28 January 2022
Visiting arrangements for all IRT Aged Care Centres
The arrangements outlined below are subject to change at short notice pending changes to state and federal public health directions and/or guidance; should there be a group of unwell residents; or if a local COVID-19 outbreak is identified.
It is a direction of the State Chief Health Officers that all visitors of a residential aged care centre follow the public health directions as identified by NSW Health, ACT Health and Queensland Health.
Please check the websites regularly for updated information before you visit, and before you take your loved one on an outing.
We currently have additional restrictions in place for the following IRT aged care centres:
- IRT Berala on the Park – All areas of the centre are closed to visitors.
- IRT Culburra Beach – Branson and Evans closed to visitors.
- IRT Diment Towers – All areas of the centre are closed to visitors.
- IRT Greenwell Gardens – Comerong closed to visitors.
- IRT Kangara Waters – Correa, Grevillea and Wattle closed to visitors.
- IRT Macarthur – All areas of the centre are closed to visitors.
- IRT Tarrawanna – Lyrebird closed to visitors.
- IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee – Level 1 Flame Tree Building closed to visitors.
- IRT Woonona – Ribbonwood Level 1 closed to visitors.
For general information on visiting requirements, please see the below information for your state.
NSW Aged Care Centres
In NSW one visitor is permitted to visit a resident per day. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted. Visitors must be fully vaccinated. Different people may visit on different days.
Visits must occur in the resident’s room or in an outdoor area.
All visitors must comply with the details below. Please note some requirements below are in addition to Chief Health Officer directions:
- All visits to occur between 10am and 5pm (7 days) by appointment only. Appointments must be made by calling reception at the aged care centre.
- All visitors must be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and 2021 influenza vaccine and have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their visit.
- P2/N95 masks and eye protection must be worn by all visitors over the age of 12 in the aged care centre at all times.
- Visitors must sign in at a dedicated entry point – this will be clearly marked on your arrival.
- All visitors must undertake a wellness check on arrival at the aged care centre. Please be patient and maintain social distancing if you have to wait while others complete the wellness check ahead of you.
- Visitors must provide evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test from the past 72 hours. If you do not have evidence of a negative test, you will be required to undertake one prior to entry.
- All visitors must wash their hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the aged care centre or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- After signing in please proceed directly to the room of the person you are visiting or outdoor location.
- Please maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres, unless assisting with personal care, such as meals; do not stop to chat with others as you make your way to and from visiting your loved one.
- To minimise risk of transmission we ask that you please wear clean clothes and come straight to the aged care centre from home.
IRT Kangara Waters Aged Care Centre
In ACT one visitor is permitted to visit a resident per day. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted. Visitors must be fully vaccinated. Different people may visit on different days.
Visits must occur in the resident’s room or in an outdoor area.
All visitors must comply with the details below. Please note some requirements below are in addition to Chief Health Officer directions:
- All visits to occur between 10am and 4pm (7 days) by appointment only. Appointments must be made by calling reception at the aged care centre.
- All visitors must be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and 2021 influenza vaccine and have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their visit.
- P2/N95 masks must be worn by all visitors in the aged care centre at all times. Eye protection is optional, however we do encourage visitors who would like to wear it to do so.
- Visitors must sign in at a dedicated entry point – this will be clearly marked on your arrival.
- All visitors must undertake a wellness check on arrival at the aged care centre. Please be patient and maintain social distancing if you have to wait while others complete the wellness check ahead of you.
- You may be asked to complete a Rapid Antigen Test prior to entry.
- All visitors must wash their hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the aged care centre or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- After signing in please proceed directly to the room of the person you are visiting or outdoor location.
- Please maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres, unless assisting with personal care, such as meals; do not stop to chat with others as you make your way to and from visiting your loved one.
- To minimise risk of transmission we ask that you please wear clean clothes and come straight to the aged care centre from home.
IRT Woodlands Aged Care Centre
In QLD two people are permitted to visit a resident per day. Visitors aged 16 years and over must be fully vaccinated.
All visitors must comply with the details below:
- All visits to occur between 10am and 4pm (7 days) by appointment only. Appointments must be made by calling reception at the aged care centre between 10am and 4pm (7 days).
- All visitors over the age of 12 must have received the 2021 influenza vaccine and visitors over the age 16 must be fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine.
- P2/N95 face masks must be worn by all visitors over the age of 12 in the aged care centre at all times.
- Visitors must sign in at a dedicated entry point – this will be clearly marked on your arrival.
- All visitors must undertake a wellness check on arrival at the aged care centre. Please be patient and maintain social distancing if you have to wait while others complete the wellness check ahead of you.
- You may be asked to complete a Rapid Antigen Test prior to entry.
- All visitors must wash their hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the aged care centre or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- After signing in please proceed directly to the room of the person you are visiting or outdoor location.
- Please maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres, unless assisting with personal care, such as meals; do not stop to chat with others as you make your way to and from visiting your loved one.
- To minimise risk of transmission we ask that you please wear clean clothes and come straight to the aged care centre from home.
Resident outings – NSW Aged Care Centres and IRT Kangara Waters
Residents are permitted to leave the aged care centre either by themselves or with a friend or relative to exercise or for outdoor recreation provided they:
- Abide by the current public health orders including directions.
- Wear a face mask where required by the current public health orders, and consider wearing a face mask in large crowds where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Residents may join a gathering if there will be no person at the gathering who in the last 14 days has been:
- A close contact of a person confirmed with COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period.
- Living in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating.
- Tested for COVID-19 and is still waiting for their result.
- Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or nasal congestion.
On leaving the centre all residents and/or their representative will be asked to complete a resident outing form and confirm understanding of the above requirements. If unable to confirm the above the resident may be asked to self-isolate when they return to the aged care centre.
In NSW, residents will need to have a Rapid Antigen Test on days 2, 4 and 7 after they return from an outing. Should they experience any symptoms, or if deemed necessary following a risk assessment, they will need to isolate in their room.
Resident outings – IRT Woodlands
Residents are permitted to leave the aged care centre either by themselves or with a friend or relative to exercise or for outdoor recreation provided they:
- Abide by the current public health orders including directions.
- Wear a face mask where required by the current public health orders, and consider wearing a face mask in large crowds where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Residents may join a gathering if there will be no person at the gathering who in the last 14 days has been:
- A close contact of a person confirmed with COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period.
- Living in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating.
- For a COVID-19 test and is still waiting for their result.
- Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or nasal congestion.
On leaving the centre all residents and/or their representative will be asked to complete a resident outing form and confirm understanding of the above requirements. If unable to confirm the above the resident may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days when they return to the aged care centre.
Please check the Queensland Health to ensure you aren’t planning to take your loved one to an identified case location, hotspot or geographical area of risk.Com
