Victoria: Updated Industry Restart Guidelines and New Information on Home-Based Clinics

The Department of Health and Human Services have just released their updated Industry Restart Guidelines. 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.

Home-based clinics

The Association has now received official confirmation from the Chief Allied Health Officer and the Department of Health and Human Services that the following additional requirements must be met at a home-based clinic located in either metropolitan Melbourne or regional Victoria:

• The residential premise must be registered as a business premise and have a COVIDSafe plan in place
• A separate entry/exit point must be available for clients to access the premises
• Clients cannot access any shared facilities in the owner/practitioner’s place of residence – including bathrooms/toilets and foyer areas
• Density quotients, physical distancing and PPE requirements remain applicable
• Clients must wear a face covering for the duration of the treatment – the only exception being where a client is legally exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering as per DHHS directives (examples of this can be found here)

The Association is monitoring the situation and the Government notifications on a daily basis and will continue to update members accordingly.