e-Blast: An important COVID-19 Update: Border Restrictions
The latest border restrictions are an important step in keeping us safe. The recent Direction from Queensland’s Chief Health Officer ‘Border Restrictions Direction (No. 11)’, came into effect from 1.00am Saturday 8 August 2020.
The changes include further border restrictions. All of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are now COVID-19 hotspots, so people who live in these states cannot enter Queensland. COVID-19 hotspots are updated regularly here.
Queensland residents who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot can return home but will be required to quarantine in a nominated premises at their own expense. To cross the border you will need to obtain a Queensland Border Declaration Pass.
The Border Restriction Direction (No. 11) may affect people with disability if:
- You need to cross the NSW–Qld border to receive your services
- Your disability support worker needs to cross the NSW-Qld boarder to deliver your service
- You or your disability support worker are returning from a ‘hotspot’ outside of Queensland. Currently all of ACT, NSW and VIC are considered hotspots.
A border zone resident is someone who lives in a community on the Queensland New South Wales border. See the map here (PDF).
This includes both sides of the border – people who live in Queensland but work in their neighboring border town, or people who live in New South Wales but come to work in their neighboring border town in Queensland.
Border zone residents can cross the border for any purpose.
Queensland border zone residents cannot travel outside the border zone in New South Wales (but can travel anywhere within Queensland) and New South Wales border zone residents cannot travel outside the border zone in either Queensland or New South Wales.
If you are concerned border changes may impact your support arrangements, please follow the guidelines set out below:
- contact your support provider in the first instance;
- if a provider has withdrawn services, you should contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission by phoning 1800 035 544;
- if you are a NDIS participant and have immediate concerns about not receiving essential supports due to border closures, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 and select option 5;
- if you are in need of urgent essential disability care and you have been unable to access alternative services through your usual provider or an alternative provider, please contact the community recovery hotline on 1800 173 349; and
- in the event of an emergency please call 000.
The Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors has developed a factsheet called Guidance for the disability sector in relation to the application of the Border Restrictions Direction No. 11. You can go to it here.
More general information about the Direction can be found here.
Further information, including how to apply for an exemption is available here.
Keep up to date with health information here or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
