Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use
Below are links to national and state/territory based supports about PPE and infection prevention and control.
Updated: 12 January 2022
Members are reminded to consult the Association's Guidance for Service Delivery Document and the Association's online Risk Assessment Tool in considering whether to proceed with in-person services at this time.
Additionally, members are advised to stay up to date with their local community transmission rates, and relevant local state and territory health department advice as the situation relating to COVID-19 and advice regarding PPE use is rapidly changing. More information can be found on the individual state/territory based COVID-19 pages on the SPA website.
Prioritisation of access to surgical masks
Speech Pathology Australia is pleased to announce that after significant advocacy work, allied health professionals are now eligible for limited access to surgical masks from the national Medical Stockpile. The Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, recently announced a one-off deployment of 500,000 surgical masks for allied health professionals with distribution to be managed by Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
Distribution of surgical masks will be based on prioritisation of risk for allied health professionals who do not have access to commercial supply and are working in higher-risk clinical areas, and with higher risk vulnerable patients. Individual PHNs will seek to distribute surgical masks based on local need. In doing so they have been asked to consider:
- The likelihood of the worker having direct or close contact with high-risk patients who are presenting with fever and/or respiratory symptoms. For example: a respiratory physiotherapist working with patients with cough, sore throat and/or shortness of breath
- The extent to which the allied health professional can manipulate their environment or practice method to reduce the chance of transmission. For example: a diagnostic radiographer cannot easily change their mode of practise or environment, whereas other allied health professionals may be able to continue to provide services through telehealth.
- The relative vulnerability of the patients that the allied health professionals are treating. For example: where the allied health professional is routinely treating patients who are immunocompromised, or those who are elderly or have a disability.
- The risk of transmission, for instance some interventions performed by speech pathologists and respiratory physiotherapists are aerosol generating and therefore higher risk.
The Australian Department of Health has provided national guidance on prioritisation. Several allied health professions have been deemed high priority. These are:
- Speech pathologists
- Respiratory physiotherapists
- Sonographers
- Diagnostic radiographers
Other professions that provide hands-on interventions have been categorised as moderate priority. These are:
- Orthotists/prosthetists
- Other physiotherapists
- Podiatrists
- Occupational therapists
- Exercise physiologists
- Osteopaths
- Orthoptists
- Chiropractors
- Audiologists
- Optometrists
Access to surgical masks for other professions will depend on availability. There remains an assumption that allied health professions will, where possible, not see patients with respiratory symptoms or at a higher risk of COVID-19 unless required to as part of their core business (for example: an optometrist can defer seeing a patient with respiratory symptoms until that person is well). It is important to note that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including surgical masks, is a last line of defence in infection control and prevention. PPE does not replace the need for modifications to practise such as telehealth and physical distancing.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from Victorian and Tasmanian PHNs
Individual PHNs have in place processes for access to PPE. Allied health practices with demonstrated need should first determine which PHN region they belong to. A list of PHNs can be found at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Locator and you can search for your PHN by address.
Once you’ve identified your PHN, please refer to the list below. If your PHN is not included in this list, please use the contact details on the Department of Health website to get in touch with your PHN.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from NSW and ACT PHNs
Individual PHNs have in place processes for access to PPE. Allied health practices with demonstrated need should first determine which PHN region they belong to.
A list of PHNs can be found at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Locator and you can search for your PHN by address.
Once you’ve identified your PHN, please refer to the list below. If your PHN is not included in this list, please use the contact details on the Department of Health website to get in touch with your PHN.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from South Australian PHNs
Individual PHNs have in place processes for access to PPE. Allied health practices with demonstrated need should first determine which PHN region they belong to.
A list of PHNs can be found at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Locator and you can search for your PHN by address.
Once you’ve identified your PHN, please refer to the list below for specific information on how to apply for the surgical masks.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from QLD PHNs
Individual PHNs have in place processes for access to PPE. Allied health practices with demonstrated need should first determine which PHN region they belong to.
A list of PHNs can be found at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Locator and you can search for your PHN by address.
Once you’ve identified your PHN, please refer to the list below. If your PHN is not included in this list, please use the contact details on the Department of Health website to get in touch with your PHN.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from WA PHNs
For mask requests, practices in Western Australia are asked to complete the COVID19 Request Form.
Practices should also familiarise themselves with the appropriate use of surgical masks.
In general, the allocation will be one box (50 surgical masks) per practice, re-orders will be permitted, however re-orders will not be accepted within five business days (Mon-Fri) of the previous request.
How to apply to receive surgical masks from NTPHN
The Northern Territory PHN advises that they have not yet received masks and do not have an ordering process in place. We advise members to contact the PHN via their website: https://www.ntphn.org.au