Community Services Industry Communique: COVID-19 Recovery (07-03-2022)

Community Services Industry Communique: COVID-19 Recovery 7 March 2022

Table of Contents

COVID-19 Response Evaluation Project Update (Liam Dunn, Community Services Industry Development Team Leader, TasCOSS)......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 A Tasmanian Lifeline Update (Ben Fisher, Telephone Support Coordinator)............................................................................................ 2 Tasmanian Department of Health Update (Simon Roberts & Kim Ford, Public Health and COVID-19 Emergency Coordination Centre) ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Overview of Departmental Changes (Jenny Gale, Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet & Michael Pervan, Secretary, Department of Communities Tasmania).......................................................................................................................................... 4

TasCOSS Contacts

Please contact us as issues arise: we can assist you to contact the person in the Tasmanian Government or elsewhere that can help or connect you to other community service organisations that are working together on similar issues.

• Adrienne Picone, Chief Executive Officer, adrienne@tascoss.org.au, (03) 6231 0755 • Simone Zell, Manager Community Services Industry Development, simone@tascoss.org.au, 0400 600 814 • All TasCOSS staff member contacts The next Community Services Industry COVID-19 Recovery Statewide Meeting will be held on Monday 21 March 2022 from 11am-12:30pm. You can join the meeting via Microsoft Teams at this link.

1. COVID-19 Response Evaluation Project Update (Liam Dunn, Community Services Industry Development Team Leader, TasCOSS) • •

• • •

TasCOSS is undertaking the COVID-19 Response Evaluation Project to assess how Tasmanian Government funding supported the community services industry and build resilience to future disruptors.

Update on administering the: o Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Interim Stockpile for Community Service Organisations (funded by Department of Health) with help from Red Cross and St John Ambulance — 13,000 RATS provided to 120 organisations; and o COVID-19 Service Continuity Supplies Fund (funded by Department of Communities Tasmania) — $250,000 provided to 94 organisations.

The COVID-19 Response Evaluation Project also involves broader engagement, an online survey and current reflection sessions with specific members of industry sub-sectors.

Full-day scenario planning workshop coming up on Tuesday 10 May 2022 in Campbell Town — Brilliance in Resilience: Planning for Future Crises.

Contact Liam for more information: liam@tascoss.org.au.

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2. A Tasmanian Lifeline Update (Ben Fisher, Telephone Support Coordinator) • • • • • • • • • • •

Running for almost two years, now funded up to 2024.

Focus has moved from COVID-19 to the everyday crises people were dealing with before the pandemic.

Main issue of concern currently: isolation and loneliness (particularly isolation from families).

Working alongside Access to Mental Health (formerly Mental Health Helpline) and the Acute Care Team (formerly CAT Team).

Also partnered with Ambulance Tasmania (secondary triage) to support people who may not need paramedic intervention at that time.

Last month 10% of calls were transferred through for clinical help, the remainder staying with A Tasmanian Lifeline for social and emotional support.

There has been an increase in calls from third parties (concerned friends/family members rather than the person in crisis).

People aged 65+ are the group using the phone line the most.

January saw a big increase in calls due to coinciding events (borders opening, A Tasmanian Lifeline integrating with the Mental Health Helpline, new phone system and then the Devonport Hillcrest trauma).

The PACER (Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response team) response is also used in Tasmania to attend to mental health related 000 calls.

Go to the website for more information: lifelinetasmania.org.au/a-tasmanian-lifeline.

3. Tasmanian Department of Health Update (Simon Roberts & Kim Ford, Public Health and COVID-19 Emergency Coordination Centre) Advice provided by the Department of Education: • •

• •

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With COVID-19 in our community, Tasmanian Government schools will be working differently in Term 1, 2022 to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, staff and the wider community.

Each year, schools work with organisations to deliver enriching learning experiences for students and the resounding sentiment from our school communities is how valuable these external programs are. Given the current times, schools will be operating differently to usual, in line with the Department of Education’s Return to School Operational Plan. This aligns with the national approach to managing COVID-19 in schools and early childhood education and care.

Schools will be focussed on providing learning opportunities in five key areas: reading, writing, number, physical activity and wellbeing. Some schools may decide to limit extension programs or services delivered by external organisations during this time, so that they can focus on core curriculum delivery.

Under the Department of Education’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, all workers are required to be fully vaccinated to be on Department of Education sites. A worker means a person who carries out work in any capacity for Department of Education, including employees, contractors and volunteers. Where programs or services are going ahead in schools, workers would need to adhere to this policy and all COVID-19 safe measures must also be followed — such as physical distancing, sanitising and wearing masks where required.

The Tasmanian Government has released an update to Tasmania’s Operational Plan for Managing COVID-19 in Schools for the remainder of Term 1. We also continue to update COVID-19 related policies and FAQs. Please regularly check the Department of Education’s COVID-19 webpage for updates.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at COVID19Support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

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Advice re mandatory vaccinations:

Updates to directive: •

•

By 1 April 2022 certain workers will be required to have a booster to be fully vaccinated, including workers in: o Residential Aged Care; o In-home and community aged care; and o Disability workers;.

If an individual is not eligible for a booster by 1 April 2022, they will be required to get booster within four weeks of becoming eligible. No directive applies to workers in health care settings as yet.

Exemptions: •

People who have had COVID-19 should get vaccinated as soon as their acute symptoms are over, but they can have a four-month exemption if they get the exemption form completed by a medical practitioner.

Mask requirements: •

•

Still required in: o Residential aged care facilities; o Hospitals; o On the Spirit of Tasmania and in airports; o Large events; and o All public indoor spaces except retail (shops).

From 11 March 2022, no masks required at seated indoor restaurants/cafes, large outdoor events or office settings (waiting for instruction on office settings where health services may be provided).

Close contact definition: • •

Update on definition of ‘close contact’ will be required in light of new circumstances. Currently being discussed.

At present, the definition is four hours in a household/household-like setting or if Public Health deems that you are a close contact.

Flu season planning: •

We may see a more severe flu season this year due to reduced uptake of flu vaccination through the pandemic. o Planning taking place to be able to effectively manage COVID-19 and flu together. o Flu vaccines likely to be available by the end of March 2022.

Disability Emergency Operations Centre (EOC): • • •

A Disability Operations Centre has been set up for responding to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Aim to work with sector and respond to outbreaks as required, based on aged care EOC model.

Email: disability.eoc@health.tas.gov.au.

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Questions:

Any advice for Department of Education schools around ventilation for classrooms over winter? o

o

Pedestal fans and additional air purifiers will be supplied in Tasmanian Government schools to support enhanced ventilation in colder weather.

Schools will be provided with advice and a recommended approach to enhancing ventilation during colder weather.

Does mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers now include boosters? o

No, not at this stage.

Are masks still required in intensive disability/respite centres/day programs, etc.? o

The scope of mandatory mask requirement is still being considered. Feedback in relation to disability care settings will be provided to Public Health (noting that providers can make Work Health and Safety policies in relation to masks).

Is there a timeframe when the mask order will lift for service providers and community venues — do workplaces/offices that are both offices and community services settings need to keep masks in place after Friday (11/3)? o

Taken on notice, clarification will be sought. This aligns with office settings (for many it will be removed this Friday 11/3 at 5pm), but some further direction is to come where office settings perform other functions.

Is there information about mandatory vaccination boosters for ECEC personnel? o

Boosters are recommended for everybody, but not mandatory for ECEC staff at this point

4. Overview of Departmental Changes (Jenny Gale, Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet & Michael Pervan, Secretary, Department of Communities Tasmania) Jenny Gale: • • • • • • • • •

No doubt the announcement that the Department of Communities was to be dismantled came as a surprise to the industry. Read the Premier’s statement.

The Tasmanian Government’s main focus is on maintaining services as they currently stand, then transitioning to a model that will work even better to support Tasmanians.

Acknowledge the need for stability and surety for the industry.

Rationale for the changes: the Tasmanian State Service Review has shown that areas remain siloed, as well as the need to line up functions more effectively and build capacity and breadth within agencies (e.g. placing all children’s services together with the Department of Education).

Housing is seen as a critical issue: the Tasmanian Government hopes to be more effective at responding to the need using a housing statutory authority that reports directly to the Minister.

Sport and Recreation will move to the Department of State Growth.

Disability services, women, Aboriginal affairs, domestic and family violence, veterans’ affairs, community services and community development will move to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Timeframes: transition planning has commenced, will continue until 30 June 2022. Transition period will be 1 July– 30 September 2022.

There have been concerns raised in the industry that the community services will be ‘lost’ in the Department of Premier and Cabinet — wants to assure the industry that this will not be the case.

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• •

The Tasmanian Government and the Tasmanian State Service wants to maintain the positive relationships that have been built between Department of Communities Tasmania and the community services industry.

Will continue to keep the industry updated as transition planning progresses — return to provide an update within a month (first week of April 2022).

Michael Pervan: • • •

Acknowledge this will be a big task, but the Premier was clear the transition was to be ‘without a ripple’ to services, staff and clients.

Tasmanian State Service is focussed on ensuring no, or very minimal, disruption to programs through the transition, particularly with regard to housing and homelessness and children’s services.

Want to ensure the legacy of all our work isn’t lost in the process of transition.

Questions:

The Department of Premier and Cabinet is usually policy-focussed. Will it be a big cultural change to start being involved with service provision? o

Department of Premier and Cabinet is not only tasked with policy but currently run Service Tasmania and have previously been responsible for some of the functions soon to return through this transition.

Where will the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy sit? o

It currently sits across Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Communities Tasmania, whether this will be part of Department of Education is being decided.

How much consultation was done with stakeholders, unions, leaders of different services, etc.? o

This is a ‘machinery of government’ change, with the decision being made by the Tasmanian Government alone.

Before the Department of Communities Tasmania was created, a number of areas were part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and there were concerns at that time about indexation. o

Taken on notice, clarification will be sought.

Please outline what the Housing Tasmania new authority as a legal entity will differ for contracts with the current housing and homelessness services. Will this agency be responsible for the NAHA (National Housing and Homelessness Agreement)? o o o

This is still being worked through, but nothing will change as yet.

The statutory authority will have a skills-based board.

NAHA negotiations and current timelines will not be compromised through the transition.

I'm concerned about Youth Justice and Child Safety going to education, not always good outcomes (e.g. SA). Hope you put in some strong safeguards for disadvantaged children. o

o o

This is likely to be a staged transition and the Tasmanian Government are taking note of what has happened in other jurisdictions.

The transition is not aimed at limiting funding and the Premier assured that no jobs would be lost.

This is part of a bigger shift to improve outcomes across the Tasmanian State Service, starting with the establishment of Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) and probably won’t be the last change.

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Where will Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) go? o

Alcohol and Other Drug sector is generally funded through Department of Health. No change.

Where will family support services go? o

Family support services will go with Child Safety and the Advice and Referral Line to the Department of Education.

I am very concerned that social workers and psychologists will be removed from schools, where they are already in high demand and below the ratio research suggests is required. I hope this doesn't happen and that the social workers and psychologists can be given some assurances soon. o

There will be no initial change to service provision.

Will this further delay the release of the Family Support Review report and implementation? o

All reviews that are part of the Strong Families, Safe Kids reforms are part of the managed transition to the Department of Education.

Contacts and relationships between the Tasmanian Government and the community services are vital. When will we know who our go-to people will be? o o

Future changes are not known yet, but Jenny and Michael will keep the industry informed.

TasCOSS will discuss options for providing updates on progress, including another update at the COVID-19 recovery meeting in the first week of April 2022.

The Tasmanian State Budget is coming up on 26 May. Will budget processes be impacted? o

These processes will be dealt with in the same way as they currently are and existing grants and contracts will not be impacted.

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