Published 31 March 2020 | Updated 24 March 2021
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
- Safe Work Australia online toolkit
- COVIDSafe app
- 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.
National
- 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.
- Smart Traveller
– Travel advice during the pandemic.
- 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.
States and territories
- List of all State and Territory Public Health Units
– Contact details and websites of all the state and territory public health units.
- List of all State and Territory workplace health and safety bodies – Information on who can assist with workers' compensation enquiries.
- WorkSafe Victoria – Report a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis
– To report a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the workplace in Victoria.
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.
Travel advice during coronavirus
Smartraveller has information and advice about current international travel restrictions during coronavirus.
Safe Work Australia – online toolkit
Safe Work Australia has an online toolkit for businesses and workers on how to stay safe from coronavirus. The website provides a detailed guide on work health and safety for many industries. Go to the Safe Work Australia website: COVID-19 Information for workplaces .
COVIDSafe app
The COVIDSafe app helps state and territory health officials to quickly contact people who may have been exposed to coronavirus.
Downloading and using the COVIDSafe app is completely voluntary. Employers can't:
- make current or future employees download or use the app
- make downloading or using the app a condition of employment, or
- make downloading or using the app a condition of the employee entering the workplace or doing their work.
Employers can’t refuse to provide or receive goods or services to or from a person because they’re not using the app.
Employees have workplace rights that protect them from adverse action in these circumstances. For example, employers can’t fire an employee or change their job, because an employee refuses to download or use the app, or refuses to upload data from the app to the National Data Store.
Read more about adverse action on our Protections at work page. Criminal offences could also apply.
More information:
- Australian Government Department of Health COVIDSafe app
- Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Act 2020
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.
Beyond Blue also has information to help small business owners and managers support their employees, and manage their own mental health during this time. Find out: