COVID-19 Resources

Health service organisations should have in place an organisation-wide risk management plan to manage and reduce the risks related to the transmission of COVID-19.

The Commission has produced guidance to support health service organisations in assessing risks related to COVID-19 and developing a comprehensive risk management plan. This guidance reflects the use of the hierarchy of controls, to inform infection prevention and control systems, to identify hazards and develop risk mitigation strategies. 

COVID-19 infection prevention and control risk management – Guidance

2021

Guide, user guide or guidelines

The Commission has developed a suite of standardised infection prevention and control posters for acute health service organisations. These posters show the key steps for standard precautions and when caring for patients who require transmission-based precautions, due to a known or suspected infection.

Standard and transmission-based precaution posters

Effective hand hygiene is a fundamental infection prevention and control strategy. Hand hygiene performed at critical points during patient contact is essential to prevent the onward spread of disease to others, and also limits contamination of the healthcare environment.

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative

The elevated risk of COVID-19, along with other infectious diseases, such as influenza and gastroenteritis, in residential aged care is primarily due to decreased immunity in older people and the proximity of people in shared spaces within these facilities. Increasing age is the most important risk factor for severe disease, with risk significantly increasing around 60–70 years of age. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people are at greater risk of severe disease.

The Commission has developed resources specifically to support aged care organisations to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19. These resources include:

Poster - PPE use for aged care staff caring for residents with respiratory viruses

2023

Poster or graphic

• Online learning modules for all staff and for infection prevention and control leads

For more information about preventing and managing COVID-19 in residential aged care please refer to:

• The Australian Government Infection Control Expert Group
• Current guidance from the Communicable Diseases Network Australia National Guidelines for Public Health Units
• Your local state or territory health department.

The Commission has developed the following resources to help people in the community 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.

COVID-19 and face masks - Information for consumers

2020

Fact sheet or brochure

• COVID-19 and face masks – Easy English and community languages versions
• FAQs on community mask use

For more information about using face masks, please visit:

• https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others-from-coronavirus-covid-19/masks