Effective 19 March 2020
The safety, health and wellbeing of our people, members, clients, suppliers, contractors, and the community are our highest priority, especially in this time of national and international emergency.
NATA senior management is monitoring the ongoing development of COVID-19, Australian Government advice, and feedback from staff, members, and clients on an ongoing basis. At this time, the NATA offices remain open but with significantly reduced staff.
NATA has implemented all necessary safeguards that meet the Australian Government COVID-19 guidelines including advice from the State Health Authorities, and has taken the following steps to minimise the potential impact of COVID-19:
Office Premises: We have provided extra disinfecting facilities within our offices and implemented additional cleaning practices to disinfect common touch points in the office premises. We have also asked those who are at our premises to observe social distancing etiquette;
Staff Travel: All domestic and international air travel has been suspended for the next 8 weeks, effective Monday 16th March 2020;
Self-Quarantine: All staff who arrived back in Australia after midnight 15th March 2020 are required to self-isolate for 14 days as prescribed by the Australian Government. Staff have also been advised to work from home or stay away from NATA office if:
they have had close contact with someone who has or is suspected of having COVID-19;
they have symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, high temperature and shortness of breath.
Our general policy is that staff will need to stay away from NATA office if they have any flu-like symptoms or are unwell.
Visitor Access: We ask that visitors reconsider their need to come to our offices.
Assessment and Committee Activities: We aim to replace face to face meetings with technology enabled virtual meetings where practicable. We are currently developing a remote assessment process as an interim measure to supplement our scheduled assessment activities (Surveillance -SRV and Reassessment – RES) during this pandemic period. We expect to have an alternative assessment model by early next week and will keep you up to date with progress; and
Communication with Authorised Representatives: We communicated with all Authorised Representatives last week and will continue to do so as and when necessary.
With these precautionary measures and business contingency plans, please be assured that NATA is doing all that we can to continue to deliver services in a safe manner, consistent with the latest advice and guidance.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this unprecedented challenge.
If you have any further questions or need further information about NATA’s response to COVID-19, please contact us.
Jennifer Evans
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER