This page provides members with direct links to coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and information from official government sources and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). As the situation is evolving rapidly, we encourage members to continue visiting this site and the pages linked below.

We understand that these links might not answer all your questions. For individual advice and assistance, members should call us on 1300 478 000 or use our online contact form.

General workplace Rights (all Workers)

• The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has developed a dedicated page for information about your rights at work, whether that be about leave, JobKeeper payment scheme, safety at work, etc. You can also subscribe to a regular email from this website. Keep checking back as the page is being updated regularly: https://www.actu.org.au/coronavirus
• The HSU is also supporting the call for the introduction of 14-days special paid leave for all workers that can be used if and when workers are required to self-isolate and/or contract the virus. You can sign the petition calling on the Government to act here: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/coronovirus-support-paid-sick-leave-for-casual-workers

health & Aged Care

• The Australian Government Department of Health is producing extensive resources to assist health professionals working across a range of sectors, including hospitals, health clinics and aged care. A range of fact sheets and FAQ pages can be accessed by following the links on the right hand side of the page. Keep checking back as the page is being updated regularly: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-the-health-and-aged-care-sector
• The Australian Government has also introduced a retention payment of up to $800 for direct care workers working in the aged care sector. The HSU is demanding the Australian Government expand this payment to all front-line aged care workers, such as cooks, cleaners, admin workers, therapists and laundry workers. You can sign the petition here: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/the-aged-care-retention-payment-must-be-extended-to-all-aged-care-workers

Disability

• The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has created a specific information page, which contains fact sheets in a range of formats and regularly updated FAQs. The information in here mainly directed at NDIS participants, but the information is useful for workers as well. Keep checking back as the page will be updated regularly: https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/ndis-and-other-government-services/ndis-and-disaster-response
• The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) has created a specific information page. The information here relates mainly to service providers and NDIS participants, but the information is useful for workers as well. Keep checking back as the page will be updated regularly: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-information
• The HSU, along with other unions and the peak body for disability service providers released a strategy for a disability-specific COVID-19 plan on 18 March 2020, this is available to read here.
• We are calling on the Australian Government to provide more support to the disability sector during this crisis, you can take action here: https://hsu.net.au/campaigns/covid-19-support-disability-support-workers/

State and Territory Government information

State and Territory Governments have also established dedicated websites about their health system responses, links are below:

• Australian Capital Territory: https://health.act.gov.au/
• New South Wales: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
• Northern Territory: https://securent.nt.gov.au/alerts/
• Queensland: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/
• South Australia: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
• Tasmania: https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/publichealth/
• Victoria: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
  
• Western Australia: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/

OTHER GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

• The main Australian Government website links to various official sources of information including income and financial support if you or a loved one has lost income during the pandemic: https://www.australia.gov.au

Social Media

Social media is becoming ever more important to stay connected, especially during this unprecedented time. However, we urge members to treat social media posts that have not been issued by official sources with a high degree of caution. Official sources of information at this time include:

• Department of Health: https://www.facebook.com/healthgovau/
• Australian Council of Trade Unions: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianUnions/

If in doubt – check the whether the Facebook Page has been verified by Facebook, you can find out about Facebook verification here.

We understand that these links might not answer all your questions. For individual advice and assistance, members should call us on 1300 478 000 or use our online contact form.