Anticipating changes to mandatory vaccinations and isolation requirements

The NSW Government is anticipated to make the following changes that are relevant to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector:

1. the lifting of mandatory vaccinations on all ECEC workers and volunteers; and
2. for any person who has contracted COVID-19, his/her household members no longer need to also isolate for 7 days as long as s/he can provide a negative RAT result every day upon request.

Once the relevant NSW Public Health Orders have been released, ACA NSW will update its popular and dedicated “Is your service COVIDready” webpage for everything COVID related.

NSW has been leading Australia in “living with COVID” where NSW’s ECEC services has had an exemption since January 2022 allowing ECEC employees (who are household contacts) to return to work while producing negative RAT results.

That said, ECEC services should still consider the following when implementing appropriate precautions for their children, families and staff, especially with winter approaching:

• children aged 0-4 years old do not yet have access to approved COVID vaccination(s);
• the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 35 requires employers to eliminate all risks as practicably as possible; and
• the currency of services’ policy on dealing with infectious diseases especially in relation to Regulation 88 and Regulation 168(2)(c).

For any further information/clarification, members can contact ACA NSW via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED 20 APRIL 2022