Fams

13 January 2022

Working Arrangements in 2022

Working Arrangements in 2022

Fams was hoping to return to the office and resume face-to-face workshops and regional travel in early 2022.

However, the latest pandemic strain means we cannot safely manage the risk.

So we have again decided to work remotely where possible for the first few months of 2022.

Likewise, having all completed our COVID risk assessments and updated our COVID safe workplace policy (again!), Fams reminds everyone to consider your specific organisation, workforce, client, and local circumstances to inform whether, when, and how you return to face-to-face service delivery.

We have spoken with DCJ this week and have been reassured that the same rules under which the community sector have been operating since the first COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 continue to apply.

We are all Zoom-fatigued, but if you can deliver services online you should continue to do so.

You should be guided by your risk assessment and safe work plans.

If you have any questions about your service delivery, please contact your local DCJ teams immediately to discuss your situation.

We understand that access to Rapid Antigen Tests is an issue, as is access to some personal protective equipment.

Fams is working with our peak colleagues to advocate to the NSW Government that priority access be given to community sector workers. In the first instance, priority must be given to our colleagues in specialist homelessness, residential care, aged care, disability and others providing critical 24/7 services.

While all of the work of the community sector is essential work, at this time we must give tough consideration to whether it’s critical that we deliver face-to-face services.