Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. The virus can spread from person to person. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss or taste or smell.
We can all help stop the spread:
Get tested if you have symptoms (even if mild).
Practise good hygiene.
Download the COVIDSafe app.
Keep 1.5 metres distance from others wherever, whenever possible.
Does is covid-19 Spread?
COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:
Direct close contact with a person while they are infectious or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appear.
close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes; and/or
Touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.
How can you help prevent the spread of covid-19?
Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and keeping your distance from others when you are sick is the best defence against most viruses. Specifically, you should:
ٌSanitise or wash your hands before and after entering a home, preparing or eating food, going to the bathroom, touching your face or blowing your nose.
Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue, dispose of tissues immediately into a bin, and wash your hands.
If you are unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others; and exercise personal responsibility for social distancing measures by staying at least 1.5 metres away from people.
The Australian Government Department of Health has resources in English and other spoken languages.The National Disability Insurance Agency has published information in Easy English,
NDIS Commission Covid-19 Information – In addition to detailed written information and videos, healthdirect provides a symptom checker to help you identify symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the office. We acknowledge that this may be an uncertain and anxious time for you. Your physical and mental wellbeing is incredibly important, and we appreciate you working with us to ensure we keep you and our staff safe. You can visit this page for more information related to keep your physical and mental wellbeing positive.
Australian Psychological Society – If you have been ordered to self-isolate you will need to let us know as soon as possible.
One Administration staff and Key person will return to work and the office will only have two staff due to social distancing.
All employees and visitors will continue to use hand sanitisers upon arrival to the premises and will continue to adhere to social distancing rules
All employees and visitors will disclose illness or suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Disinfectant wipes or disinfectant spray will be provided and used in all homes and offices.
All vehicles must be wiped down by staff each time they are driven.
Manager and other key personnel such as coordinators, RN will continue to carry out regular home visits for identified ‘high risk’ participants.
The following practices apply:
Don’t shake hands.
Remain 1.5 metre distant from others where practical.
All staff with a work phone must install COVID-Safe App.
PPE and hand sanitiser available to staff and participants at all times.
Vehicle clean down after each visit.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was established in 2016 by the Australian Government to provide support services to people with disability, their families, carers and the disability sector in Australia. The NDIS was established under the NDIS Act 2013 along with the passing of the NDIS legislation in March 2013.
- National: The NDIS is being introduced progressively across all states and territories.
- Disability: The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay.
- Insurance: The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability, they will get the support they need.
- Scheme: The NDIS is not a welfare system. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time.
Cite: ‘National Disability Insurance Scheme’, 2021, What is the NDIS, https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/what-ndis#what.
For more info about NDIS, check NDIS website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
We help deliver support and services that help National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants pursue their goals, live and enjoy their life
-We act as a main contact point for NDIS participants who have their plan which lists their desired outcome, the supports they will use and the funding they have received from NDIS
For more info about NDIS, check NDIS website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
We are committed to providing quality services and respect we participant’s rights. We will handle information based on the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework. We will not disclose any personal or confidential information to anyone or any parties unless full consent has been obtained from the participant. Each participant is advised of confidentiality policies using the language, mode of communication and terms that the participant is most likely to understand.
All participants are supported by Mercy United Services to make informed choices, exercise control and maximise their independence relating to the supports provided. We believe, it is everyone’s right to choose their own personal, gender, sexual, cultural, and religious identity. This is applicable to people with disability too and they can make their decision regardless of their situation. Participants have the right to make their own decisions, to be free to live the life they choose, and to have the same rights and freedoms as any other member of the community.
Mercy United Services is committed to ensuring everyone feels safe and treated fairly and the work environment is free from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Each participant accesses supports free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or discrimination. We will deal with the abuse, exploitation, and neglect reports, seriously and confidentially and take the best measures to mitigate the issue and prevent it from recurrence. Incident Management Policy and Procedure is in place for reporting and investigating the abuse, exploitation and neglect related issues. Right to Access an Advocate Policy is also in place to ensure participant can access advocate, if required.
Each participant accesses supports that respect their culture, diversity, values, and beliefs.
During the initial assessment participants are encouraged to talk about their culture, diversity and values and beliefs. We support people with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) background with their culture and spiritual beliefs. The participants who English is not their primary language, will be provided with interpretation support (if required) or in case of a meeting, these people would be able to bring a member of their family who speaks English.
Participants who have met NDIS access criteria with an approved plan can access Mercy United Services through either a self-referral, or by being referred by your carer or medical professional. NDIS referrals also come from Mental Health Workers, NDIA Planners, Local Area Coordinators, Support Coordinators and Plan Managers. But once you are part of the Mercy United family, you become part of an experience where the journey is just as important as the destination. However, you can still contact us if you require support to access services.