Update on When Metro Melbourne Members Can Return to Work

In a meeting with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that the Association attended today, the DHHS verbally confirmed that remedial massage and myotherapy will be allowed to reopen for one-on-one treatments when metropolitan Melbourne enters the Third Step of its Roadmap to Recovery. Additionally, when metropolitan Melbourne enters its Third Step there will be no restrictions on who, or why, members can provide general health services to as long as the treatment is one-on-one setting.

The Third Step will trigger as soon as Victoria manages to reach an average of five or fewer new cases per day and fewer than five cases with an unknown source over a span of 14 days. At this stage, the Government is estimating that will occur on or around 19 October 2020.

Industry Restart Guidelines

The DHHS have released a document titled 'Industry Restart Guidelines – Allied Health and other primary health services'. This document is a thorough guide to what you need to know to make your clinic COVID safe and includes information on face coverings, physical distancing requirements in the workplace, what to do if a client or worker is unwell, and frequently asked questions. There are also a couple of handy checklists for reopening your business and returning to work.

The Association recommends that all Victorian members carefully review the document. To access the Industry Restart Guidelines document click here.

The Four Square Metre Rules

In addition to treatment being limited to one-on-one sessions, when clinics reopen in metropolitan Melbourne they will need to adhere to the four square metre rule. Information on the four square metre rule can be found here.