Over the weekend, the NSW Government handed down a public health order requiring all disability support workers who live in or who work in the following local government areas (or part of) to either have:

• received at least their first dose of a COVID vaccination by 30 August; OR
• been issued with a medical contraindication certificate.

This applies to members who live or work in any of the following LGAs for work:

• Bayside
• Blacktown
• Burwood
• Campbelltown
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Cumberland
• Fairfield
• Georges River
• Liverpool
• Parramatta
• Strathfield
• Penrith for the following suburbs: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.

You can see a full copy of the public health order here (section 4.24):

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/file/Public%20Health%20(COVID-19%20Additional%20Restrictions%20for%20Delta%20Outbreak)%20Order%20(No%202)%202021_210823.pdf

The Health Services Union has serious concerns about the implications this order has on staffing as members try to get vaccinated in time. We have raised these with the both the NSW and Federal governments and are waiting for a response.

While everyone wants to see an end to the current situation in Greater Sydney, having in place orders that potentially put both residents and workers at risk due to critical understaffing is not the solution.

If you are having difficulty getting a vaccination appointment, or have a question about the public health order, please contact the HSU Member Services Division on 1300 478 679 or [E-Mail not displayed].