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Published 31 March 2020 | Updated 8 November 2022
We all need to do our part to prevent the spread of coronavirus. To do this, employers and workers need to follow the rules about health and safety in the workplace.
On this page:
- Workplace health and safety resources
- Work-related travel during coronavirus
- Beyond Blue – Mental health support
In this section:
Workplace health and safety resources
There are many organisations that can help you with information and resources about workplace health and safety. We’ve included some helpful links below:
- Department of Health
:
- Information for employers on who is most at risk in the workplace and how to stop the spread
- Information about restrictions on entry into aged care facilities.
- Safe Work Australia – Information on how to stop the spread of coronavirus in the workplace.
- Comcare (Commonwealth) – Information for Government employees and organisations that self-insure under the scheme.
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) – Information on privacy obligations for private sector employers relating to coronavirus.
- Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) – Consistent advice and guidance to public health units on coronavirus.
- List of all state and territory workplace health and safety bodies – Information on who can assist with workers' compensation enquiries.
Work-related travel during coronavirus
Some states and territories are restricting domestic travel, including by closing state borders and implementing extra quarantine requirements.
Find out more about restrictions in your state or territory:
- ACT government travel advice
- NSW government travel and transport advice
- NT government remote work and travel advice
- QLD government travel advice
- SA government cross-border travel advice
- TAS government traveller and visitor advice
- VIC government advice
- WA government travel advice
Directing employees not to travel
Employers can direct employees not to undertake work-related travel if this is:
- needed to meet workplace health and safety obligations
- otherwise a lawful and reasonable direction.
Employers can’t direct an employee to not undertake private travel.
Beyond Blue – Mental health support
Beyond Blue has a dedicated coronavirus website 
and a 24-hour phone counselling service to help Australians during coronavirus.
The website includes a range of helpful advice, including:
- coping with isolation
- managing your mental health if you have coronavirus
- ways to deal with job loss and financial worries
- coping as a healthcare worker
- support for essential service workers and small businesses.
The 24-hour counselling hotline has trained mental health professionals who provide free, one-on-one confidential sessions. You can call the hotline on 1800 512 348.