Thank you for the kind help and support you continue to provide to Five Good Friends Members.

Member Safety is Our Priority

Our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) continues to be our guiding document for all of Five Good Friends that underpins how we provide services with a focus on safety and wellbeing.

Greater Sydney Lockdown

Due to the ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission through the community, the stay-at-home order has been extended until 11:59pm on Friday, 30 July 2021. Essential visits can continue during this time.

If you or your staff live and work in Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour), you must follow scenario 2b in Five Good Friends' Standard Operating Procedure including wearing a mask, gloves and an apron for all visits.

If you or your staff live and work in NSW (outside of Greater Sydney), you must follow scenario 2c in our Standard Operating Procedure, including wearing a mask for all visits.

Scenario 3 applies when visiting Members showing signs of COVID-19, who have been directed to self-isolate or have a confirmed diagnosis.

We encourage you to discuss your services directly with Members. If the service is not essential then you can reschedule the service for another time. If you require further assistance you can contact our Member Services Team on 1300 787 581, Option #1.

Greater Sydney COVID-19 testing requirements

New Health Directions have been issued by the NSW Government which require:

• workers who reside in Fairfield LGA and work outside of Fairfield LGA to have a COVID-19 test every 72 hours and to be able to present evidence of this to their employer or a police officer if stopped.
• workers who reside in Greater Sydney and work outside of these LGA areas to have a COVID-19 test every 7 days and be able to present evidence of this to their employer or a police officer if stopped.

Please note that workers living in Fairfield LGA have until 16 July to be tested and in Greater Sydney until 18 July to be tested. This information can be found here.

The Directions indicate a text as suitable evidence, other suggestions include a screenshot.

You will need to identify those of your staff in the affected areas and establish a process by which you can verify that testing has occurred such as a log of name, date of test and evidence seen. If required by the Government, we may request evidence of your process and/or proof that testing is occurring.

Details of testing centres around Fairfield can be found here.

Please let us know of any issues you have with these new Directions.

Public exposure sites

The NSW Government's coronavirus website provide a list of all current public exposure sites and the health advice to be followed if you were in attendance during the identified time period. This information can be found here.

Testing remains a priority for everyone

If you or your staff have symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath or runny nose, chills or sweat, even if these are mild, they should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. To arrange testing you can visit a COVID-19 testing clinic in your area.

Please ensure that when your staff attend the Member's home they risk screen the Member for COVID-19 symptoms before commencing the services and notify us immediately if they are exhibiting any of the symptoms.

If you have any questions, please contact our Member Services Team on 1300 787 581, Option #1.

Vaccination

Commonwealth and State health departments as well as expert health advisors such as the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) strongly encourage vaccination. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our Members, Helpers, staff and the community Five Good Friends is following this advice by recommending vaccination. We understand there may be reasons (e.g. medical) that prevent vaccination. We urge you to be vigilant in your management of COVID-19. To date your dedicated and committed response has helped ensure the safety of Members and the community.

Thank you for being a partner provider of Five Good Friends. It is an honour to be working with you to provide care and support to our valued Members.

Bruce Jeffers
Marketplace Manager
Five Good Friends