COVID-19: our response

12 March 2020

12 Mar 2020

Important information for our community

No doubt you have been following the updates about coronavirus (COVID-19) in the news and on social media. We are keeping up to date with developments on the virus by following the Commonwealth Government’s Chief Medical Officer’s advice.

Guided by this, we are putting measures in place to lessen the spread of the virus. The safety of the people we care for, our VMCH community, family, carers, staff and volunteers is our priority.

At VMCH we already have very strong infection control measures. As an aged care and disability services provider caring for vulnerable people every day, we are experienced in disease control precautions.

We have taken extra measures as a response to COVID-19.

We are following guidelines set out by the Department of Health and Chief Medical Officer. This is monitored daily and responded to as information comes to hand.
We have a Critical Incident Team reviewing and implementing tighter infection control measures across VMCH, including reinforcing good hand hygiene practice.
We are working with all our suppliers to ensure the ongoing availability of essential items such as hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment

We will increase our already stringent precautions by taking the following steps across our organisation:

All staff, contractors and volunteers who have travelled anywhere overseas recently must inform self-isolate for 14 days from the date of return
Staff presenting with flu-like symptoms should stay at home and seek medical advice
Staff working in the community cannot visit the homes of people at risk
We are limiting large staff meetings or training and visits to multiple sites until further notice
Any travel interstate for conferences and meetings will cease
Our aged care residences have implemented restricted visitation until further notice
Our community-based day respite services will be closed until further notice
Our op shops will be closed until further notice
Reducing numbers for our disability respite services
We will be asking our volunteers over 70 to take a short break from volunteering with us
We will be closing St Pauls College, Balwyn from Thursday 19 March.

We need your help to keep everyone safe

If you’re sick in any way, especially if you have flu-like symptoms, please stay home
Adhere to good hand hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds before entering our services or eating, and after using the toilet
Please use the hand sanitiser available at entry points to our services
If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into your elbow
Tell us if you have travelled overseas or been in contact with anyone at risk of having COVID-19 before visiting us. In a fast-changing environment, this will ensure that we adhere to the latest advice from the Department of Health.
We recommend you get vaccinated for the flu for the coming flu season.
Speak to our team if you have concerns about the health of someone in a VMCH service.
Go to the Department of Health website www.health.vic.gov.au for the latest information.
Watch this video from Brett Sutton, Chief Health Officer regarding top hygiene tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6kyXtChVJ0.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by this infection outbreak. We appreciate your support in taking steps to keep our community as safe as possible.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.