Hi Everyone, the current pandemic is deeply worrying to all of us. As we look to the current levels of community transmission, and the situation in aged care in Victoria, many disability services are reviewing their COVID-19 planning documents, undertaking simulation exercises, looking at their workforce capabilities and capacity, stepping up communications with their participants and families, and strengthening their infection controls.

In recent days, we have seen both DHHS and NDIA come together with sector leaders to collaborate on some of the pressing issues facing our sector. Work is now underway regarding coordination of workforces, preparations for outbreak response and accommodation options. This is a welcome move, and we just hope that any resulting developments can be implemented in time to assist in addressing any COVID-19 impacts on disability services.

NDS has recently launched its Safer and Stronger initiative, a project aimed at providing practical information and support to Victorian disability service providers on Infection Control and Business Continuity to enable services to effectively respond to COVID-19 and emerge as stronger organisations delivering high quality services to people with disability.

At this stage our focus is on providing timely advice to disability services, including both NDS members and non members. We are aware that there is a wealth of guidance available and this can be overwhelming and time consuming to navigate. We will be curating some of this material. We will also identify some of the lessons proving useful from other sectors and from providers with experience in dealing with COVID-19.

NDS is also consulting with disability services; both to inform the current emergency response, and shape our forthcoming business continuity work to assist providers to reset their services to reflect our changing environment. We are seeking your feedback on current concerns and issues, and ask that this be sent to Jillian.Black@nds.org.au in the first instance. As always we invite you to keep an eye out for our various activities, training opportunities and member meetings.

Please stay safe and look after yourself in these testing times.