RIVERLINK DISABILITY SERVICES COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE – AUG 2020
Disability Services are officially an “essential service”. We are working on ensuring that we can continue to provide services, making sure that our participants and staff remain safe and healthy. We are continuously communicating updates to our staff, participants and carers of any changes to our programs and activities following government advice and health and safety measures.
In the last two weeks, community transmission of COVID-19 in Sydney is on the rise. There have been a number of locations that have been identified as hot spots of COVID-19 transmission.
Participants and/or staff that have been in any hotspots showing any symptoms will not be allowed to attend.
The locations are updated regularly so please visit the NSW site using the following link and to find the latest COVID-19 news and updates:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates
Riverlink are following advice from NSW Health and will be avoiding any programs visiting areas of concern in Sydney. Please see link below for the latest advice:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/disability-support.aspx
and the following link directed at Disability Providers:
Due to the recent COVID-19 update Riverlink have made the decision to enforce:
- Face Masks – NSW Health has made it mandatory to wear masks on any In-Home services. Riverlink have decided that all staff should wear masks on all our programs.
- Temperature Taken – non-contact head thermometers have been obtained to be used on our programs. Anyone with fever ≥ 37.5°C or respiratory symptoms, even mild, are not allowed on the premises.
Riverlink are also still adhering to all government-issued restrictions by reducing our group’s numbers and ensuring infection control measures are followed.
The way we run our services may have changed
We have had to change the way we run some of our services to help keep our participants and staff safe and healthy. So we are doing things such as:
- Limiting the number of people who come into our facilities and offices.
- Cleaning our facilities and offices more often.
- Making sure participants and staff abide by the social distancing rule, although the NDIS acknowledges that people with disability may need to have close contact with their support workers. However, wherever possible, they encourage us to reduce unnecessary touching.
- The Department of Health has a new online Infection Control course that our staff have all completed.
- Assessing each activity and program to see if it can be delivered while following government advice, health and safety measures and any restrictions in place by the government.
Programs
(following Public Health Orders issued by NSW Health directed at Disability Providers: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/disability-public-health-orders.aspx#providers)
| Camp | Now Open |
| Retreat | Now Open |
| Out N About | Now Open |
| 18 Up | Now Open |
| Club Teen | Now Open |
| Socialites – Friday evening | Now Open |
| Socialites – Saturday | Now Open |
| Wednesday Bowling | Now Open |
| Friday Disco | Cancelled until further notice – Individual Support can be provided with optional activities |
| Links | Now Open |
| School Programs – Term | Now Open |
| Individual Support | Open |
| Riverlink Cottage | Open |
| Riverlink House | Open |
| Day Program – Doonside | Now Open |
| Day Program – Ryde | Now Open |
| Holiday Activities | Now Open |
| School Programs – Holidays | Open |
We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone, please email info@riverlink.org.au or call Riverlink 02 9638 0999 if we can help in any way.
Be Safe.
Kind regards
Beulah Lennane
Chief Executive Officer