What is Monkami doing to protect it's people? Expand Monkami and it's teams are deeply committed to ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of the people we support, our staff, and all visitors and contractors who visit the various Monkami sites, are protected and safe. Monkami is constantly monitoring and reviewing information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic from the Victorian Government, Victorian Health Authorities, the Australian Government, the NDIA, DFFH and international health advice. From commencement of the pandemic, we established our Pandemic Operational Unit to advise, develop and implement strategies within it's COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan. We have developed, implemented and maintained high standards of infection prevention and control strategies which align with our regulatory obligations for occupational health and safety. All of our sites have cemented robust systems to protect our participants, residents, staff and visitors. Staff are engaged in ongoing training and participating in scenarios to ensure that our policies and procedures are well engrained in daily life at Monkami, to mitigate the known associated risks of Covid-19 transmission. Monkami encourages and assists our residents and participants to practice hand hygiene, cough etiquette and face mask wearing when required, to ensure that we can support our residents and participants within the community, to protect themselves, their family and friends and the wider community.Environmental cleaning schedules and checklists remain in place to ensure regimented cleaning of each site is completed twice daily in conjunction with routine surface cleaning. The implementation of physical distancing, adherence to room square meterage and room capacity signage around each of the Monkami sites, remains in place.In early June, Monkami installed air purifiers across the Dixon Ave site which further enhances the suite of protections for our people.Monkami ensures that the levels of Covid-19 safety measures, environmental cleaning and social distancing at partnership locations for external programs meet our standards to protect our people.In circumstances where a positive case has been identified or notified, personal protective equipment is utilised to protect participants and staff. People who have tested positive through rapid antigen testing cannot attend CBS services for 7 days. Where a close contact of a positive case is confirmed, 5 days of rapid antigen testing is required. Where people present with known symptoms of COVID-19 nor are unwell for any reason, regardless of negative rapid antigen testing, they are not permitted to attend until those symptoms have resolved.Contact tracing procedures, inclusive of temperature checking, with our Covid Comply app remain in place across all sites to enhance efficiencies to the processes.Surveillance Covid-19 rapid antigen testing takes place twice weekly for our staff to mitigate the risks and to restrict the timeframe of potential outbreaks.Monkami staff are proud to be 100% double Covid-19 vaccinated + boosters.If you have any queries or concerns regarding our processes, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and to support all our people as we continue to navigate the changing conditions presented by COVID-19 together.Take care and stay safe.
What are the common symptoms of Covid-19? Expand The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: Fever Runny Nose Sore throat Dry Cough Fatigue Some people may also experience: Sore eyes Headaches Vomitting Diarrhoea Nausea Sweating Some people may feel slight symptoms and some people can become very unwell and may require hospitalisation. If you feel unwell in anyway, please get tested immediately. If you are very unwell and are having difficulties breathing, in an emergency please contact 000 immediately.
What can my family and myself do to reduce our risk for Covid-19? Expand There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting Covid-19. The Australian and Victorian Government bodies have many resources and advice surrounding current restrictions and guidelines in place for your safety. You can access this information here: Australia Government Department of Health Victorian Government Department Health and Human Services Victoria Some simple steps to take daily to reduce your risk of contracting Covid-19 are: Perform good hand hygiene practices such as washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, dry them with disposable paper towel or a hand dryer if available. Remember to always wash your hands before and after eating and after using the bathroom. Using hand sanitiser when water and soap are not available is also acceptable. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. However, if you need to touch these areas of your face, wash your hands before and after. Use good cough etiquette when coughing or sneezing by covering your cough or sneeze with a disposable tissue or the inside of your elbow. Ensure to wash your hands afterwards. If you feel unwell with cold or flu like symptoms, please stay home and get tested. You can contact your GP or the Covid-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 if you require medical assistance or advice. Ensure you follow the Chief Health Officer directions regarding the wearing of face masks.
Are all Monkami staff, participants and visitors required to wear a mask? Expand Monkami is abiding by the Chief Health Officer and the Department of Health and Human Services' restrictions for Covid-19. The current requirements for all disability services within Victoria, are that all disability support staff and visitors must wear a face mask at all times whilst they are working or visiting a Monkami site. Our staff that are required to provide direct care to supported persons are required to wear a surgical face mask and a face shield whilst they deliver care. Any visitors who wish to enter a Monkami Supported Independent Living home must wear a face mask during their visit and follow the physical distancing guidelines in place. If for a lawful reason, a visitor cannot wear a face mask (i.e. due to medical, communication or individual risk factors) they must use a face shield instead. Participants are also required to wear masks in accordance with the Chief Health Officer and DHHS community restrictions and our staff will assist them to wear a face mask when leaving their home. In the case that mask wearing is unsafe for them to do so for medical, communication or other individual risk factors our staff will ensure other measures are put in place to reduce their risk. Monkami are working tirelessly to monitor and implement any authoritative requirements and guidelines for the use of face masks in all of our services.
Which of Monkami's services are currently operational? Expand Monkami ceased Centre Based Supports in March 2020 due to the Chief Health Officer and DHHS community restrictions put it place. It was a difficult decision, however one that we whole heartedly stand by as it meant the safety and protection of our vulnerable and precious participants, their families and carers and our staff. Our Supported Independent Living services have remained open and operating during the Stay At Home directions and will do so continuing on. Our staff are continuing to support our residents to abide by the community restrictions and requirements. We are managing the changing restrictions and supporting our people to respond to these, whilst continuing to provide a range of opportunities for our people to enjoy their lives during this global health crisis. Throughout the Stay At Home restrictions, Monkami initiated "Zoom" sessions for participants who wished to access this service. We continue to operate this service and if you would like further information or would like to access these sessions you can contact us here or via telephone on 03 9725 8677. Monkami is continuously monitoring the ever changing pandemic and the easing of restrictions across Victoria and the rest of Australia. As restrictions change, Monkami will implement the changes to services and when able, reopen our other services inclusive of our Centre Based Supports, whilst continuing to abide by the restrictions and requirements handed down by the Chief Health Officer and DHHS to ensure the utmost safety of our participants, their families, carers and our staff. Monkami have advised our participants and families of the return to Centre Based Supports which is scheduled for Monday 11th January 2021 and we look forward to seeing you then! We thank you for your support and patience at this time.
Helpful Resources Expand DHHS - Coronavirus Victorian Government - Information about COVID-19 for people with disability and people caring for them Australian Government Department of Health - Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines Coronavirus (Covid-19) Easy Read Resources Australian Government - For people with a disability