FEATURE

Aged Care Mandatory Vaccination

Despite ongoing advocacy at both State and Federal levels regarding the mandate for vaccination of all Aged Care Staff to be made a supportive strategy with enabled access and paid leave for vaccination and any vaccine related illness, it is increasingly likely that a Public Health Order will be made in Tasmania, bringing into effect the Prime Minister’s direction that all Aged Care Workers be vaccinated by mid-September 2021. The ANMF is advocating for all members in the Aged Care Sector and identifying the flaws with the mandate, as well as the risk it poses to staffing in an already stretched sector.

With less than 6 weeks away from the proposed implementation date of this public health order, the ANMF will be surveying members in Aged Care to ascertain how many workers are likely to leave the sector if they are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by mid-September. This will provide the ANMF with data to escalate the risk through State and Federal avenues and also allow the ANMF to provide specific Industrial advice about what this may mean for your employment.

The ANMF is also seeking the specific exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine for Aged Care and the process by which this will need to be obtained. Once this information is received, along with any Public Health Order, the ANMF will advise all members.

In the meantime, you will be able to continue to access vaccines through the State-run clinics or via in-reach clinics at your facility.

Updates correct as at 5 August 2021.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT

Member Support Team: The ANMF Tasmanian Branch is 8000 plus members strong! Supporting nurses, midwives, and care workers as the only union in Tasmania employing nurses and care workers to represent members. This is why our Organisers and Member Support Team are uniquely positioned to understand your experiences, represent you in your workplace, and offer industrial advice that’s relevant to you. Please contact our Member Support Team if you need workplace support, would like to discuss any matters or raise a concern. Alternatively, you can send an email outlining your concerns to our team - membersupport@anmftas.org.au. Email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting the team, however if your matter is urgent, please phone (03) 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 if you are outside of Hobart.

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