. When am I required to get the booster dose?

Based on the Chief Health Officer’s advice to the WA Government, from 5 February 2022, a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is required for workers captured under the mandatory vaccination Directions.

Currently, anyone aged 18 years and older who had their second COVID-19 vaccination 4 or more months ago is eligible for a booster dose.

Workers captured under the mandatory vaccination Directions, who were eligible to receive a booster dose at or before 4 January 2022, must receive their booster dose by 5 February 2022.

After 4 January 2022, as workers who are captured under the mandatory vaccination Directions become eligible to receive a booster dose, they must do so within one calendar month of becoming eligible.

These timeframes provide workers with sufficient time to get their booster dose and employers adequate time to check and record the booster dose.

Eligible people are encouraged to book their booster vaccinations as soon as possible via VaccinateWA, or at participating GPs and Pharmacies. Visit Roll Up for WA for more details.

More information is available in the Booster Vaccination (Restrictions on Access) Directions.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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Are volunteers required to be vaccinated?

Volunteers are not captured in a stand-alone Direction under the mandatory vaccination policy. Volunteers wanting to access a workplace which is captured by the mandatory vaccination directions will generally be subject to the same requirements as paid employees, unless stated specifically in the Direction.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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How do I advise the Town if I have been tested for COVID-19 or if I have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19?

• If you have been tested for COVID-19 and are required to isolate until you have received the test results, you must notify your line manager and HR via the online Confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 form.

• If you have tested positive to COVID-19, you are required to:
• Notify your line manager and the Town via the online Confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 form;
• Follow the isolation and other directions of public health officials; and
• Have a medical clearance prior to returning to work.

• The WA Government has advised that if you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms or were at a potential exposure location, you need to get tested at a COVID clinic and self-quarantine until you receive a negative test result. If you develop symptoms, even if you've already tested negative, you must get tested again.
• You will be advised by the WA Department of Health if you require additional testing or are required to self-isolate/quarantine and must follow these directions.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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Where can I get the latest health advice?

• Visit the WA Government’s COVID-19 webpage and the HealthyWA website for the latest information and advice on the COVID-19 coronavirus for Western Australia and COVID testing.
• The Australian Department of Health has this advice for home quarantine and isolation practices, including what to do if you begin to have symptoms while in quarantine, and appropriate precautions for people living with someone in self-isolation/quarantine.
• The Coronavirus Health Information Line can be contacted for advice and guidance on 13 26 843 (WA) and 1800 020 080 (National COVID Hotline)
• SafeWA contact tracing: Venues around WA are now required to keep attendance registers of all visitors to enable rapid coronavirus tracing. If you see a check-in station or QR code at any venue, you must register your attendance by either using the WA Government’s SafeWA app to scan a QR code, or in writing using the provided check-in form at the venue entrance. For more information and to download the app, visit health.wa.gov.au. If you go to a Town of Bassendean workplace, business or venue, please sign in using SafeWA or the contact register.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What should I do if I am feeling unwell? Should I attend work?

• Staff, volunteers and contractors who are unwell with cold and flu symptoms should stay home to allow time to recover. It is also a good idea to contact your doctor.
• It’s important to stay calm and remember that earlier symptoms of coronavirus are consistent with a range of illnesses, most of which are not considered serious for otherwise healthy people.
• The WA Government has advised that if you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms or were at a potential exposure location, you need to get tested at a COVID clinic and self-quarantine until you receive a negative test result. If you develop symptoms, even if you've already tested negative, you must get tested again.
• You will be advised by the WA Department of Health if you require additional testing or are required to self-isolate/quarantine and must follow these directions.
• Visit the WA Government’s COVID-19 webpage and the HealthyWA website for the latest information and advice on the COVID-19 coronavirus for Western Australia and COVID testing.
• You can also contact the WA Coronavirus Health Information Line on 13 26 843 for advice if you have been in close contact with a suspected case.
• You can check your symptoms online to see if you need to seek medical help or get tested. Visit the Healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

• Staff who are required to be tested and isolate must notify their line manager.
• Staff who have tested positive to COVID-19 are required to:
• Notify their line manager and the Town via the online Confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 form;
• Follow the isolation and other directions of public health officials; and
• Have a medical clearance prior to returning to work.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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Do I need to wear a face mask while at work?

From 6:00pm Sunday, 16 January 2022, masks are mandatory in all public indoor settings, including workplaces, shopping centres and hospitality venues. In addition, masks must be worn in the following settings/circumstances:

• Hospitals, aged care and disability care.
• On public transport, in taxis and rideshares.
• At an airport.
• When travelling on an aircraft.
• When transporting a person subject to a quarantine direction.

Visit the HealthyWA website for the latest information on face masks. 

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What is the correct way to wear a mask?

Please click on this link to see a video from the World Health Organisation on how to properly fit your mask to reduce your risk of COVID-19 infection.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What is the Town doing about COVID-19?

• The Town of Bassendean is closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation and acting on the advice of the WA Government, WA Health, the federal Department of Health, Safe Work Australia and the Department of Home Affairs.
• The Town has developed a COVID-19 Response Implementation Plan which outlines how the Town intends to continue to provide a safe and healthy working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual Business Unit COVID Safety Plans and Safe Work Procedures are regularly updated in line with WA Government requirements.
• Attendance registers are in place for all staff, contractors and visitors who enter Town of Bassendean worksites to enable rapid contact tracing.
• We are continuing to follow the WA Government’s recommended physical distancing advice and will continue with increased hygiene and cleaning measures across all worksites.

Last updated 17-01-2022

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What if there is a breach in COVID-19 requirements?

If you suspect that there is, or has been, a breach of COVID requirements in a Town of Bassendean workplace, please notify your Line Manager and complete a Hazard Health and Safety Issue Report Form (available here or from your line manager).

The resolution of the issue will be handled in accordance with the Town’s WHS Issue Resolution Procedure (available here or from your line manager).

Last updated 17-01-2022

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