COVID-19 support

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COVID-19 safe behaviours

To keep you and your community safe, whether you have been vaccinated or not, you should continue to:

Testing

You should get tested for COVID-19 if:

  • you have symptoms of the illness — even if your symptoms are mild
  • you have recovered from COVID-19 and develop new symptoms of COVID-19 after 28 days since you completed isolation
  • you have been advised to do so by a health professional.

Find out more about COVID-19 tests. Watch a video on Rapid Antigen Tests.

If you’re at higher risk of severe illness, have COVID-19 symptoms and test negative on a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test), get a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.

Occasionally, a RAT may not detect a COVID-19 infection straight away, so it’s important to get a PCR at a state or territory testing site. The Easy Reads below give more information on taking a RAT test.

Masks

Wearing a mask can help protect you and those around you. To use a mask properly you should:

  • wash or sanitise your hands before putting it on or taking it off
  • make sure it covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin
  • avoid touching the front of your mask while wearing or removing it
  • keep it in place – don't hang it around your neck or under your nose
  • use a new single use mask each time
  • wash and dry reusable masks after use and store in a clean dry place.

Click here to access an Easy Read for mask wearing.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment protects the wearer from infection and stops the spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has information available to help you find out who should use PPE, how to use it, and how to supply, if needed, is managed through the National Medical Stockpile.

For further information on supports available through the NDIS take a look at your health and safety.

What to do if you get COVID-19?

COVID-19 and mental health

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing and isolation may cause feelings of anxiousness, stress and worry.

Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Head to Health website to learn more about mental health support services available.

You can also access tips to help mental health from the Council for Intellectual Disability, and Beyond Blue.

COVID-19 stakeholder kit for disability service providers

This stakeholder kit provides information and resources for organisations delivering services to people with disability. It will assist in communicating the importance of preventative behaviours in reducing the risks posed by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Disability Stakeholder Kit April 2024: Supporting people with disability

Ventilation fact sheet for disability providers

The ventilation fact sheet aims to provide high-level advice to Disability Providers that link them in a single factsheet to other areas of truth for further information.

Ventilation fact sheet for disability providers

Disability workers and vaccination

States and territories have different COVID-19 vaccination requirements for disability support workers. Follow the links below for details. Information for disability workers about COVID-19 vaccines

Information for NDIS Providers and participants. Visit the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Information and support for disability support workers and providers. Visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Carers can read more information here