Page up to date: 21/09/2020
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding of the need for Anglicare to continue implementing a range of restrictions to help minimise the risk of spreading the virus.
We continue to screen all visitors and staff for symptoms and risk of COVID-19 using the following criteria. We will exclude from all Anglicare sites anyone who:
We would like to reassure you that we are working closely with the Australian and NSW Departments of Health and following their advice.
We are closely monitoring the situation and are regularly updating this page, as well as communicating any changes to all residents and their families, clients, customers, employees, volunteers and contractors.
As NSW Health has reduced some of the restrictions on visiting residential aged care facilities in metropolitan Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains and the Central Coast, visiting to all Anglicare residential aged care homes EXCEPT Woodberry and Thomas Street Lodge has now recommenced.
In line with government advice, visits to our homes are subject to strict guidelines. Every visitor must:
Restrictions based on identified COVID-19 hotspots and areas of concern continue to apply.
To ensure social distancing in our homes, all visits must be pre-booked. Click here to make a booking at one of our homes.
We encourage all retirement living and housing residents across our Villages to be aware of the risks of COVID-19. We also work closely with them to ensure they understand and follow Public Health Orders and advice and cooperate with our COVID-19 Prevention and Management Procedures.
In line with latest government recommendations we have adjusted services as follows:
We encourage you to call your Anglicare contact to discuss your personal situation.
Community Services offices are providing the following limited face-to-face services at this time:
We continue to provide as much chaplaincy and pastoral support as we can while ensuring the safety of clients and Anglicare staff. Where face-to-face support is restricted our chaplains and pastoral carers are ministering via Skype and by phone. Staff who minister at non-Anglicare sites (including hospitals and prisons) follow the relevant procedures and precautions applicable to their place of ministry.
On Monday 15 June, NSW Health declared the COVID-19 outbreak at Newmarch House over.
The two months following the initial outbreak on Sunday 12 April, were some of the most challenging in Anglicare’s 170-year history. This challenge brought with it significant grief and loss. A total of 37 residents and 34 staff tested positive for COVID-19. Devastatingly, 19 of these residents lost their life during the outbreak. They were all much loved members of our Newmarch House community.
The scale of the outbreak meant that Anglicare had to rely heavily on government and agency support. We are grateful for the assistance we received, in particular from the specialist team from Nepean Blue Mountains Health who worked with us to care for our COVID-positive residents.
As an organisation we have learnt a great deal and we will continue to implement strategies and procedures to build our resilience and expertise. While the outbreak is now over, the virus remains active within the community. Anglicare is remaining vigilant in screening and infection control at Newmarch House, and across all our other aged care homes.
If you have any questions, please contact Coronavirus.updates@anglicare.org.au
For the latest information about COVID-19, refer to the Australian Department of Health and the NSW Department of Health.
COVID-19: What Anglicare is doing to protect residents, clients, staff and volunteers
World Health Organisation Handwash, Handrub Guide
Coronavirus (COVID-19): What you need to know
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Know the signs
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Home isolation guidance for close contacts and recently returned travellers
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Returning to your community