{"id":9422,"date":"2020-12-01T00:04:09","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T00:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=9422"},"modified":"2020-12-01T00:04:09","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T00:04:09","slug":"disability-royal-commission-public-hearing-covid-19-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/12\/01\/disability-royal-commission-public-hearing-covid-19-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Disability Royal Commission Public Hearing COVID-19 Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Australian Government welcomes the COVID-19 report of the Disability Royal Commission.
\nThe effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen significant challenges in the way all Australians live our lives, however, the Government recognises the unique factors that need to be considered when managing the health care needs of people with disability.
\nOne of our most important tasks during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic has been protecting those with disability.
\nTo that end, it is a profoundly important human outcome that we have been able to keep Australians with disability overwhelmingly safe with significantly lower positive case numbers and lives lost in the disability community, than in the broader Australian population, which itself has been one of the strongest outcomes in the world.
\nThrough the course of the pandemic, Australia has had 108 cases of COVID diagnosed per 100,000 people for the general population. By comparison, 43.4 cases per 100,000 people have been diagnosed for NDIS participants which is less than half of the national rate.
\nEach life lost is an agonising tragedy. In this context we owe a debt of gratitude to our carers, health workers and support community for ensuring that our rate of 2.18 lives lost per 100,000 NDIS participants is over 40% below our national loss of life, 3.6% lives lost per 100,000 Australians.
\nAustralia acted swiftly in responding to protecting both the overall population and in particular our most vulnerable Australians.
\nBased on our best advice, Australia was one the two earliest nations to have a special, dedicated COVID response plan for our disability community. From very early on we took action.
\nMinister for Health Greg Hunt said the Government acknowledged people living with disability often have specific health needs, which is particularly pertinent in the context of a global pandemic.
\n\u201cThis is why the Australian Government through February, March and April acted early on disability consultation and led the establishment of the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability (April), which provides a targeted response for people with disability, their families, carers and support workers,\u201d Minister Hunt said.
\n\u201cThe development of this plan involved significant collaboration between governments at all levels, disability and health sectors, academics and people with disability.\u201d
\n\u201cNew flexible approaches for service delivery such as telehealth, home medicines delivery and infection training has changed the landscape of the health care sector.\u201d
\n\u201cWe also continue our work with jurisdictions to ensure flexible testing arrangements for people with disability and continued access to personal protective equipment (PPE).\u201d
\n\u201cSince the pandemic began, the Department of Health, through the National Medical Stockpile, dispatched over 690,000 masks, 30,000 gloves, 85,000 goggles and face shields to the NDIA and to individual NDIS participants. This is in addition to the 29 July announcement which allowed NDIS participants and providers to claim the cost of PPE from the NDIA, in designated hotspots,\u201d Minister Hunt said.
\nMinister for Social Services, Anne Ruston, said the Commonwealth worked quickly and collaboratively with people with disability and their representative organisations, service providers, state and territory governments and health authorities in response to the COVID19 pandemic.
\n\u201cThe Government established the COVID-19 Disability Information Helpline, introduced measures to meet the immediate needs of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and provided additional disability employment support,\u201d Minister Ruston said.
\n\u201cThis year we have committed about $46 million to disability advocacy and representative organisations, including funding specifically earmarked to support organisations provide the Government with information about emerging issues affecting the sector during the pandemic.\u201d
\nMinister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Stuart Robert said the Commonwealth\u2019s response to the pandemic for NDIS participants was swift and ongoing.
\n\u201cThe Government commenced planning for issues of disability when COVID started striking in February. Disability ministers from around the country gathered on 18 March, and we’ve gathered four times throughout the pandemic to ensure the needs of people with disability are considered and responded to quickly,\u201d Minister Robert said.
\n\u201cThe NDIA rapidly implemented a range of temporary measures to support NDIS participants, such as providing low-cost assistive technology, including smart devices, so participants could access telehealth services; the ability to claim for the cost of PPE; and greater plan flexibility.\u201d
\n\u201cThe NDIA also made over 81,000 proactive outreach calls to vulnerable participants across Australia and paid more than $666 million in advance payments to more than 5,000 NDIS providers, ensuring much needed financial supports and continuity of services.\u201d
\n\u201cIn Victoria and, more recently, in South Australia, the NDIA and the Government were able to be agile to ensure the health and wellbeing of NDIS participants by turning on these temporary measures. Should community outbreaks occur in the future, the Government has the appropriate governance and structures in place to respond flexibly as circumstances require, consistent with public health orders.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Government continues to identify and strengthen our systems and processes and bolster support for at-risk NDIS participants and other vulnerable groups,\u201d Minister Robert said.
\nThe Australian Government will work across relevant portfolios and Ministers to respond to the Commission\u2019s recommendations as a matter of priority.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n

DRC Covid-19 report: key statistics<\/p>\n<\/caption>\n

DRC Covid-19 report<\/th>\nKey statistics<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Australians with COVID<\/td>\n27,582 cases of COVID-19 in Australia,\u00a0including 907 deaths (at 30 October 2020).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
108 cases per 100,000 people (based on 25.5m pop)
\n3.6 deaths per 100,000 people (based on 25.5m pop)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NDIS participants with COVID (30 Sept)<\/td>\n179 participants tested positive 9 participant deaths
\n412, 543 total participants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43.6 cases per 100,000 NDIS participants
\n2.19 deaths per 100,000 NDIS participants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total NDIS workers testing positive for COVID-19\u00a0(30 Sept)<\/td>\n215 people tested positive 1worker death
\nTotal workers – estimated at around 200,000 FTE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
% of NDIS participants tested positive for COVID-19\u00a0(30 Sept)<\/td>\n0.04%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
% of NDIS participant deaths from COVID-19\u00a0(30 Sept)<\/td>\n0.002%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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COVID-19: support for people with a disability<\/p>\n<\/caption>\n

Date<\/th>\nCOVID-19: support for people with a disability<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
18 February<\/td>\nThe Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus\u00a0(COVID-19) was released, which expressly addresses the needs of vulnerable groups (chapter 6).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 March<\/td>\nMinister Robert wrote to NDIA and Services Australia to request planning for\u00a0COVID response<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 March<\/td>\nDisability COVID taskforce setup in NDIA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11 March<\/td>\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison announces a comprehensive $2.4 billion health\u00a0package to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups and people with a disability, from COVID-19.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13 March<\/td>\nResidential aged care facilities guidelines were released. This supports young people living in residential aged care facilities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13 March<\/td>\nThe Commonwealth Government implements a dedicated MBS item for pathology tests for COVID-19. This is to ensure access to rapid COVID testing. MBS funded pathology tests for COVID-19 can be requested by all medical\u00a0practitioners and must be bulk billed, that is provided at no cost to the patient.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16 March<\/td>\nMinister Ruston and the Department of Social Services held a round table with\u00a0about 10 Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) to discuss responses to COVID-19.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16 March<\/td>\nOnline COVID-19 infection prevention and control training for care workers,\u00a0including disability care workers, went live.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18 March<\/td>\nExtraordinary meeting of DRC (Disability Ministers) to discuss COVID 19 response. Also met on:<\/p>\n
    \n
  • 9 April 2020,<\/li>\n
  • 11 May 2020; and<\/li>\n
  • 24 July 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Health officials attended 18 March meeting to outline current guidance and access to infection prevention control training and National Medical Stockpile.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

19 March<\/td>\nMinister Ruston held a Carer Gateway Service Providers COVID-19 Update with\u00a0the CEOs from 10 peak organisations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29 March<\/td>\nAustralian Government announces a range of mental health supports to help Australians through COVID including:<\/p>\n
    \n
  • $14M to bolster the capacity of digital and telephone mental health services to provide additional support to vulnerable populations including people with complex mental health needs<\/li>\n
  • $28.4M to allow an additional year for people with a psychosocial disability to transition to the NDIS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30 March<\/td>\nMinister Ruston held a COVID-19 roundtable with about a dozen Australian\u00a0Disability Enterprises.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31 March<\/td>\nMinister Ruston met with Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2 April<\/td>\nThe Advisory Committee on the Health Emergency Response to Coronavirus\u00a0(COVID-19) for People with Disability was established.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 April<\/td>\nMinisters Hunt, Roberts and Ruston announced that the Australian Government\u00a0would urgently develop a response plan to focus on people with disability during coronavirus.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 April<\/td>\nNDIS participants to receive priority home delivery from some of Australia\u2019s\u00a0leading supermarkets.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9 April<\/td>\n$90.7 million announced to support people with disability as part of a broader community support package, including the establishment of a dedicated phone\u00a0line for people with disability.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9 April<\/td>\nDRC meeting (Disability Ministers) met to discuss response to COVID.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16 April<\/td>\nNational Cabinet agreed to release the COVID-19 Management and Operational\u00a0Plan for People with Disability.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17 April<\/td>\nThe Australian Government\u2019s Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19\u00a0for People with Disability (the Plan) was released.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23 April<\/td>\nAnnounced changes to student visa work conditions to ensure continuity of health\u00a0workforce, including in the disability sector.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27 April<\/td>\nNew support items available for SIL providers where an NDIS participant is diagnosed with COVID-19, flexibility to purchase of low cost AT and\u00a0downloadable access request forms to ensure eligible Australians can continue to apply for access to the NDIS.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 May<\/td>\nMinister Ruston and the Department of Social Services held a round table with\u00a0about 10 Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) to discuss responses to COVID-19.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11 May<\/td>\nDisability Ministers Meetings (all State and Territory ministers) to coordinate COVID response.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15 May<\/td>\nNational Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan announced with\u00a0specific funding to support vulnerable groups including mental health and wellbeing of carers.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12 June<\/td>\nThe NDIS moved to a post-pandemic phase from 1 July 2020, including the\u00a0conclusion of some temporary measures.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17 July<\/td>\nMinister Hunt announces 1 million masks from National Medical Stockpile for\u00a0disability care workers in Victoria.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24 July<\/td>\nDRC \u2013 Disability Ministers met to discuss response to COVID<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29 July<\/td>\nAllowing participants and providers in NSW and Victoria to claim the cost of\u00a0PPE and access additional cleaning supports.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11 August<\/td>\nProactive outreach to NDIS providers, measures to ensure workforce supply and\u00a0mechanism for a clinical first response for cases or outbreaks amongst providers and\/or residential care settings.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19 August<\/td>\nDaily publication of data on COVID-19 infection rates for NDIS participants and\u00a0workers commenced.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21 August<\/td>\nNDIS providers in Victoria and NSW can directly claim the costs of PPE from the NDIA through an hourly allowance. Victorian Government announced the establishment of the Disability Response Centre to coordinate and manage outbreaks and keep residents safe.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22 August<\/td>\nParticipant and provider access to PPE extended to restricted areas of\u00a0Queensland.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 September<\/td>\nAustralian and Victorian Government provide $15 million Mobility Reduction Payment for NDIS providers to reduce the movement of support workers between residential disability facilities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 September<\/td>\nThe third iteration of the Disability Operational and Management Plan was\u00a0endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A substantial number of actions have been implemented under the Plan, including:<\/p>\n
    \n
  • publishing the Coronavirus: Outbreak preparedness, prevention and management guidelines for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers;<\/li>\n
  • producing COVID-19 infection control training for care workers across all health care settings, including disability;<\/li>\n
  • publishing guidance materials on testing, returning to school and individual COVID 19 health plans as well as guidance for in-home providers, health professionals, carers and support workers; and<\/li>\n
  • establishing the COVID-19 Health Professionals Disability Advisory Service helpline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2 October<\/td>\nMinister Robert announced extension of temporary COVID measures until 28\u00a0February 2021.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30 November<\/td>\nAs at 30 November, the Department of Health, through the National Medical Stockpile, has dispatched approximately 600,000 masks, 40,000 gloves, 10,000 gowns, 45,000 goggles and face shields to the NDIA and to individual NDIS participants.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability – List of participants<\/p>\n<\/caption>\n

Organisation<\/th>\nName, Position<\/th>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine<\/td>\nDr Jacqueline Small, President<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Allied Health\u00a0Professions Australia<\/td>\nMs Claire Hewat, CEO<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mother of a person with intellectual disability; Chair of Down\u00a0Syndrome Tasmania<\/td>\nDr Rebecca Kelly<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Council for Intellectual\u00a0Disability<\/td>\nMr Jim Simpson, Senior\u00a0Advocate<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First People\u2019s Disability\u00a0Network<\/td>\nMr Damian Griffis, CEO<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get Skilled Access<\/td>\nMs Dani Fraillon\u00a0Chief Operating Officer<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northcott<\/td>\nMs Kerry Stubbs, Ex Managing Director<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NSW Central Coast Local Health District<\/td>\nMs Jenny Martin Director, Allied Health<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Office for Disability ACT<\/td>\nMs Ellen Dunne PSM Executive Branch\u00a0Manager<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
People with Disability Australia<\/td>\nMs Romola Hollywood, Director Policy and\u00a0Advocacy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Summer Foundation<\/td>\nDr George Taleporos\u00a0Policy Manager<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
University of Melbourne<\/td>\nProfessor Anne Kavanagh\u00a0Chair of Disability and\u00a0Health<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
University of NSW<\/td>\nProfessor Julian Trollor, Head, Department of Developmental\u00a0Disability Psychiatry<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health<\/td>\nMr Simon Cotterell PSM (Chair)\u00a0First Assistant Secretary,\u00a0Primary Care Division<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health<\/td>\nDr Anne-marie Boxall Assistant Secretary, Allied Health and Service Integration\u00a0Branch<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health<\/td>\nProfessor Nick Lennox Queensland Centre\u00a0for Intellectual and Developmental\u00a0Disability<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Social Services<\/td>\nMs Valerie Spencer\u00a0Branch Manager, Market Quality<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Disability Insurance Agency<\/td>\nMs Chris Faulkner General Manager, National Disability\u00a0Insurance Agency<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission<\/td>\nMs Samantha Taylor, Registrar<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australian Human Rights Commission<\/td>\nDr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination\u00a0Commissioner<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
ACT Health Directorate<\/td>\nMs Wendy Kipling<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NSW Ministry of Health<\/td>\nMs Sarah Morton Director, Disability, Youth and Paediatric\u00a0Health<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Family and Community Services, NSW<\/td>\nBrian Woods\u00a0Family and Community Services, NSW<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NT Health<\/td>\nMs Samantha Livesley Senior Director, Office\u00a0of Disability<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queensland Health<\/td>\nTroy Hakala, Social Worker,\u00a0Health, Equity and Access Unit, Metro\u00a0South Health and Hospital Service<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queensland Health<\/td>\nMs Melanie Nicholls Manager, Disability and Multicultural Unit, Strategic Policy and Legislation Branch,\u00a0Strategy Policy and Planning Division<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and\u00a0Seniors<\/td>\nMs Liz Bianchi Executive Director<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Australia Department of Human Services<\/td>\nMs Ksharmra Brandon Director, Disability Access and Inclusion,\u00a0South Australia Department of Human\u00a0Services<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Australia Department of Human Services<\/td>\nMs Sally Cunningham Manager, Intergovernmental Relations, Disability\u00a0Access and Inclusion<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Communities Tasmania<\/td>\nMs Ingrid Ganley\u00a0Director, Disability and Community Services<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health Tasmania<\/td>\nMrs Kendra Strong Chief Allied health\u00a0Advisor<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria<\/td>\nMs Edwina Mason Acting Assistant Director, Mainstream Interface and Disability\u00a0Justice<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria<\/td>\nMs Lorraine Langley Director, Mainstream Interface and Disability\u00a0Justice<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria<\/td>\nMs Louise Galloway Director, Primary Care, Dental and Drugs, Health & Wellbeing\u00a0Division<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WA Department of Health<\/td>\nMs Jennifer Campbell Chief Allied Health Officer, Clinical\u00a0Excellence Division<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Communities WA<\/td>\nMs Catherine Parker<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Communities WA<\/td>\nMs Jennifer Lewis<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Australian Government welcomes the COVID-19 report of the Disability Royal Commission. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen significant challenges in the way all Australians live our lives, however, the Government recognises the unique factors that need to be considered when managing the health care needs of people with disability. One of our … Continue reading “Disability Royal Commission Public Hearing COVID-19 Report”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}