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Katungul Staff Stories - Essential Workers
Whilst most of us are now working from home, essential workers remain on the front line. How has the pandemic affected how they do their job and the people they have committed to support. We talk with NDIS Manager, Debbie Diggins.
How have you and your teams work been affected by the corona virus pandemic?
Our team size has dramatically reduced since COVID-19 with many of our workers self-isolating or looking after their families at home. The team we have out in the field at the moment, are working hard to keep all our participants connected. We have even had to pull support co-coordinators who are usually in the office into Support worker roles to ensure that all clients have the support they need.
How has it impacted upon your clients?
Many of our participants have self-isolated and we have had to start a new service that we have called Katungul Covid 19 Welfare Checks.
As a NDIS provider we have a duty of care to make sure all the NDIS community is safe during this time and this new service ensures that we can contact clients regularly and they remain well and connected.
Why would you consider the work you and your team do as essential?
Most of our clients have disabilities that need to be managed on a daily basis. Many of our clients don’t understand what we are going through with this virus or what the virus actual is. Our clients don’t understand how it is caught or transmitted nor do they understand social distancing. We find our support workers aren’t just supporting clients with their daily needs we are also helping to teach our clients to understand the virus and also sometimes help them with stress that is caused to many of our clients with disabilities.
Is it currently safe for you to continue doing your work?
This is a question we think about on a regular basis. Our workers safety is paramount and we have started Covid Kits that contain PPE gear for each worker, to use when they feel necessary. We have also put every worker though an online Covid 19 training module, so that they understand the virus a little bit better.
No matter what we do for our support workers, we need our workers to also ensure their own health and keep socially distanced where possible and use hand sanitiser and wash their hands regularly and to report back to the coordinator's should they feel unsafe or unwell.
What support do you require to continue your work safely?
We need a supply of PPE gear and not to become complacent. Continual training on the Covid 19 where possible.
Have you lost any staff during this process? People who have chosen to self-isolate?
Yes to both. We have lost staff because of safety/self-isolating, minding of children, and the Job Seeker payment. There are many reasons for staff number drop offs but each one is very valid and we will be looking forward to having our whole team back when this is all over.
Are there any lessons you think we can learn from this pandemic and the work you do?
That many of our most venerable clients don’t understand the pandemic and how lucky KATUNGUL is to have workers that are so committed to your community.
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