Infection control guidelines
Infection prevention and control online learning
IPC eLearning includes 6 modules: chain of infection, hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning, waste disposal and working in an outbreak.
The package is especially helpful for people working in non-clinical roles in all sectors including public and community health, aged care and disability and in education and industry.
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Resources, information and guides on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections at home, in the workplace, and in clinical settings.
Handwashing with soap and water
Cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand rub
More resources for the care of patients and at-risk groups during the COVID-19 pandemic are available on the Clinical guidance and resources page.
Information and advice on how businesses can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections in the workplace are available on the Preventing infection in the page.
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Guidelines, position statements and resources for healthcare workers including personal protective equipment (PPE) for different healthcare and community settings.
How to don and doff PPE
Guidelines
Further guidelines
- COVID-19 PPE Spotter Guidance
- Victorian Respiratory Protection Program
- Guidance for controlling heat stress while wearing PPE
- Position statement: powered air purifying respirators
- Use of eye protection for healthcare workers
- Selecting the correct P2-N95 respirator - guidance for healthcare workers
Personal protective equipment supply data
This monthly personal protective equipment (PPE) supply update (PPT) for the health services sector provides current information about stock availability, weeks of cover at current and peak use, and an overview of the supply of each of the models of P2/N95 respirators.
For health service PPE supply enquiries, please contact the following:
Service type Primary source of PPE NDIS Australian Government Department of Health: NDISCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au Private aged care services Australian Government Department of Health: agedcarecovidppe@health.gov.au Private hospitals Private suppliers Public hospitals can request PPE through the Zycus online ordering portal. Other Department of Health-funded services can request PPE by contacting COVID19PPErequest@health.vic.gov.au.
Personal protective equipment and infection prevention and control - airports and maritime ports
For information, see Ports of entry (airports and maritime) sector on the Coronavirus website.
Resources
Posters
- How to put on (don) and take off (doff) your PPE
- Caring for your skin when wearing
- Face masks and coverings - do and do nots (PDF)
Factsheets
Further resources also available on Healthcare services and professionals – COVID-19 page.
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This tool is designed as a checklist and should be used as a prompt to evaluate items that need to be in place to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. The checklists are not meant to replace detailed, site-specific policies, protocols and procedures that every service should have in place. Instead, they are intended to assist in the assessment of COVID-19 infection prevention and control policies and practices to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission among staff, visitors and where applicable residents.
The tools do not provide links to financial assistance, grants, supplies procurement or other assistance schemes. Services are responsible for understanding their eligibility and accessing these resources.
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Guidelines, position statements and resources on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by optimising ventilation and air flow for different healthcare and community settings.
Improving ventilation for COVID-19 safety
Ventilation resources
- Ventilation policy for acute healthcare settings
- Transmission of COVID-19 from air-circulating, wind-moving devices, and activities
- Ventilation principles and strategies to reduce aerosol transmission in community and workplace settings
Further ventilation guidance
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Cleaning guidelines
The department does not endorse or recommend brands of cleaning or disinfectant products.
Cleaning personal items for healthcare workers
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Visit Environment Protection Authority for information and resources on how to dispose of clinical waste at home and in the workplace.
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Resources for workers in healthcare settings
Cleaning personal items for healthcare workers
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Guidelines
- Ventilation strategies to reduce COVID-19 transmission in residential aged care facilities
- Ventilation strategies to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in residential aged care facilities and residential disability settings FAQs
Zones
Please find resources here to help you with creating COVID-19 zones, and PPE wayfinding zones in your residential facility:
Resources
For further resources and information about COVID-19 training courses for the aged care sector, visit the Aged Care sector page.
Reviewed 15 December 2022