MAKE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS AVAILABLE FOR DISABILITY WORKERS

The Morrison Government must provide disability service providers with access to rapid antigen testing for disability support workers, to reduce the chance of infection in people with disabilities, their families and support workers.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) does not currently enable disability service providers to maintain stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and makes no provision for the use of rapid antigen testing either via direct payments to providers or individual support plans.

Rapid antigen testing is currently being used successfully overseas to help prevent infection in similar settings, and funding has been provided by the Department of Health for use in some aged care facilities in Sydney.

Self-testing rapid antigen kits are allowed to be used in Australia from November 1.

Service providers like DARE Disability Support in the Blue Mountains are already using rapid testing for staff and residents, and can see how it can be an effective tool to help identify and prevent the spread of COVID.

They receive no additional funding to do this testing.

Comments attributable to Bill Shorten MP, Shadow Minister for NDIS and Government Services:

“Rapid antigen testing is critical for the disability sector to protect both people with disabilities and the workforce.”

“The Morrison Government neglected people with disability right at the outset of the pandemic and rapid testing will protect those who have not yet been able to access vaccinations”

Comments attributable to Susan Templeman MP:

“Disability support workers can be a highly mobile workforce, and funding rapid antigen self-testing would help with early identification of infection and therefore reduce the risk of transmission and keep staff and services available.

“It simply makes sense for the Government to do whatever it can so that some of the most vulnerable members of our society are not left behind as we navigate our way through the new COVID environment.”

Comments attributable to Andrew Daly, CEO, DARE Disability Support:

“It is DARE’s belief that rapid antigen testing will enable disability service providers to identify chains of emerging transmission early and prevent infection in people with disabilities, their families and support workers.

“Clearly, the impact of not