DSC’s Annual NDIS Conference 2024

Sydney & Online, March 26-27

NDIS News & Analysis

Allied Health / ECEI

Allied Health: Navigating the New Normal

Team DSC

Many Allied Health providers are hustling to adapt to the circumstances that COVID-19 has created, by either continuing face to face sessions (with increased PPE and infection prevention measures) or by moving their services online. People seem to be driven by a belief that we will only need to buckle down for a short stint, until things get back to normal. This may not be true. Although it is hard to accept (and we don’t want to be the ones to say it), things may never quite return to being ‘normal’.

Even as we start to build our caseloads back up (currently Allied Health services are operating at about 50%), the legacy of this pandemic will live with us for years. It will change the way people connect with others, their anxiety around infection and their ideas about what is essential. So, while it may feel good to be busy at the moment working to deliver the same services in a different environment, it might be better to think about delivering different services in the post COVID-19 environment. 

The need to work hard and quickly adapt is unavoidable for Allied Health disability service providers as well as ensuring supports are compliant with ever changing government directives. The recent struggles produced by the cancellation of group sessions with two days’ notice and the fight for more PPE are just one example. Providers need to let people know about how services will be safely and effectively delivered and will need to make sure staff and technology are ready for the changes to come.

The hashtag #InItTogether is being used for followers of the pandemic in Australia. It speaks of a community approach to tackling the challenges on COVID-19. The disability sector has really taken this on-board. There have been numerous webinars, blogs, Facebook pages, articles and templates shared freely between disability organisations, for the good of people with disability. Maybe too many to keep on top of!

So we have pulled it together for you and created a list of resources you can freely access to help your Allied Health business navigate through this time.

There is a lot of talk and resources around Telepractice but we want to reassure you that Allied Health service delivery during and after COVID-19 is not just about putting existing services online. Allied Health is considered an essential service by the Australian Government, especially when supporting people with chronic health conditions. Allied Health needs to find different ways to connect with more Participants, not only for their health and wellbeing but also to keep businesses viable. Soon DSC will have an eLearning module on how Allied Health organisations can work to transition to this new ‘normal’.

RESOURCE LIST

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALLIED HEALTH WEBINARS

The Department of Health have developed two webinars specifically for Allied Health in primary care and in the community. They can be found here:

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS

  • DSC has developed a guide to help you develop a business continuity plan regarding COVID-19. 


PARTICIPANT COMMUNICATION RESOURCES

 

PPE 


INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING

The Department of Health has developed an online learning module and webinar about infection prevention for COVID-19. 

DSC have developed an online module for support workers on Supporting People to Stay Infection Free. Sign up as many learners as you need at no extra cost. You can also host the course on your own LMS.

Here are some Department of Health quick links to related resources:

 

 

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AND NOT FOR PROFITS

  • The Australian government is providing relief packages between $20,000-$100,000 for small to medium businesses and Not For Profits (read more here). 

  • The government has also introduced a JobKeeper payment for businesses (including Not For Profits) that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. The payment is $1,500 per employee each fortnight to keep people at work. 

  • The government is increasing the instant asset write-off threshold (from $30,000 to $150,000) and expanding access to include all businesses with an annual turnover of less than $500 million until 30 June 2020.


EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES


TELEPRACTICE RESOURCES

Here are a couple of videos that provide examples of Allied Health Telepractice in actions in Australia:


QUALITY MANAGEMENT