As of 1 October 2026
Home care providers should conduct a local risk assessment to guide the implementation of public health measures for preventing, preparing for and responding to acute respiratory infections (ARI).
This advice also applies to people working with the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
Throughout this document, reference is made to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Guidance.
If you offer aged care services, please refer to the ARI Guidance: Guidance for residential aged care facilities on the public health management of acute respiratory infections (including COVID-19, influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
If you offer disability care services, please refer to the ARI Guidance: Guidance for Disability Care Facilities on the Public Health Management of Acute Respiratory Infections (including COVID-19, Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
Some home care clients may be at higher risk of severe illness if they develop ARIs. In-home care service providers should maintain vigilance to prevent the introduction of acute respiratory infections (ARI), including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) into a person's home.
Home care providers are encouraged to make their own decisions on public health measures appropriate to their internal risk assessments. Providers can adapt their public health measures (including mask wearing advice) to suit the specific circumstances within the homes where they deliver services. This includes considering the levels and types of respiratory viruses circulating in the community as published in NSW Respiratory Surveillance Reports and vaccination status of home care clients.
Staff should ask clients on arrival about ARI symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever or headaches). If staff become aware of a client with symptoms, arrangements should be made for testing of respiratory viruses, or referral to a general practitioner as required.
Providers should encourage clients to meet with their doctor to develop a respiratory virus management plan, which will help to support vaccination, testing and treatment for COVID-19, influenza and RSV.
Providers should ensure they have business continuity plans in place to support adequate staffing coverage. Staff, including students, contractors, volunteers, pathology collectors and therapists should not provide a home care service if they have:
If a staff member has been exposed to COVID-19, managers should refer to Appendix 2 of the relevant ARI Guidance to support decision-making for when staff can safely return to work, particularly if they are critical to service delivery.
It is encouraged that providers provide free RATs to staff to promote testing when there are moderate to high levels of COVID-19 or high levels of influenza or RSV in the community, as indicated by the NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report. Staff with respiratory symptoms should not attend work even with a negative RAT result.
In general, masks should be worn by staff when the NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report reports:
Please remember that masks can be removed for staff:
Staff removing a mask for one of the above reasons can decrease the risk of transmission by physically distancing from others, if appropriate.
It is strongly encouraged that home care staff are up to date with all recommended vaccinations, including COVID-19, influenza and RSV.
The new Aged Care Act 2024 strengthened the requirement for aged care providers to provide access to recommended vaccinations for their staff. For further information, visit Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - COVID-19 vaccination for in-home and community aged care recipients, workers and providers and Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - Responsibilities of residential aged care providers.
Staff providing disability home care services are also recommended to stay up to date with other vaccinations to protect themselves and the people they provide care for.
Providers should review staff vaccination rates and facilitate access to vaccination for those who are due.
Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation. Aged care clients should receive COVID-19, influenza, shingles, pneumococcal and RSV vaccines, as recommended.
These vaccines are funded by the Commonwealth for older adults.
Recommendation* as per Australian Immunisation Handbook
* The vaccines can be co-administered (given at the same time).** Vaccine can be given regardless of when the last COVID-19 infection was.***Adults aged 65 years and older who have previously received any other pneumococcal vaccine are recommended and eligible to receive a dose of Capvaxive® at least 12 months after their last dose for free under the National Immunisation Program. Adults aged 18 to 64 years who receive Capvaxive® because of a specified medical risk condition do not need another dose at 65 years of age.
Home care service providers can use the resources below to discuss the infections and benefits of vaccination with clients and their families:
Staff and participants should not attend if they have tested positive to respiratory viruses, have any acute respiratory or influenza-like symptoms, or have been in close contact with someone who has a respiratroy virus.
In arranging activities, day program providers should:
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has issued a Guide for Home Care Providers to assist staff in reducing the risk of acute respiratory infections.
Please seek the advice of your local NSW Health Public Health Unit if you have questions about how to appropriately mitigate risk when providing home care services on 1300 066 055.
For more information about NDIS-related issues, including any funding issues relating to compliance with these measures for NDIS participants, contact:
