COVID-19 and Aboriginal Communities – Essential Information

 NSW is on high alert.

The current stay at home orders will remain in place until Saturday, 28 August at 12.01am across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Local government area restrictions will commence at 5pm, Thursday 5 August 2021 until 12.01am Friday 13 August 2021 for the following areas:

• Newcastle
• Cessnock
• Dungog
• Lake Macquarie
• Maitland
• Muswellbrook
• Port Stephens
• Singleton

Until Friday 28 August, residents of the eight Local Government Areas of concern (Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta) will be subject to new exercise, mask and shopping rules as follows:

• Exercise, outdoor recreation and singles bubble visits must be done within 5kms of the person’s home
• Individuals cannot travel more than 5kms from home for shopping, unless the goods or services are not readily available in that area
• Masks must be worn at all times outside the home regardless of proximity to others.

Only authorised workers in the following eight LGAs may leave their LGA for work, and are subject to an Authorised Workers Order.  

These rules will only be applied to any LGA that is determined to be of concern now and into the future.

Read full details by visiting the NSW government website.

List of testing clinics is available on the NSW government website.

• Public Health Alert - Current COVID-19 case locations 
• Current advice for NSW residents
• Latest media releases

For the full list of venues visit NSW Health website.

Rules for face masks 

You must carry a face mask with you at all times whenever you leave your home or temporary accommodation in the local government areas of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Children aged 12 and under, and people with a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a fitted face covering unsuitable, do not have to carry a mask with them.

Exemptions (face masks)

People not required to wear masks must now carry evidence of their exemption and produce it on request. Advice on face masks exemptions can be found on the NSW Government website. 

NSW Health is working closely with the Australian Government to plan and implement a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination program in NSW.  For information about the vaccination plan visit the NSW Government website.  

All Aboriginal people 16 years and over are eligible for free COVID-19 vaccination.

For more information, download the following resources:
Download the flyer and scan the QR code for more information
Keep Our Mob Safe flyer
Just got tested for COVID-19: Information for Aboriginal communities
Got symptoms? - Get tested

• Find out who can get the vaccine now
• To check if you can book a COVID-19 vaccination visit the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.  
• For information for people in aged care, who are frail and Elders.  
• For information for pregnant or breast feeding mothers.  
• Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.
• Check if your vaccination question has been answered at Australian Health Department Is it true? website page, or the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) Frequently Asked Questions page which answers questions about the vaccination program, being vaccinated, vaccination safety and how vaccines are developed.           

Contact  

• You can call the national coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline on 1800 020 280 if you need information about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines or help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Download the 'I got vaccinated. You can too' sticker.

• For the latest information about vaccinations in NSW visit the NSW Government website.  
• For the latest health information about COVID-19 visit the NSW Health website or NSW Health Facebook page.
• Aboriginal health resources are available on the NSW Health website.
• Aboriginal mental health resources are available on the NSW Health website.
• Staying connected to culture is important for health and wellbeing. To find out more download resources.
• Resources for for Aboriginal people and communities on COVID-19 can be found on the NSW Government website. 
• The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus. Download the COVIDSafe App.
• If you are feeling unwell and think you may have symptoms of COVID-19, contact the Health Direct Helpline on 1800 022 222 (Freecall) and speak to a registered nurse. Available 24/7. List of COVID-19 clinics across NSW can be found on the NSW Health website.
• Learn about the symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19, and about testing at NSW Health facilities on the NSW Government website.
• Self-isolation and mandatory quarantine information is available on the NSW Government website.
• Social distancing – what it means and how it can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection is available on the NSW Government website.
• For information regarding Medicare visit myGov.
• For information regarding hygiene and living in residential buildings.
• For information about cleaning surfaces at home to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Advice for travel to rural and remote Aboriginal towns and communities

Due to the current COVID-19 risk, NSW Health strongly recommends avoiding all travel to, from and between rural and remote Aboriginal communities across NSW.

Travel to provide essential services or on compassionate grounds may be appropriate for people from regions other than Greater Sydney.

Contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 for advice on safe movement or visit the NSW Government website for further details and updates. 

Travel to and from NSW 

The current stay at home orders will remain in place until Saturday, 28 August at 12.01am across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Local government area restrictions will commence at 5pm, Thursday 5 August 2021 until 12.01am Friday 13 August 2021 for the following areas:

• Newcastle
• Cessnock
• Dungog
• Lake Macquarie
• Maitland
• Muswellbrook
• Port Stephens
• Singleton

Residents from Greater Sydney residents including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour must limit their shopping to within their Local Government Area (LGA) or, if outside their LGA, within 10km from home, unless the item is not available locally.

Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River LGAs will join the five existing LGAs of concern which are subject to an Authorised Workers Order.

Only authorised workers in these eight LGAs may leave their LGA for work. The five previously announced LGAs of concern are:

• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Fairfield
• Liverpool
• Blacktown
• Cumberland.

NSW Government website has information about entering and leaving NSW from interstate and overseas.

Intrastate travel (within NSW)

For information related to intrastate travel visit the NSW government website. 

Entering NSW from interstate 

For information on travel entry into NSW from interstate visit the NSW Government website. 

Further information of travel to and from other bordering states are:

Victoria

Victorian Travel Permit System | Coronavirus Victoria

Contact the dedicated coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Queensland

QLD Government

For COVID-19 related enquiries: 134 COVID (13 42 68).

South Australia

Travel restrictions | SA.GOV.AU: COVID-19

For further information contact the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787.

Northern Territory

Interstate arrivals and quarantine | Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

For more information call the NT COVID-19 Hotline 1800 490 484.

We recommend you consult the information page first before contacting Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW).

2021 COVID-19 Support Package
The NSW Government will provide financial assistance, support measures and tax relief to help businesses and people across the state impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions.. For more information visit the NSW Government website. 

Support for financial and other services may be available for individuals and households affected by COVID-19 and experiencing difficulty. Follow the information and links below to see what may be available to you.

For a summary, download a copy of the COVID-19 support for individuals, non-profit organisations and businesses. 

From 1 July 2021, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be available for eligible people in a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot in Sydney.

Free-of-charge advice through Business Connect

Small businesses affected by the current COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions are encouraged to seek free-of-charge advice from the NSW Government’s business advisory service Business Connect.

For more information visit the Business Connect website.
For more information on the support measures for businesses visit the Service NSW website.  

Support for businesses, sole traders and small not-for-profits
Information on a range of support services for businesses, sole traders and small not-for-profits can be found on the NSW Government website. 

If you are experiencing financial hardship visit the Service NSW website for more information on financial support for individuals and households.

COVID-19 Assistance Finder 

Find a list of benefits and services in health and wellbeing, employment, skills and training, food, housing and finances, tailored specifically for you or your business through the COVID Assistance Finder. 

Cost of Living 

To find out if you are eligible for a rebate visit the Cost of Living page on the Services NSW website.

Revenue NSW

For information regarding relief measures to help anyone impacted by COVID-19 visit the Revenue NSW website.

Dine & Discover - Extended until 31 August 

The Dine & Discover NSW Voucher scheme has been extended. You now have until 31 August to use your vouchers.

To apply for your vouchers or find out more about the scheme visit Service NSW website. 

COVID-19 Assistance Finder

Find a list of benefits and services in health and wellbeing, employment, skills and training, food, housing and finances, tailored specifically for you or your business through the COVID Assistance Finder. 

Click on the 'find assistance now' button to complete the short questionnaire where you will find support for health and wellbeing, employment, skills and training, food, housing and finances that you may be eligible for. 

Visit the NSW Fair Trading website for information on licence and permit fee waivers, consumer rights, renting and property issues.

Visit the NSW Fair Trading website for information on residential tenancy moratorium on evictions during COVID-19.

Visit Department of Fair Trading website for more information.

NSW Communities and Justice has outlined advice for COVID-19 DCJ Housing tenants.

Visit Service NSW for information about Residential Tenancy Support packages.

Find a list of benefits and services in health and wellbeing, employment, skills and training, food, housing and finances, tailored specifically for you or your business through the COVID Assistance Finder. 

Rules for faces masks

You must wear a fitted face mask on public transport in the Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas until Saturday 28 August 2021.

More information about wearing face masks on public transport, and how to maintain physical distancing is available at the Transport for NSW COVID-19 website page. 

Opal card registration 
Commuters are advised to stay COVID Safe and register their opal cards and credit cards to help with contact tracing. 

For further information visit the Transport for NSW website. 

Further travel updates and advice can also be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Year 12 students are set to return to face-to-face learning on Monday, 16 August, with the Government finalising plans for the resumption of in-class study under strict COVID protocols.

For schools inside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour):

• Students will continue to learn from home until Saturday 28 August 2021.

• Schools will remain open for students and families who need it. 

• Masks will be required for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

For schools outside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Regional NSW):  

• For the first week of Term 3 students will be back at school for face to face learning.
• Schools will restrict non-essential visitors at school sites, including parents. 
• Adjustments will be made to some activities, such as choir and band.
• Masks will be recommended for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

Updated guidelines have been provided to NSW public schools to help them manage the return of students in a COVID-safe way.

In accordance with Public Health orders, parents, staff and students are not required to wear face masks at school, however masks must be worn by those aged 12 years and over on any public transport.

Further advice for families is available from the NSW Department of Education website.

NSW School Updates app

The NSW School Updates app allows parents and carers to receive operational status updates for NSW public schools.

The app complements the other means of communication available to parents and carers from schools and the Department of Education to ensure families receive timely, accurate information in a crisis.

The app is free and available now for iOS and Android users.

• Download for iOS - App StoreExternal link.
• Download for Android - Google PlayExternal link.

You can 'opt in' for notifications about the operational status of as many NSW public schools as you choose.

Effective from Sunday 11 July, funerals will be limited to ten people in total.

Funerals held at premises must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan. 

• NSW Government
• NSW Health
• Premier of NSW
• NSW Treasury

• NSW Aboriginal Land Council
• Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW
• NACCHO

• Australian Tax Office
• Department of Health
• Department of Social Services
• Hon. Ken Wyatt AM MP Media Releases
• Indigenous Business Australia
• National Indigenous Australians Agency (for business and individuals)