Public Health
COVID-19 Updates and Guidelines
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is providing support and advice to any members seeking information regarding COVID-19. Ensure you’re covered at work by joining the NSWNMA.
If you need further advice, members are encouraged to contact us here. If members are concerned their employer is not following COVID-19 guidelines, the NSWNMA can provide assistance to ensure appropriate measures are in place.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
As a result of ongoing advocacy from the NSWNMA and other health unions, both NSW and national guidance has been changed to advise that fit testing should be undertaken for health workers wearing P2/N95 masks.
If you are providing care for patients who have or are suspected to have COVID-19 or are working in a high-risk clinical area, your employer must provide you with appropriate PPE to ensure you can do your job safely.
To make sure you’re properly protected at work, please read through our PPE guide here which also contains some frequently asked questions from NSWNMA members. Workers compensation covers COVID-19 exposure for workers in prescribed employment.
Workers Compensation
Workers compensation covers COVID-19 exposure for workers in prescribed employment.
This means all nurses and midwives in NSW do not have to prove the source of a COVID-19 infection when making a workers’ compensation claim.
These changes also cover casual workers, if any shifts are worked in the weeks prior to falling ill.
Liability for confirmed COVID-19 claims will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and the insurer will need to establish facts and evidence for each claim. For more information, click here.
If you test positive to COVID-19, you should notify your employer immediately.
Workers in prescribed employment (including the healthcare sector) are automatically presumed to have contracted COVID-19 at work, unless the contrary is established.
Despite this, you will still need to attain a Certificate of Capacity from your doctor to confirm your diagnosis and that work was the likely source of transmission. Further information may be required from you, your employer and nominated treating doctor subsequently.
Your employer will then notify the insurer within 48 hours of receiving your notification.
The insurer must start provisional weekly payments of compensation within 7 days of notification, unless they have a reasonable excuse.
If you have not been notified of the insurer’s decision within 7 days, you can contact the Independent Review Office (IRO) for help on 13 94 76, through their online complaints form or by email at complaints@iro.nsw.gov.au
If you would like some more advice or your claim has been declined, please contact the Association.
Julie says
Nurses at northern beaches hospital , with all our complaints ,
One of the complaints was no access to hand wash basins on level 3 mental health . Many complaints put in, union also made aware , politicians made aware at the enquiry
Infection control nurses also aware, we were told it was passed for infection control, and given hand rub lotion as no wash basins
Now with Coronavirus the top leading infection control experts state washing of hands is the best way ,
So how is it still acceptable for nurses not to have access on level 3 mental health , to the wash basins they are in medication room, or office , you have to go through 1 or 2 doors .
How is this now acceptable with corona virus risks
On all other clinical wards their are wash basins outside rooms and easily accessible
Chez says
Same at our hospital in mental health
Rita says
With this pandemic if a person has them, sore throat or any Symptoms they say not to go to work so does this have to come out of your sick pay or should they cover this I am in age care & what if people don’t have sick pay, we just thought with this pandemic we thought we should be covered by them not sick pay
Donna says
I had to be tested 3times. I now have no sick leave left. Most of mine went into waiting for results. COVID negative each time.
Berneice Vendetti says
Thanks for this information! It’s so important that nurses are across COVID-19 – and the union has been great in providing this feedback.
Kate says
Further more,not advised when booking shift that pt was covid +ve
Evelyne Eckl says
Thanks for this really informative post!
Chance Lajeunesse says
This has been a great resource for me through COVID. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Mohammad Waugaman says
More of a reason to be part of your union!
Christiane Thill says
This is the guide that nurses need! Thanks for keeping it updated!
Dwight Rons says
Thanks for this information. Things change so quickly – it’s good to have somewhere to look that’s up to date.
Maximo Reifsnider says
Some great information! Nurses in my ward would definitely find this useful.