Clarifying new NSW Public Health Order about multiple self-isolation periods

As we live with COVID, the NSW Public Health Orders are updated to address the ramifications of evolving variants.

The latest amendment (on 2 March 2022) to the NSW Public Health Order on self-isolation now says that a household contact is not required to self-isolate again if, no more than 14 days after completing the self-isolation period, there is a different diagnosed person within the same household.

And although this provides services with the option to have children, educators, teachers and supporting staff return after their first 7 days of self-isolation, services still have a continuous obligation under the Work Health and Safety law, in particular its regulation 35 which obliges a service:

"in managing risks to health and safety, to eliminate risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable; and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety—minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable".

As such, it is therefore understandable and legal for services to introduce through their policies and procedures higher requirements in order to protect all their children, parents and staff where possible based on their consideration of risk. Alternatives to refusal of entry may also include the mitigation of risks by way of a requirement for daily negative Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs).

ACA NSW's Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) COVID-19 Information Sheet for Families has been updated to reflect the above.

Should more information or clarification be required, please contact the ACA NSW team on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 4 MARCH 2022