Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability.

The Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability focuses on broad clinical, public health and communication actions which will benefit all Australians including people with disability, as well as targeted action specific to people with disability. The objectives of the Plan are to: minimise COVID-19-related transmission, morbidity and mortality among people with disability; guide action across Australia, including rural and remote areas in reducing the risk of COVID-19 for people with disability, including children, young people and adults; inform, engage and empower all people with disability, their families, carers and support workers in relation to COVID-19; identify and characterise the nature of the virus, and the clinical severity of the disease as it relates to people with disability support effective care, including rehabilitation, for people with disability who contract COVID-19, and reduce additional burden from COVID-19 for healthcare and disability support workers; support people with disability continuing to have access to essential health care for non-COVID conditions, including mental health conditions, through the pandemic period. The Plan reflects the Government’s commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020.
Consistent with the overarching COVID-19 Plan, decisions on the implementation of public health measures may vary across state and territory governments. This includes the timing of initiation of measures and the Stand down Phase outlined in Part 2. The AHPPC will aim to support a coordinated approach across jurisdictions wherever possible. It is important to note that a key goal of the Plan and implementation approach is to achieve a response proportionate to the level of risk. This approach acknowledges the risk is not the same across all population groups, and reducing the risk for vulnerable populations such as people with disability is vital. The Plan has two main parts, the Management Plan and the Operational Plan. In particular, this document seeks to ensure health services provided in response to COVID19: recognize that people with disability have an inherent right to life and its enjoyment on the same basis as others; provide people with disability the same standard of health care as other persons; provide people with disability access to health services as close to their own community as possible, including rural and remote areas; promote dignity, autonomy, and respect for people with disability when receiving health care and that the provision of health care is free from bias or discrimination.
The following principles underpin the Plan, from development through to implementation: The human rights of people with disability are upheld through an equitable, accessible and tailored health care response; Preventing people with disability becoming infected is the primary focus; People with disability, their families, carers and support workers understand what to do during the pandemic and how to access support; Clear and targeted information and advice is communicated in a diverse range of accessible formats; Supporters of people with disability (families, carers, support workers and others providing formal and informal supports) are central to the safety of people with disability, during the pandemic, and are a key target group for this plan; There is a need for an integrated partnership between the health sector and disability sectors to appropriately respond to the diverse needs of people with disability, their families, carers and support workers; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability need special focus in this plan and associated plans, with underlying disadvantage, cultural considerations, remoteness and other issues posing challenges for equitable access to health care and other supports; Protect the mental health and wellbeing of people with disability and their families by involving them in decision making and minimizing disruption to their daily lives. Where appropriate, providing appropriate care in non-hospital settings as much as possible and facilitating the essential support that people with disability need.
The Australian Government will undertake a range of specific measures relevant to the health of people with disability in the context of COVID-19, including: Development of the Management and Operational Plan, in partnership with the Advisory Committee, states, territories and other stakeholders; Coordinating the implementation of the Plan, with oversight from the Advisory Committee; Provision of secretariat support to the Advisory Committee; Coordinating and communicating with the states and territories, through the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and relevant disability services coordination mechanisms, to support effective communication and health service provision for people with disability in response to COVID-19; Preparation and dissemination of national guidelines, procedures and other resources to support this Management and Operational Plan; Mobilising the resources of the National Medical Stockpile, and State/Territory resources where applicable, to support the appropriate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other resources, according to availability and need, to people with disability, their families, carers and support workers in health and disability care settings.