The decision to send Greater Western Sydney into lockdown for 14 days caught us all by surprise. I’m sure many holiday plans have been thrown into disarray.
However, we have been here before (March-June 2020) and the restrictions are much the same, and at The Junction Works we’ve learned much over the last 18 months.
TJW is an essential service provider, so we will continue to offer our services. We will remain open for business unless otherwise directed by the NSW government / Department of Health.
All the usual Covid requirements (hand sanitisers, temperature checks, frequent disinfecting of hard surfaces etc.), including the important addition of wearing masks in the work place, will be adhered to. All staff are required to wear a mask whilst in the work place, including in our Community Living homes.
We understand that some families will decide to keep their sons/daughters at home. And that is understandable. However, TJW will continue to provide services at our sites, as usual, during this period. Our focus here is to offer services to those families and participants that need it.
The NSW Government and Department of Health want to minimise any unnecessary travel, social and recreational contact. For this reason we will be ceasing excursions in our various programs and concentrating on providing activities within each site. There will be no travelling between sites.
Our Community Living homes will follow the advice and directives that apply to aged care facilities. Communicating with families is a priority. Where possible we will be using technology (face-time, Microsoft teams, zoom, video etc.) to enable communication between residents and their family. We will continue to monitor the advice from Dept. of Health, as we have been doing over the past 18 months.
The most important thing is to ensure each person – participant, family member and employee - is aware of their own health. If you show any symptoms of COVID (headache, sore throat and runny nose, possibly a cough,) please stay home, isolate and get tested. Keep yourself, your family and our community safe.
Chris Campbell
CEO