Organisation Update (COVID-19)

Please see below an important organisation update for staff from Michelle Latailakepa, Chief Executive Officer. Hi Team,

As you may have already heard, our Premier announced earlier this morning that the Greater Brisbane lockdown ends at 6pm tonight. Despite this, some precautions will remain in Greater Brisbane for 10 days until 1am on Friday, 22 January 2021. These are outlined below:

• You must carry a mask at all times.

• Masks must be worn in indoor places including shopping centres and supermarkets, gyms, places of worship, libraries, public transport, and taxis and rideshare vehicles.

• Masks must be worn in workplaces if social distancing isn’t possible and it’s safe to do so.

• You don’t need to wear a mask in private vehicles, while outdoors at a safe distance from other people or if you’re doing strenuous exercise.

• Businesses and venues can have one person per 4m² indoors and one person per 2m² outdoors.

• Smaller venues up to 200m² can have one person per 2m² up to a maximum of 50.

• You must be seated to eat and drink, and no dancing is allowed except at weddings.

• Gatherings are restricted to 20 people in homes and public spaces.

• Weddings and funerals can have up to 100 people, and dancing is allowed at weddings without restrictions.

• Indoor concert venues and theatres can operate at 50% capacity or one person per four square metres, whichever is greater.

• Outdoor stadiums can operate at 50% capacity with COVID-safe plans.

• Restrictions on visits to hospitals, aged care, disability accommodation and prisons will remain.

As a result of these changes, our Logan Central office will reopen on Tuesday, 12 January 2021 and staff who are based at that office are required to adhere to the 4m2rule when working, while continuing to practice good hygiene and social distancing. Our Preloved Homewares Op Shop at Beaudesert will remain closed until Friday, 22 January 2021 as an extra precaution. There will be no changes to our Murwillumbah office, which will remain open.

As a reminder, please:

• Stay at home if you are sick.

• If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested then isolate at home until you get the results and your symptoms resolve.

• Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps.

• Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser.

• Leave a location if it is crowded.

• If you have any concerns about your health or are unsure if you need to get tested or isolate, please contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

I will continue to monitor the situation and advise you if any further changes occur.

Kind regards,

Michelle Latailakepa

Chief Executive Officer

Rural Lifestyle Options Australia

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#COVID19 #StrongerTogether #OneTeam

Organisation Update (COVID-19)

Please see below an important organisation update for staff from Michelle Latailakepa, Chief Executive Officer. To our valued staff,

As you may have already heard, our Premier has issued a 3 day lockdown for residents in Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan and Redlands. From 6pm Friday, 8 January 2021 to 6pm Monday, 11 January 2021, residents can only leave home for one of these four reasons:

1. To buy essentials like groceries or medications

2. Work or study – if you can’t do either from home

3. Exercise

4. Healthcare or to provide help, care or support

And you must wear a mask everywhere except in your own home.

As a result, our Logan Central office will be closed on Monday and staff who are based out of that office will be working from home. Our Beaudesert office will be open on Monday however the Op Shop will be closed. Murwillumbah office will also be open on Monday.

All Lifestyle Support Workers who are providing support shifts within the Logan and Ipswich areas MUST wear a face mask for the duration of their shift. If you don’t have any please contact your Service Manager. This only applies for Lifestyle Support Workers working in Logan and Ipswich council areas not other areas.

To prevent the spread:

• Stay home if you are sick

• If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested then isolate at home until you get the results and your symptoms resolve

• Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps

• Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser

• Leave a location if it is crowded.

If you have any concerns about your health, or are unsure if you need to get tested or isolate, or contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

I will continue to monitor the situation and advise you if any further changes occur.

Regards,

Michelle Latailakepa

Chief Executive Officer

Rural Lifestyle Options Australia

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#COVID19 #StrongerTogether #OneTeam

Organisation Update (COVID-19)

A letter to staff from Carole Caswell, Chair on behalf of the Board of Directors. Dear Valued RLOA Employees,

Earlier this year in late April, our Board wrote a letter of appreciation to all staff of RLOA, thanking everyone for their dedicated service under what was unprecedented times for the whole community. Since then we have all had to try and learn to live with COVID-19 and go about our lives as normally as possible - though with restrictions.

For many organisations, employees have been able to work predominantly from home, but that is not the case for our support workers at RLOA, who provide care to vulnerable people mostly in their homes or in the community, where working remotely is not possible. Without your loyal and dedicated service, RLOA could not continue to provide essential services to our participants - many of whom rely on us to a very high degree.

For our loyal staff who also work tirelessly across our three office locations, your efforts have also not gone unnoticed. It is because of you all that we can continue to effectively run our organisation in all aspects through these trying times.

Michelle and her senior staff are keeping us well informed about how our organisation and our participants are faring under the COVID-19 restrictions.

The Board are very appreciative of the good work that has been done by all staff these past few months. In particular we would like to highlight that this has been achieved through your hard work, following our COVID safe plan, practising social distancing, wearing PPE where appropriate and following good hand hygiene practices including assisting those in your care to take precautions.

Hopefully before the end of the year, border restrictions with NSW will have been considerably eased, once again allowing travel across the regions serviced by RLOA. We do thank you for your patience and willingness to continue to provide great care under trying circumstances.

My wish for you all is to continue to be safe and keep well. Again, many thanks from the Board for your consistent great efforts.

We are all grateful for the commitment of each and every one of you. Kindest regards,

Carole Caswell Chair

Board of Directors

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#OneTeam #StrongerTogether #RLOA