This strategy continues to address the professional issues nurses are facing across the system – for our members and non-members. It focuses on information, upskilling, advocacy, support for nurses, navigating the health system during this time and community awareness. Nurses of Australia, we hear you and we are here for you.
We asked nurses to submit messages for the public to shed light on their unique experiences and let members of the community know how we can all work together to get through these difficult times. The most common themes from these responses have been used to create a poster educating the public about ’10 Ways to Support Nurses’ during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
This resource is crucial to raising awareness about the actions the community can take to help our profession get through this challenging time. We encourage you to download the poster, display it for your community to see and share our social media images.
We have collated a list of educational resources* to keep nurses informed, safe and prepared to respond to the unfolding COVID-19 outbreak. We encourage you to regularly refer to the Australian Government Department of Health website for the latest news and announcements. If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or have a suggestion for a evidence-based and useful resource to share with nurses, please get in touch by emailing us.
The Information for COVID-19 vaccination providers page is now available on the Department of Health website. This page includes information for COVID-19 vaccination providers, including general practices, GP-led Respiratory Clinics and Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services and community pharmacies.
It includes:
The Department of Health also has a number of resources that are available on the website for you to share and promote through your own channels. These include:
Information to assist residential aged care providers plan for the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out: Access the toolkit here.
The Department of Health has released the mandatory online training modules for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Staff working for authorised COVID-19 vaccination providers are required to complete the training before they can administer the vaccines.
To access COVID-19 vaccination training, visit covid19vaccinationtraining.org.au.
A suite of tiles that can be used on social media to support the COVID-19 aged care vaccination program: COVID-19 vaccination – social media images – aged care.
Victoria — book your vaccine appointment
New South Wales — Getting vaccinated
Australian Capital Territory — Booking your COVID-19 vaccination
Queensland — Getting vaccinated
Western Australia — COVID-19 Coronavirus:Vaccines Roll up for WA
South Australia — Booking your vaccination appointment
Northern Territory — Book your COVID-19 vaccine
ATAGI guidelines on exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines
ATAGI has released new advice on the acute medical conditions that warrant a temporary exemption for COVID-19 vaccines. The resource includes information on the relevant conditions and related COVID-19 vaccines, the implications for an AEFI, the duration of exemptions, and more.
Special webinar: Expanded eligibility for COVID-19 oral treatments
This resource provides the recorded version of a special webinar held on 12 July, which is part of a series to update primary health care on the COVID-19 response and the vaccine rollout. The panel provides key updates on expanded eligibility for COVID-19 oral treatments and answers participants’ questions.
Printable poster on ATAGI recommended COVID-19 vaccines and doses
This two-page infographic was recently updated and outlines which vaccines and doses are recommended for each age and population group. The updated flow chart reflects the changes to vaccine eligibility, including fourth doses for over 50-year-olds and over 30-year-olds.
MBS item numbers for in-home COVID-19 vaccinations
Commencing 1 January 2022, two new MBS items will be introduced that allow nurses to conduct a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment in a patient’s home. The new item numbers are designed to improve access to vaccines and booster shots for those who are unable to attend a vaccination site.
New MBS remote supervision item MBS items 93600 and 93661 will be introduced on 1 January 2022 to improve access to vaccines and booster shots for those unable to attend a vaccination site. The new items will allow an appropriately qualified health professional (for example, a nurse or Aboriginal Health Worker) to conduct a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment on behalf of a General Practitioner (GP) or Other Medical Practitioner (OMP).
Health care workers after COVID-19 exposure
Vaccinated and masked health care workers will now no longer have to isolate after being exposed to COVID-19. Under the new framework, health care settings will be able to undertake a risk assessment to decide whether it is necessary for the staff member to continue working to ensure ongoing access to health care services.
Mandatory vaccinations
With COVID-19 vaccinations now mandatory for health care workers in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents
There are now two COVID-19 vaccines that can be given to children as young as 12 in Australia — Moderna and Pfizer. This guide outlines the current recommendations for vaccinating children and adolescents, and the latest data on efficacy and adverse reactions for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in this age group.
Vaccine consent and young people
The Department of Health has provided advice on obtaining consent from young people for COVID-19 vaccinations. It is important to be across these guidelines to ensure consent is being obtained correctly before proceeding with a vaccination.
ATAGI statement on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in young adolescents
COVID-19 vaccination – Video – Dr Marilyn Clarke explains why pregnant women should get the COVID-19 vaccine
In this video, Worimi woman, obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Marilyn Clarke explains that COVID-19 vaccination advice has changed for pregnant women (short video).
COVID-19 indemnity scheme to protect health professionals and patients
The Australian Government is establishing a COVID-19 Vaccine Claim Scheme to provide further assurance and confidence to patients and health professionals in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
COVID-19 vaccination – Videos – Auslan
Information for consumers and health professionals
Find out answers to the common types of questions you may have about how the TGA assesses and monitors a vaccine for safety, quality and effectiveness.
Department of Health new COVID-19 vaccines website
Resources for health professionals
COVID-19 infection control training
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission – COVID-19 Resources
Victorian Government information – For health services and professionals – coronavirus (COVID-19)
healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): Surgical/medical face masks
The Victorian COVID-19 vaccination guidelines (the guidelines) provide a primary point of information and resources for Victorian COVID-19 vaccination providers based on information and minimum site requirements set out by the Commonwealth. Compliance with these guidelines is a condition of the Public Health Emergency Orders and Secretary’s Approvals that will authorise the necessary Victorian workforce to deliver the vaccine. The guidelines also state the required training and supervision ratios for the Victorian emergency authorised immunisation workforce.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Introduction to emerging respiratory viruses, including novel coronavirus
Clinical Care Severe Acute Respiratory Infection
Health and safety briefing for respiratory diseases – ePROTECT
COVID-19 vaccination training for health workers
Health workforce policy and management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic response
Prevention, identification and management of health worker infection in the context of COVID-19
Management of mild to moderate COVID-19 in primary care
With over 100,000 cases of COVID-19 in Australia, some of the burden for managing mild to moderate COVID-19 is shifting to primary health care. The COVID-19 Clinical Taskforce has developed factsheets / clinical flowsheets for the treatment options for mild to moderate COVID-19 useful in the primary healthcare care sector.
National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce – Caring for people with COVID-19
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for contact and droplet precautions (4 minute timeframe)
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a number of resources to assist healthcare organisations, facilities, clinicians and consumers. These and other material on COVID-19 are available here. These resources include:
COVID-19: Aged care staff infection prevention and control precautions poster
Environmental Cleaning and Infection Prevention and Control
Infection prevention and control COVID-19 PPE poster
Special precautions for COVID-19 designated zones poster
COVID-19 infection prevention and control risk management – Guidance
Safe care for people with cognitive impairment during COVID-19
Break the chain of infection: Stopping COVID-19 poster
COVID-19: Elective surgery and infection prevention and control precautions
FAQs for clinicians on elective surgery
FAQs for consumers on elective surgery
FAQs on community use of face masks
COVID-19 and face masks – Information for consumers
The Commission’s fact sheet on use of face masks in the community to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is now available in Easy English and 10 other community languages from here. The factsheet was developed to help people understand when it is important to wear a mask to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19, and to explain how to safely put on and remove face masks. It also reinforces the importance of staying home if you have symptoms, physical distancing, hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
Chief Medical Officer’s statement on the standard of care for COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments in residential aged care facilities
This statement from Professor Paul Kelly, Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, provides best practice in preparing for and ensuring prompt administration of COVID-19 oral antivirals in a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) setting to ensure the health and safety of your residents, should they test positive to COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for the health and aged care sector
COVID-19 aged care grief and trauma support services
These services provide grief and trauma support for those living, working and caring in the aged care sector, who have been impacted by COVID-19.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) position statements to provide guidance to the professions which help to clarify the NMBAs views and expectations on a range of issues.
Registered health practitioners and students and COVID-19 vaccination COVID-19 vaccination position statement
No place for sexism, sexual harassment or violence in healthcare No place for sexism, sexual harassment or violence in healthcare
Caresearch Palliative care and COVID-19 resources
PalliativeCare Australia – Support for Carers (Self-Care Matters)
Queensland Government – COVID-19 Palliative Care Resources
Cancer Australia – COVID-19 and Cancer
End of Life Directions for Aged Care – Palliative Care Communication during COVID-19
COVID-19 and palliative care in residential aged care — video and transcript (52:28 minute timeframe)
Queensland – Resources and information for clinicians
New South Wales – COVID-19 advice for health professionals
Victoria – Clinical guidance and resources – coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tasmania – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
South Australia – Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for health professionals 2021
Western Australia – COVID-19 information for health professionals
Administration of vaccines – Scope of practice for healthcare professionals guide
NCIRS has developed a new resource with an overview of scope of practice relating to administering vaccines. The guide includes information for enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and a number of other roles. For each role the guide clarifies what they can and can’t do, as well as the relevant qualifications. The guide also includes state-specific information and up-to-date advice relating to COVID-19 vaccines.
* All resources are relevant as of their upload date. Due to the dynamic nature of this rapidly unfolding situation we encourage you to regularly check the individual information sources for any further updates.
To capture the stories, emotions and events of 2020, we invited ACN Distinguished Life Fellows, Fellows, Members and Students to contribute to our ACN Community Digital Mosaic.
We wanted to build a powerful image that represents what we have achieved in 2020 collectively and record the experiences of nurses that reflect the diversity of our roles, fields, and stages of our careers.
The ACN Community Digital Mosaic was another way of saying thank you to all our nurses for their contributions to this unprecedented year. You can read samples of some of the incredible stories we received below.
