On 13 January National Cabinet endorsed a broadening of the Essential Worker Definition to a number of sectors, including the welfare sector, defined to include “Housing/homelessness support”.
A key feature of the changes will be the ability for staff, who have been close contacts of Covid cases, to return to work early, provided they have not themselves tested positive and are asymptomatic.
Key points mentioned in recent briefings:
- The changes only apply to roles identified as Critical Essential Roles (essentially frontline roles).
- Employers are to prepare and provide a list of Critical Essential Roles, applying the listed criteria.
- The lists will be subject to Government Review, but employers can apply the process to the identified roles, until a role’s inclusion has been queried by Government.
- There may be increased PPE requirements for these staff to return to work.
- Employers must maintain a list of employees who fill these roles.
- Employees must meet certain criteria, including being fully vaccinated.
The proposed change will be subject to a formal direction by the WA Department of Health.
