How RetireAustralia is responding to COVID-19

Last updated: 18 July 2022.

The health and wellbeing of our residents and team members is our top priority. Here’s what we are doing in response to COVID-19. 

Prevention

• Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for employees.
• Free flu vaccination for employees.
• Mask wearing for all employees in villages when indoors or when physical distancing is not feasible.
• Appropriate PPE for all employees when delivering care and support services.
• Protocols in place to activate a surge workforce amongst our support office employees and to redirect resources to ensure essential services are maintained.
• Stringent infection control procedures, including regular employee training and protocols for PPE, hand hygiene and cleaning.
• Regular and thorough cleaning of community facilities and common areas.
• Increased hand washing stations in communal areas in villages.
• Visible signage to self-assess before entering our communities.
• Regular employee and resident communication specifically about COVID-19.

Preparing to care for our residents if they become unwell with COVID-19

• Scenario planning to prepare for caring for residents, limiting the spread of infection, and looking after the wellbeing of people during self-isolation.
• Contingency planning to maintain essential services and supplies.
• Village outbreak kits including PPE and other essential items.

Our COVID-19 response team is closely monitoring the situation and proactively responding to developments.

Please get in touch with your village manager if you have any questions, or email us here. If your enquiry is urgent, please call our COVID-19 hotline on 1800 325 046.

Updated: 18 July 2022

RetireAustralia has adopted a village-specific response to COVIDSafe protocols.

This is because Government advice and case numbers vary by state and locality. Additionally, within each village, we carefully consider the unique factors of the built environment, location and proximity to COVID-19 cases/ outbreaks, and the make-up of our resident community. Our number one priority continues to be the health and wellbeing of our residents and team members.

Individual responsibilities

We all need to keep each other safe by continuing to:

• Wash our  hands often and thoroughly
• Covering our coughs and sneezes
• Following the latest guidance for mask wearing and checking in/ signing in
• Staying at home if we’re feeling sick and getting tested if we have any COVID-19 symptoms.

If you have any questions about community activities and access to village facilities, please contact your Village Manager.

Updated: 18 July 2022

We need your help to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents, many of whom will be vulnerable to COVID-19.

What you can do:

• Residents and visitors are encouraged to wear masks in indoor settings. We ask that you please wear a mask when visiting village community centres and care/ serviced apartments.
• Please keep up good hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Test if you have symptoms and stay home if you are sick.
• If you are eligible for your fourth (winter dose) of a COVID-19 vaccine, please get it as soon as possible. ATAGI recommends a fourth dose for adults over the age of 50. The interval recommended between a recent COVID-19 infection, or the third dose, and a winter booster dose is now three months.

Thank you for helping us keep our communities safe and healthy.

Last updated: 18 July 2022

We are pleased to be able to offer COVIDSafe property inspections and tours of our community facilities in line with the latest government advice.

If you’ve found a property you’d like to call home, please reach out to us and depending on the latest COVID-19 advice, we’ll arrange a virtual appointment or a visit to the village under a few special conditions which your consultant will talk you through.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our communities, please call us on 1300 687 738 or fill out an enquiry form.

Last updated: 18 July 2022

The situation concerning COVID-19 is ever changing. We’re paying close attention and being responsive to additional measures we need to introduce to keep our residents and our communities safe and healthy.

Independent contractors

Any non RetireAustralia contractors that visit residents’ in their homes are required to sign in to the village at reception before proceeding to the unit/ villa. Examples of independent contractors includes carers, cleaners, maintenance people, grocery delivery people and health professionals such as doctors, nurses, pathologists, podiatrists or physio therapists.

This is a workplace health and safety requirement that was in place prior to COVID-19. However, for COVID-19 contract tracing purposes, it is now more important than ever before.

RetireAustralia contractors and suppliers

Effective Friday 18 March 2020, each day you attend a village, you will be required to:

• Contact Village Reception by phone, before you begin any work or visit any residents.
• Sign a health declaration.

It is important that you do not visit our villages  if:

• You have tested positive for COVID-19 or Influenza.
• You have any COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.

When in our villages, please:

• Wear a mask when indoors and maintain physical distancing wherever possible.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone safe.

For all media enquiries, please contact Vanessa Robb:

Mobile: 0427 605 366
Email: Vanessa.Robb@retireaustralia.com.au

Last updated: 18 July 2022

• Australian Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Smart Traveller) –  https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

• The National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
  Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For translating/ interpreting services, call 131 450.

• NSW Dept. of Health 13 77 88
  https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

• Qld Dept. of Health 13 COVID (134 268)
  https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/

• SA Dept. of Health 1800 253 787
  https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/response