Sector Update
ONCALL Training College Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
ONCALL Training College Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
The Victorian Government has declared a State of Emergency and the Federal Government has introduced a range of measures to combat the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). ONCALL has formed a Critical Incident Management Team to manage our response and continuity of service and a key element of this is ensuring the health and safety of all ONCALL employees when performing our roles within the community sector. While we understand the Australian community will most likely experience a higher than normal absence of staff away from the workplace due to illness, ONCALL has a large, flexible workforce available to work every day. We’re committed to ensuring the sector has a workforce to continue to support those most vulnerable.
ONCALL Training College is still open for business
ONCALL Training College (OTC) has been declared an “Essential Service” and is currently running all courses to ensure Support Workers maintain their compliance and industry standards. OTC is committed to working with our partners in providing a safe environment for participants, clients, families, staff and the community, and limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector. We are achieving this by introducing the following measures:
- Placing non-practical courses online and using Microsoft Teams to deliver these over video conferencing
- Courses that have a practical element, which include First Aid, CPR and Manual Handling, have been limited to 8 attendees per classroom delivery to ensure there is no more than 10 people including Trainers in a room at any one time.
- All equipment and surfaces are cleaned and sanitised daily
- Implementing all proximity measurements to maintain social distancing
- We have reviewed our internal office situation to ensure we have enough staff in place to meet operational needs and working with our field staff to ensure we have staff available
- For anyone attending a classroom course at OTC, they need to advise us in advance if they you have returned from overseas or been in close contact with someone (which means face to face conversation for 15 mins or in same room for over 2 hours) who is either suspected or confirmed to have the virus
- Utilising all key resources, including:
Hygiene and infection control measures
It is also important to adhere to strict personal hygiene practices and ensure participants and their families/friends do the same. This includes washing your hands regularly particularly before and after assisting participants and always before and after using the bathroom. Continue to maintain strict infection control procedures including: regularly wiping down surfaces with disinfectant, applying hand sanitiser and where necessary using personal protective equipment (i.e. gloves and face masks).
Follow the advice around social distancing measure and only socialise with the people you live with and the participants and staff you work with. Remember to keep a gap of 1.5 metres between yourself and other people where you can and stay at home as much as possible, except when working or buying essential items including groceries, medication etc.
Victorian Government health.vic Wash your hands regularly poster
Victorian Government health.vic Cover your cough and sneeze poster
Free infection control refresher course
If you have not completed the FREE online refresher course in Infection Control, please do now. Access this training How to protect you and others from COVID-19 through the Moodle Login link at the top right-hand section of the ONCALL Training College website. If you don’t have a Moodle account set up, just create a username and password and follow any further prompts.
Support services
Finally, OTC is aware that your mental health and safety is also a priority. If you are struggling at this time, as many people are, please reach out to one of the services below and seek support:
- Beyond Blue, a guide to mental wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak.
- The Beyond Blue Support Service offers short term counselling and referrals by phone and webchat on 1300 22 4636.
- Lifeline is available 24 hours/7 days on 13 11 14, by text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights) and online chat (7pm – midnight, 7 nights)
- 1800RESPECT is operating during COVID-19 and offers telephone and online counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact them on 1800 737 732 or through online chat here. A list of safety apps for mobile phones can be found at their website.
- The safe steps 24/7 family violence crisis response phone line will continue to operate as usual 1800 015 188.
ONCALL Training College’s duty of care is ensuring all attendees still have access to the quality training our support workers and industry professionals are accustomed to and we look forward to supporting your training needs through these uncertain times and beyond.
