COVID-19: Our Approach

Ability Centre makes our duty of care for the health and wellbeing of our customers, their families and our employees a priority. The current COVID-19 pandemic is of great concern and the following is our approach.

Guidelines for our employees

We have given the following guidelines to our people:

• If any employees, or their immediate family or household members, have travelled internationally, they must immediately isolate themselves and not return to work for 14 days from the date of their return. They may return to work if at the end of 14 days self-isolation they are showing no symptoms;
• If an employee develops any of the identified symptoms, they are to seek immediate medical attention. They may not return to work until we have a medical certificate clearing them for work;
• If an employee has contact with a person with suspected COVID-19, they must immediately isolate themselves and work from home for 14 days. They may return to work if at the end of 14 days self-isolation they are showing no symptoms, or earlier if the suspected case has been confirmed as having tested negative for COVID-19;
• If an employee has contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19, they must immediately isolate themselves and work from home for 14 days. They will not be permitted to come back to work until they are declared medically fit and have provided a medical clearance certifying them free of COVID-19.

In any of these situations, our employees may not attend our offices, the homes of our customers or any Ability Centre activities.

What we request from our customers and visitors

We ask that our customers and their families also adhere to the public health guidelines as issued by the WA Department of Health.

From Monday 16 March a Wellness Check will be conducted with any visitors including customers and their families when they arrive at an Ability Centre location, before attending group activities or prior to a home or community visit.

Our staff will ask whether you have: travelled overseas in the past 14 days, or have been in direct contact with anyone who has travelled overseas. If you have, we will be asking that the session or meeting is rescheduled.

If any of the above criteria are met, the planned session or visit will need to be re-scheduled.

We also ask that customers cancel appointments if you: have been in contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, or if you are experiencing any symptoms. Please contact us 48 hours prior to your appointment time to avoid being charged our standard cancellation fee.

Signs are on display at our offices and we are also asking all customers and visitors to use hand sanitiser before attending their appointment. You will also be asked to provide a contact phone number when you sign in so we can contact you if the need arises.

Ongoing support

We will continue to monitor government advice in regard to COVID-19 and will adjust our work practices as required.

The latest information and advice is available from WA Health Department website https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/ – this site is updated regularly.

If you have any queries or concerns, please call our Customer Contact team on 1300 106 106.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Jacquie Thomson
Chief Executive Officer