What is RSL Life Care? Find out
Add-a-subheading-1 | RSL LifeCare - provide care and service to war veterans, retirement villages and accommodation, aged care services and assisted living
June 29, 2021

Aged care workers should be vaccinated on site.

AGED care provider, RSL LifeCare, have applauded the Australian Government for their decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for staff however warned that more needs to be done to support the actual roll-out if September deadlines for mandatory first-dose vaccinations are to be met.

RSL LifeCare CEO Graham Millett said COVID vaccinations for aged care workers should immediately be fast-tracked by offering pop-up injection clinics on-site at aged care homes, rather than each worker making their own arrangements with their GPs.

National cabinet agreed on Monday night to make vaccinations mandatory for all aged care workers[1]. However, only 140 GPs in NSW are signed up to administer the Pfizer vaccine, which is recommended for all Australians under 60 years of age[2], and which could create a bottleneck for aged care workers.

“We have a remarkable 93 per cent of all our aged care residents who have now had the vaccination, because doctors vaccinated them in pop-up clinics at each of our 33 residential homes across NSW and the ACT,” he said.

“If similar arrangements could apply to aged care workers, then the roll-out would be expedited.

“We would also encourage local hospitals making a vaccination service available to the front-line aged care workforce who are protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Mr Millett said 10 per cent of RSL LifeCare’s 2,600 residential aged care workforce were now fully vaccinated, with a further 10 per cent having had the first jab. In order for the remaining 80 per cent to rapidly become vaccinated, the current logistical processes will need to be streamlined. The way to achieve this is to have clinics established on-site”.

The Australian Government announced on Monday that 236 GPs would be added to the Pfizer roll-out this week, with 51 of them in NSW, taking the state’s total to 140.

Another 500 GPs will be added in the week of July 12, with an additional 310 coming online the following week. There are also extra roving vaccination clinics.

The National Cabinet agreed to mandate that at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine be administered by mid-September 2021 for all residential aged care workers[3]. It has provided $11 million to enable these workers to attend off-site vaccination centres and GPs in the following three ways:

  • Casual staff going off-site for vaccination – a flat fee of $80 payable per staff member, per dose.
  • Paid leave for casual staff who become unwell after vaccination and do not have other leave entitlements – one day’s paid leave (at a rate of $185) for up to a quarter of the provider’s total number of casual staff.
  • Facilitation of off-site vaccination for employees – up to $500 per site in flexible vaccination facilitation costs per site, which may be used for activities like: transport services, arranging groups of staff to be vaccinated and or any other reasonable expenses that incentivise staff to get vaccinated[4].

[1] Prime Minister Scott Morrison public statement 28 June 2021 https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-cabinet-statement-5

[2] https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/berejiklian-warns-nsw-cannot-deliver-pfizer-without-more-gps-20210628-p584yt.html

[3] Prime Minister Scott Morrison public statement 28 June 2021 https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-cabinet-statement-5

[4] Prime Minister Scott Morrison public statement 28 June 2021 https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-cabinet-statement-5

Blog Posts

Help for Vets in Need

Veterans’ Services

Find out more

Latest News

array(2) { [0]=> int(175) [1]=> int(41) }
Tweed announcement - Veteran Wellbeing Centre 13 March 2024

RSL LifeCare receives grant to develop a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Tweed-North Coast Region.

RSL LifeCare, in partnership with RSL NSW and sub-Branches, will today receive a $5.445 million grant from the Federal Government to develop a Veterans’ and...

Read more
Hunter Veteran Wellbeing Centre announcement 11 March 2024

RSL LifeCare receives multi-million dollar grant to develop a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Hunter Region’

RSL LifeCare, in partnership with RSL NSW and sub-Branches, will today receive a $5.445 million grant from the Federal Government to develop a Veterans’ and...

Read more
Veteran Services Grant 1 March Veteran Wellbeing Centre Hawkesbury to Sth Western Sydney

RSL LifeCare receives $5.445 million in funding to provide holistic support for veterans from Hawkesbury to South Western Sydney

RSL LifeCare, in partnership with RSL NSW and sub-Branches, will today receive a $5.445 million grant from the Federal Government to develop a Veterans’ and...

Read more

The Incredible Journey of John Currie: A Life Anchored in Service​

"I was born in Western Australia as an only child to a family with proud Scottish heritage. Growing up, my roots lay in the Methodist church,...

Read more
Grace Lane

Embracing Life’s Symphony: Grace Lane’s Remarkable Journey

"Life at RSL LifeCare has been a surprising adventure for me. When I first arrived, my plan was simple - to do absolutely nothing. Little...

Read more

Peter Boughton: A Life of Service and Treasured Memories

Peter Boughton was born on February 18, 1951, at the Sydney Women's Hospital. His early years were filled with beautiful memories, especially his close bond...

Read more
Queanbeyan VWC Announcement

RSL LifeCare receives $5.445 million in funding to deliver a new Veteran Wellbeing Hub in Queanbeyan

RSL LifeCare, in partnership with RSL NSW, will receive a $5.445 million grant from the Federal Government to develop a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in...

Read more

Jacquie’s 16 Years of Heartfelt Volunteering at RSL LifeCare

"I'm Jacquie, short for Jacquelyn Finley. I'm 76 years old, and I've been a volunteer at RSL LifeCare John Goodlet Manor for nearly 16 years now.​ You...

Read more

Margaret’s Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Cherished Community Life​

"I was born in the lively neighbourhood of Willoughby and soon moved to Balgowlah Heights at the age of five. Growing up in a bustling...

Read more
Joan Herringe

Joan’s Creative Pursuits: Knitting, Puzzles, and Cherished Moments at RSL LifeCare​

Many residents at RSL LifeCare love to participate in a variety of hobbies that keep their minds and hearts engaged. One such resident is Joan Herringe from RSL LifeCare Connie Fall. One...

Read more

Positive impact of Intergenerational Relationships

The power of intergenerational relationships has been demonstrated on ABC's Old People's Home for Teenagers, featuring residents from RSL LifeCare's Le Hamel Retirement Village and students...

Read more
Veteran Wellbeing Centre community event

RSL LifeCare secures $1.7 million funding to establish Central Coast Veteran and Family Hub and $243,000 for a centre at Bardia Barracks

RSL LifeCare has received $1.7 million in funding from the Albanese Government’s Veteran Wellbeing Grants One-Off Program to establish a veteran and family hub-like experience...

Read more

Download a brochure

We'll never share your email address and you can opt out at any time, we promise

Career Application Single

  • Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Veteran Services

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Are you ready to explore a new operations role with extra benefits?

Take your career in a new direction RSL LifeCare.

Search for an operations role at an RSL LifeCare Residential Aged Care facility in the Southern NSW region. Take a look at all our current positions here.

1. 100% funding on participating certifications

Undertake a participating certification through the RSL LifeCare Earn and Learn Incentive Program1 and you could be eligible to have your learning fully funded.

2. Cash bonus of up to $1000 (less income tax).

Through the RSL LifeCare Sign-on Bonus, you could be eligible for two split payments of $500 (less income tax), when you start a new role with us.

Contact Homes for Heroes today