Dear members,
Please see the email below sent to NTPS from Vicki Telfer, Commissioner OCPE regarding domestic travel.
COMMISSIONER’S UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19 –ADVICE 3 – 23 MARCH 2020
Employment arrangements and managing workforce situations in relation to coronavirus
This advice supplements previous advice of 9 and 16 March 2020.
Again, I remind employees to follow all health advice in relation to this situation. For more information, the Northern Territory Government has a dedicated website in relation to coronavirus
Domestic Travel
On Saturday, 21 March 2020, the Northern Territory Government announced the implementation of new border restrictions and arrival requirements in response to the increasing threat of the coronavirus.
From 4.00pm on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, unless specifically exempted from this provision, people who arrive in the Northern Territory from interstate will be required to quarantine / self isolate for 14 days.
The employment arrangements applicable to affected employees will be consistent with those previously announced in relation to employees required to self-isolate as a consequence of overseas travel. These are described below.
Left NT after the announcement
Employees who leave the Northern Territory on personal interstate travel from the time of the Northern Territory Government announcement will need to use existing recreation leave entitlements for the period of their quarantine / self isolation on return to the Northern Territory. Employees will need to meet their own costs of quarantine in these circumstances.
Employees must therefore ensure that if they choose to travel interstate that they have sufficient available recreation leave to cover the 14 day period of quarantine upon return to the Northern Territory. If employees have insufficient leave entitlements they will be required to take leave without pay.
Left NT prior to the announcement
The following arrangements will apply to employees who departed on interstate travel prior to the Northern Territory Government’s announcement (21 March) and who are required to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the Northern Territory:
Employees may work from home if this is a viable option. The agency will work with affected employees in relation to these arrangements.
Employees who are unable to work from home, will be provided with paid special leave for the period of the quarantine.
These arrangements apply equally to rostered casual employees.
Employees will need to provide appropriate documentary evidence (eg travel documents).
Parents and carers
We continue to monitor the situation and note that NT schools and childcare centres remain open. Accordingly, employees who choose to have their children home from schools will be required to take their own recreation leave or long service leave to provide care and support.
In circumstances where a child is ill or injured, or there is an unexpected emergency affecting the child, then employees who are required to provide care and support to their child may access their personal leave in accordance with the normal arrangements set out in their enterprise agreement.
Employee Assistance Program
I remind you that all NTG employees and their immediate families have free access to counselling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Please make use of this if you are feeling concerned. There are eight providers to choose from:
• Darwin Consultant Psychologists - Phone: 1800 289 129
• Darwin Psychology Services – Phone: 1800 769 205
• EASA Inc. - Phone: 1800 193 123
• Industry Health Solutions – Phone: 1800 432 303
• Bereaved Parent Support NT & SIDS and Kids Northern Territory – Phone: 1800 875 182
• Solace Consulting Pty Ltd – Phone: 1800 001 061 (Only for Alice Springs region)
• Relationships Australia Northern Territory – Phone: 1300 364 277
• Wisemind Psychology Pty Ltd – Phone: 1800 166 180
For further information about EAP, please refer to the NTG Intranet
Further information
Employees who have specific circumstances and who require further advice should contact their manager or Human Resources to discuss their situation.
Enquiries related to this advice can be directed to mailto:covid19.enquiries@nt.gov.au
This advice is as at 23 March 2020 based on the most up-to-date information available based on the current situation. The employment arrangements guidance relates to an ongoing situation and will be reviewed and redistributed if there are further developments.
Vicki Telfer PSM
Commissioner for Public Employment
Northern Territory Government
Level 10 Charles Darwin Centre, 19 The Mall, Darwin NT 0800
GPO Box 4371, Darwin NT 0801
COMMISSIONER’S UPDATE –ADVICE 2 – 16 MARCH 2020
Employment arrangements and managing workforce situations in relation to coronavirus
This advice supplements the Commissioner’s Advice of 9 March 2020.
I remind employees to follow all health advice in relation to this situation.
International travel
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a ‘Level 3: Reconsider your need to travel’ worldwide travel advice due to COVID-19 regardless of your destination, age or health if your overseas travel is not essential.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Chief Minister has confirmed that all international travel for NTPS work related purposes is cancelled.
Self-isolation requirements
A universal precautionary self-isolation requirement of 14 days has now been implemented for all international arrivals.
International travel commencing on or after 16 March 2020
Employees who leave Australia on personal overseas travel from today (16 March 2020) will need to use existing recreation leave entitlements to self-isolate on their return. Employees will need to meet their own costs of self-isolation if they choose not to follow current travel advice.
For this reason, employees must ensure that if they choose to travel overseas from now on that they have 14 days additional recreation leave available to self-isolate upon their return to meet the Australian Government mandatory requirement. If employees have insufficient leave entitlements they will be required to take leave without pay.
International travel commenced prior to 16 March 2020
For employees who departed on personal overseas travel prior to this announcement, the employment arrangements set out in my previous Advice continues to apply in respect to the mandatory self-isolation requirements. This includes working from home if this is a viable option, or special leave.
Employee transfers
Employees are reminded that this is a rapidly evolving situation. There may be circumstances where you are required to perform alternate duties and/or work at alternate locations, where you are capable, competent and qualified to perform those duties. This may include in a different locality. Employee transfers are permitted under s35 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993.
Note for parents and carers
We continue to monitor the situation and note that NT schools and childcare centres remain open. Employees who are parents or carers and are required to provide care or support for their children, may access personal carers leave in accordance with their enterprise agreement.
Further information
Employees who are concerned about attending work for reasons other than those above, should contact their manager or Human Resources to discuss their situation. Employees who have specific situations and who require further advice should also contact their manager or Human Resources to discuss their situation.
Enquiries related to this advice can be directed to mailto:covid19.enquiries@nt.gov.au .
This advice is as at 16 March 2020 based on the most up-to-date information available based on the current situation. The employment arrangements guidance relates to an ongoing situation and will be reviewed and redistributed if there are further developments.
Kind regards
Vicki Telfer PSM
Commissioner for Public Employment
Northern Territory Government
Level 10 Charles Darwin Centre, 19 The Mall, Darwin NT 0800
GPO Box 4371, Darwin NT 0801
BELOW IS IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR ALL NTPS EMPLOYEES IN RELATION TO CORONAVIRUS 19 (COVID-19) COMMISSIONER’S ADVICE No.1
9 March 2020 – 9.00 pm
This advice is based on the current situation and the most up-to-date information available
The employment arrangements guidance relates to an ongoing issue and will be reviewed and redistributed if there are further developments.
COVID-19 – Leave provisions for employees who are required to self-isolate
First and foremost all employees are urged to follow health advice in relation to this issue.
NTPS staff who have travelled from mainland China, Iran, Republic of Korea or Italy, or have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus, should not attend work and should self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with the current advice from the Australian Department of Health:
If you have left, or transited through mainland China or Iran in the last 14 days, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of leaving mainland China/Iran.
If you have left, or transited through the Republic of Korea on or after 5 March 2020 you must isolate yourself for 14 days after the date of leaving the Republic of Korea.
Travellers from Italy must present for health screening upon arrival in Australia, as directed at the border.
If you have been in close contact with a proven case of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of last contact with the confirmed case.
Others that live with you are not required to be isolated unless they meet one of the isolation criteria outlined above. If you develop symptoms and are suspected to have coronavirus, they will be classified as close contacts and will need to be isolated.
Please see the latest national guidance for home isolation which is attached to this message.
The Northern Territory Department of Health advised that recommendations for testing should come from either your treating doctor, the regional public health unit (1800 008 002) or Pandemic Clinics which will be staged around the Territory. If testing is recommended, you should ensure this is done promptly via either your regular primary care provider, remote clinic or a Pandemic Clinic.
In circumstances where an employee is required to self-isolate in accordance with the above:
1. Employees may work from home if this is a viable option. The agency will work with affected employees in relation to these arrangements.
2. Employees who are unable to work from home, will be provided with special leave for purposes of self isolating. Special leave provided will count as service for all purposes. Employees will not have to use recreation or long-service leave in these circumstances.
3. These arrangements apply equally to rostered casual employees.
4. Employees will need to provide appropriate documentary evidence (eg medical advice/ travel documents).
If an employee is sick, and the self-isolation criteria listed above are NOT applicable, normal personal leave arrangements apply.
We are reviewing appropriate work and leave arrangements should schools or child care centres have to close and will issue further advice on these matters if required.
Employees who are concerned about attending work for reasons other than those above, should contact their manager or Human Resources to discuss their situation.
Enquiries related to this advice can be directed to mailto:covid19.enquiries@nt.gov.au .
This advice is as at 9 March 2020 based on the most up-to-date information available based on the current situation. The employment arrangements guidance relates to an ongoing issue and will be reviewed and redistributed if there are further developments.
Kind regards
Vicki Telfer PSM
Commissioner for Public Employment
Northern Territory Government