Providing health care remotely during COVID-19
How to provide prescriptions and prescription medication via telehealth
We are working with clinical software providers to upgrade prescribing and
dispensing software so it supports electronic prescribing. We expect this to be available from May
2020.
For now, at a telehealth consultation, a prescriber can prescribe medication
by writing a paper prescription and providing it to the patient (for example,
by post). If this is not practical, a prescriber can instead turn the
prescription into an ‘image-based prescription’. This is a digital image of
the paper prescription, which can then be sent by the prescriber to the
patient’s preferred pharmacy.
The Commonwealth has changed legislation to temporarily allow prescribers to
create a digital image of the patient’s prescription to support supply of
their medicines. This interim arrangement supports telehealth before
electronic prescribing becomes available.
See our guide on how to write a prescription for your patient during a
telehealth consultation.
Pharmacists can dispense medications and make Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) claims from the digital image of the prescription sent through by the
prescriber.
Under the temporary arrangement, patients do not need to sign to acknowledge
receipt of supply if it is not practical for them to do so. The pharmacist may
sign on behalf of the patient, unless it is not practical for them to do so.
If the prescriber has authorised repeats, the pharmacist may create a repeat
authorisation and attach it to a print out of the digital image of the
prescription. This must be held in the pharmacy for subsequent supply of the
medication.
See our guide for pharmacists on how to dispense an image-based prescription
sent from a prescriber.
For image-based prescriptions, prescribers must keep the paper prescription
for 2 years (for audit and compliance purposes). Pharmacists must keep the
digital image of the prescription for 2 years.
Medicines in Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Appendix D in the Poisons Standard are
not part of this interim arrangement, unless specifically permitted by
relevant state or territory rules. Supply these medicines according to your
state and territory legislation.
While the vast majority of health care providers do the right thing, please
report any fraudulent and inappropriate practice against Medicare and the
PBS.


Providing health care remotely during COVID-19
Information for patients
If patients are seeking further information on how to access telehealth and
prescriptions from home, please see the following guides:

Accessing health services during COVID-19 restrictions
Getting medicines during COVID-19 restrictions
Prescriptions via telehealth – a guide for patients
Consumer fact sheet on telehealth services at MBS Online
Home Medicines Service – information for consumers (for vulnerable people)

More resources for the general public are available at our coronavirus
(COVID-19) resources collection.
Online training
A 30-minute online module — COVID-19 infection control
training — is
available for care workers across all health care settings.
This training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training
partner Aspen Medical.
Register now
Publications and fact sheets
See our resources for health professionals on providing health care during
COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged
care providers, pathology providers and health care
managers
A collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care
providers, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus
(COVID-19).
Webinars
Stay up to date with our webinars on the coronavirus (COVID-19) response for
the health and aged care sector.


Providing health care remotely during COVID-19
How to provide health services remotely
Videoconferencing is the preferred way to do a telehealth consultation.
However, you can offer telephone services if video is not available.
You do not need specific equipment to provide Medicare-compliant telehealth
services. Make sure your chosen telecommunications solution meets your
clinical requirements and satisfies privacy laws. See the Australian Cyber
Security Centre for advice on how to select a web conferencing
solution.
For guidance on how to run a telehealth consultation about COVID-19, see our
flow chart on telehealth and consultations in GP respiratory
clinics.


Providing health care remotely during COVID-19
Who can provide telehealth services
A range of health care providers can now provide telehealth services to
patients. These include:

general practitioners (GPs)
specialists
allied health providers
mental health professionals
nurse practitioners

MBS Online has a series of COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services fact
sheets. This includes lists of the types of health care professionals who can
provide telehealth services and the relevant MBS item numbers.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Returning to your community
If you have completed your 14 day quarantine period without developing
symptoms you will be able to leave quarantine. You should follow the same
advice that applies to the rest of the community in your state or territory.
You must continue to practise physical distancing, and good
hygiene.
If you become unwell and have any cold or flu like symptoms return home and
contact your doctor.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Steps you need to take while in quarantine
When you must quarantine you must go straight to your home, hotel room or
other accommodation. You cannot stop anywhere, not even to buy food, medicine
or groceries. Where possible, use personal transport such as your car.
You must in quarantine for the entire 14 days to stop the spread of the virus.
This is because you may be in the incubation period (the time between getting
the virus showing symptoms). If you leave quarantine before the end of 14 days
you may face criminal charges or a fine.
Quarantine means you:

must not leave your home/hotel except
in an emergency
to obtain essential medical care

must not go into public places including work and shops
must not let anyone into your home/hotel room unless they
usually lives with you
are entering to provide medical care
are entering for an emergency

If you live in a house, you may go into your garden or courtyard. You can go
onto your balcony if you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel.
If you are in a hotel you must avoid contact with other guests and staff.
Monitor symptoms
If you develop cold or flu like symptoms in quarantine you should phone your
doctor or the healthdirect hotline. They
can tell you how to get a test for COVID-19.
If you are having serious symptoms you should call 000 straight away. This
includes shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or chest pressure or pain.
Tell the ambulance staff you are in quarantine and may have coronavirus.
If you live alone, a friend or family member can ring you to check that you
are OK.
If you develop symptoms and test positive for coronavirus you will enter
isolation. The people living with you now become close contacts and must go
into quarantine.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
What is quarantine?
Quarantine is when you are well but may have been in contact with someone with
COVID-19. If this happens they will be required to isolate from other people
to prevent the spread of the virus. The quarantine period is 14 days from when
you may have been in contact with the virus.
Quarantine is different to isolation and physical
distancing.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Support services
There are a range of support services available to help you. You can do the
following:

Visit Head to Health for links to trusted Australian mental health online and phone supports, resources and treatment options. This useful website also has online programs and forums, as well as a range of digital information resources.
Contact your local state and territory health departments.

National Coronavirus Helpline
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or
help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
1800 020 080
View contact
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
TIS National is for people who do not speak English and for agencies and
businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.
131 450 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS
National)
View contact


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
How to get food and medication
You can get food and medication while in quarantine by doing one of the
following:

Ask friends or family members you don’t live with to get food and medication to leave at your door. If you need a prescription filled arrange this with your usual pharmacist or GP. You can then let your friend or family member know where to go to collect the medication.
Arrange a food delivery service. Have all food left outside your house. Do not let any delivery person into your home.
If you need a prescription filled you can arrange for your doctor to send your prescription to your pharmacy. They can then deliver it to your house. Read more about getting medicines and accessing health services.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Who must go into quarantine
If a public health authority directs you to, you must go into a mandatory
14-day period of quarantine. During this time they will monitor you.
You will need to go into quarantine if you:

have returned home from overseas
have been in contact with someone who has confirmed or is likely to have COVID-19
are entering certain remote areas in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory (unless exempt)
are entering a state that has a required quarantine period

If you remain well after 14 days you will be able to leave quarantine. If you
develop symptoms during this time you will need a test for COVID-19. Even if
you test negative you must stay in quarantine for the full 14 days.
If you test positive you will need to go into isolation. Anyone
who has been in your household is a close contact and must then go into
quarantine.


Quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Living with other people while in quarantine
If you are well, others you live with don’t need to quarantine unless they
also meet the criteria. You should limit your contact with them as much as
possible by:

staying in your own room
using a separate bathroom, if you can
staying at least 1.5 metres away from others
avoiding common areas and wearing a mask when moving through these areas
wearing a mask when in the same room as others
not sharing a room with people, especially people at risk of severe disease (this includes elderly people and people with heart, lung, or kidney conditions and diabetes)
practising good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes
avoiding sharing household items
frequently cleaning the house, especially things people touch often, like door handles


Racism has no place in Australia
Racism has no place in Australia
Translating and Interpreting Service
If you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,
don’t put up with it; report it.
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting
service for people who do not speak English. The majority of TIS National
services are free to non-English speakers.

Phone: 131 450
Visit: www.tisnational.gov.au


Racism has no place in Australia
Racism has no place in Australia
Police assistance
If you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,
don’t put up with it; report it.

If you are threatened with violence or violently attacked, contact the police.
Get to a safe location as soon as possible.
In an emergency or life threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for police.
If you require police assistance, but there is no immediate danger, call the Police Assistance Line (131 444).


Racism has no place in Australia
Racism has no place in Australia
Counselling and Mental Health Wellbeing
If you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,
don’t put up with it; report it.
A new 24/7 support service specifically designed to help people through the
COVID-19 pandemic is available free of charge to all Australians.
The support service can be accessed through the website
https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/
For personal crisis and mental health support services you can contact Beyond
Blue on 1800 512 348 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.
Kids Helpline is a free service for young people aged 5 to 25. Kids, teens and
young adults can call 1800 551 800 at any time.


Racism has no place in Australia
Racism has no place in Australia
National Information Service
If you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,
don’t put up with it; report it.
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Information Service (NIS)
provides information and referrals for individuals, organisations and
employers about a range of human rights and discrimination issues. This
service is free and confidential.
The NIS can:

give you information about your rights and responsibilities under federal human rights and anti-discrimination law
discuss whether you may be able to make a complaint to the Commission or how the law might apply to your situation
give you information about how to make a complaint, respond to a complaint or deal with specific discrimination issues
refer you to another organisation that may be able to help you

Please note that the NIS is unable to provide legal advice.
You can contact the NIS by:

Phone: 1300 656 419 or 02 9284 9888
Email: infoservice@humanrights.gov.au
Fax: 02 9284 9611
National Relay Service: 1300 555 727 (Speak and Listen) or internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au


Racism has no place in Australia
Racism has no place in Australia
Racial hatred and the Australian Human Rights Commission
If you witness or experience racial discrimination, harassment or hatred,
don’t put up with it; report it.
In Australia it is against the law to do something in public based on the
race, colour, national or ethnic origin of a person or group of people which
is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate.
Examples of racial hatred may include:

racially offensive material on the internet, including eforums, blogs, social networking sites and video sharing sites
racially offensive comments or images in a newspaper, magazine or other publication such as a leaflet or flyer
racially offensive speeches at a public rally
racially abusive comments in a public place, such as a shop, workplace, park, on public transport or at school
racially abusive comments at sporting events by players, spectators, coaches or officials.

The law aims to strike a balance between the right to communicate freely
(‘freedom of speech’) and the right to live free from racial hatred. In some
circumstances actions may not be against the law if they are “done reasonably
and in good faith”.
If you experience racial hatred you can make a complaint to the Australian
Human Rights Commission. The complaint process is simple, free and flexible.
To lodge a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, visit
www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints.


Retirees
Reduced drawdowns
Superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account-based pensions and
similar products are being reduced by 50 per cent for the 2019-20 and 2020-21
income years.
This is designed to ease pressure on retirees to sell investment assets in the
current economic climate.
Your minimum drawdown allowance will vary depending on your age.
For those under 65 the minimum drawdown halves from 4 per cent to 2 per cent.
For those aged 74 to 79 it halves from 6 per cent to 3 per cent. For those
aged 95 and over it drops from 14 to 7 per cent.


Retirees
Deeming rates
The Government is also reducing both the upper and lower social security
deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5
percentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020.
The change reflects the low interest rate environment, reducing the income
deemed to have been earned from interest on investments and savings allowing
for an increase in social security payments .


Staying in Australia
I have a temporary visa
I have a Visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
Under Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a visitor visa or
ETA. You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.
If you have a ‘no further stay condition’ attached to your visa, you will need
to apply to have this waived before you make any visa application.
If you cannot depart Australia as planned, check your permitted stay period,
visa expiry date and visa conditions to make sure you remain lawful in
Australia.
You can check your visa details in
VEVO, the myVEVO
app,
in your visa grant letter or your
ImmiAccount. You can check your ETA
expiry and conditions through our Check an ETA
service.
When you apply for a new visa, you may be granted a bridging visa that will
keep you lawful in Australia until a decision is made on your visa
application.
If your visa has already expired, see My visa has expired.


Staying in Australia
I have a Bridging visa E
This temporary visa allows you to stay in Australia while you:

make arrangements to leave
finalise your immigration matter
wait for an immigration decision.

Working rights
You may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa
conditions.
You can check by:

using the VEVO service, or
accessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.

Expiring Bridging visas
If you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply
for another visa.
Status Resolution Service
The Status Resolution Service (SRS) program can provide you with temporary
support.
You may be eligible for support if you are:

without a visa and living in Australia
an illegal maritime arrival (IMA) and have lodged a valid Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) application
a non-IMA and have lodged a valid protection visa application
a holder of a Bridging Visa E (BVE)
facing significant barriers that are impacting on your ability to resolve your immigration status.


Staying in Australia
I have a Bridging visa A, B or C
Working rights
Bridging visas A, B and C allow you to stay in Australia after your current
visa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.
You may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa
conditions.
You can check by:

using the VEVO service, or
accessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.

If you are in a difficult financial situation and your Bridging visa does not
let you work, or has restrictions on working, you can apply for a Bridging
visa A that lets you work. However, you will need to
show that you are in a difficult financial situation.
If you do not meet the requirements for work, and you are still eligible for a
Bridging visa, we will grant you a new Bridging visa with the same conditions
that were on your previous Bridging visa.
You will not be granted a new Bridging visa that lets you work if:

your current Bridging visa A was granted to you because you have applied for judicial review of the decision made on your original visa application, or
you have applied for a protection visa.

See: Information on how to apply.


Staying in Australia
I have a Working Holiday Maker visa
I work in a non-critical sector for COVID-19
Working Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. However, if you have completed
three or six months of work in Australia, you may be able to apply for a
second or third Working Holiday Maker visa.
See specified work conditions for more information.
If you have not completed the three or six months of specified work required
to apply for a second, or third Working Holiday visa because of COVID-19 —
and you are not working in a critical sector, you should apply for another
visa to remain lawful until you’re able to return to your home country.
To be granted a new visa, you must meet the requirements for that visa,
including any age limits, English language, health and character requirements.
Visa condition 8547 — six month work limitation with one employer
Working Holiday Makers can do any kind of work during their stay in Australia,
but this is generally limited to six months’ work with any one employer,
unless the Department has given permission to work with the same employer for
longer than six months.
In some situations Working Holiday Makers have permission from the Department
to work for the same employer for longer than six months, where the work is:

in different locations and work in any one location does not exceed six months
in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia
in certain industries in northern Australia only
assisting bushfire recovery efforts.

In any other circumstance, you need to request
permission
to work with the same employer for longer than six months.


Staying in Australia
I have a temporary visa
Visa conditions
No work condition
Visitor visa and ETA holders are not permitted to work in Australia.
Visa stay period
The stay period on an existing visa cannot be extended. Your visa will cease
if you are still in Australia at the end of your permitted stay period. If you
cannot depart Australia within the permitted stay period on your visa, you
should apply for a further visa before the date on which your visa ceases.
If you departed and returned to Australia on a round-trip cruise, this may not
be considered as a departure from Australia for the purposes of your permitted
stay period. Please check the information provided to you by your cruise ship
company.
No further stay condition (includes 8503, 8534 and 8535)
If you hold a visa with condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 and cannot depart
Australia as planned, you cannot apply for most other visas in Australia
unless the condition is waived. You can request to waive this
condition if
your visa will expire in less than four weeks. If your request is approved,
you should make a new visa application before your current visa expires.
Condition 8531 (must not remain in Australia beyond the period of stay
permitted by the visa)
If you hold a visa with condition 8531 and cannot depart Australia as planned,
you should apply for a further visa before the date on which your visa ceases.
If you are also subject to condition 8503, you will need to request a waiver
of this condition first.
We understand some people cannot leave Australia as planned due to travel
restrictions, and we will take this into account for any future visa or
sponsorship applications.
Condition 8558 (must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any
18 month period)
If you hold a visa with condition 8558 and cannot depart Australia as planned,
your visa will cease if you stay in Australia for 12 consecutive months at
a time.
If you have been in Australia for 12 cumulative months in an 18 month
period, your visa will still remain valid until the visa expiry date.
You should apply for a further visa if your visa will expire before you can
depart Australia. If you are also subject to condition 8503, you will need to
request a waiver of this condition first.
Visa processing arrangements
If you need to apply for a new visa to stay in Australia, you can still
explore your visa options and make a visa application at
ImmiAccount. We encourage applicants
to apply online wherever possible, as these applications will be processed
faster.
Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by
COVID-19 and a range of services we rely on (such as medical checks and
biometric collection) are increasingly unavailable. Applicants will be given
additional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.
We will take the service disruptions into account when considering your visa
application.
You do not need to contact us to ask for more time to complete these checks.


Staying in Australia
I have a Student visa
Can I extend my Student visa?
Under Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a Student visa.
You need to apply for a new visa if:

you cannot return to your home country and your visa is expiring
you need more time in Australia to complete your course.

You should apply for a new Student visa six weeks before your existing Student
visa expires. There is no need to provide evidence of impacts of COVID-19 with
your Student visa application.
If your study in Australia is ending, you can apply for a Visitor visa
(subclass 600). You need to do this before your Student visa expires.
More information on the Visitor visa.
Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted and a
range of services are becoming unavailable. This includes panel doctors who
undertake medical checks, English language testing facilities and biometric
collection. While these services are unavailable, many applicants cannot meet
visa requirements. Students will be given additional time to complete checks
and provide the requested information.
Importantly though, making a new application before the current visa expires
will give you a bridging visa to remain lawful while all requirements are met.
Australian study requirements
The Department of Home Affairs does not regulate mode of study requirements.
You should contact your education provider.
Please refer to the Joint TEQSA and ASQA statement relating to flexible
delivery.
For the exceptions as a result of the travel restrictions, see the National
Code requirements for affected tertiary students to undertake online
study.
Notifying the Department
You do not need to notify the Department if you return home, or your study
situation changes.
Your visa remains valid until you lodge another visa application, or your visa
expires. The status of your visa will remain unchanged if you return home or
defer your studies.
Students experiencing financial difficulties
You are encouraged to rely on family support, part-time work where available
and your own savings to sustain yourself in Australia.
If you are unable to support yourself, you should make arrangements to return
to your usual country of residence, noting that it is a condition of all
Student visas that holders have access to funds to support themselves for the
duration of their stay in Australia.
Students who have been in Australia longer than 12 months who find themselves
in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation.
The Government will continue to engage with the international education sector
which is providing some financial support for international students facing
hardship.


Staying in Australia
I am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme
Subclass 403 visa holders in the Pacific Labour Scheme
You can apply for another subclass 403 visa in the Pacific Labour
Scheme where you and your employer
are endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to participate in
the scheme. This visa will allow you to stay lawfully in Australia, and
continue working, if you wish to do so, or until you can return to your home
country.


Staying in Australia
My visa has expired
Expired inside 28 days
If your visa has expired, you need to apply for a Bridging visa E
(BVE)
immediately in order to become lawful. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets
you remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
If you want to stay lawfully in Australia, you must apply for a new visa. Your
circumstances will determine your visa options and what you must do to remain
lawful. Depending on how long ago your visa expired, you may face restrictions
on applying for further visas while you are in Australia.
Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by
COVID-19 and a range of services we rely on (such as medical checks and
biometric collection) are increasingly unavailable. Applicants will be given
additional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.
Expired over 28 days ago
If your visa expired more than 28 days ago, please contact the Status
Resolution Service (SRS) for assistance to resolve your immigration
status.


Staying in Australia
I am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme
Subclass 403 visa holders in the Seasonal Worker Program
Your visa cannot be extended. However, the Australian Government has
introduced new measures for those working in critical sectors in response to
COVID-19.
You may be eligible for a Temporary Activity (subclass 408 Australian
Government Endorsed Event (AGEE)
stream)
visa during the COVID-19 pandemic, if:

your visa is about to expire
your visa has already expired
you can’t leave Australia
you are working in a critical sector, like health, aged care or agriculture.

This visa will allow you to stay lawfully in Australia, and continue working,
if you wish to do so, or until you can return to your home country. Seasonal
Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme arrangements, including those
relating to employers, will be carried over to the new visa arrangements,
continuing the link with the agricultural sector.


Staying in Australia
I am a Seasonal worker or part of the Pacific Labour Scheme
Visa conditions: 8503 (No Further Stay) and 8577 (Changing Employers)
For the subclass 403 visa in the Seasonal Worker Program or Pacific Labour
Scheme, condition 8577 means you are normally only allowed to work for one
Sponsor/Approved Employer, unless the Department of Home Affairs gives you
permission to change.
During the COVID-19 period, you will be able to move between Sponsors/Approved
Employers. If you need to move between Sponsors/Approved Employers, your
employer must contact:

the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, if you are a Seasonal Worker
the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, if you are working in the Pacific Labour Scheme.

Under these temporary arrangements, employers are still required to abide by
all relevant Australian workplace laws and you will continue to have the same
rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees.
For the subclass 403 in the Seasonal Worker stream, during the COVID-19
period, the condition 8503 (No Further Stay) attached to your visa will be
automatically waived to allow you to apply for a Temporary Activity (subclass
408 Australian Government Endorsed Event (AGEE) stream)
visa.
You will not need to apply for a waiver of condition 8503.


Staying in Australia
I have a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) or Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)
Temporary Skill Shortage and subclass 457 visa holders who have been stood
down, but not laid off, will maintain a valid visa and businesses will have
the opportunity to extend your visa as per normal arrangements.
Businesses will be able to reduce your hours without you being in breach of
your visa conditions or the business being in breach of their employer
obligations.
If you have been laid off and are currently unemployed, you should find
another employer within 60 days or make arrangements to leave Australia, where
this is possible.
If you cannot return to your home country, you need to maintain a valid visa
and follow Australia’s health advice where necessary.
Holders of temporary work visas currently employed in critical sectors, like
health, aged care or agriculture, may also be eligible for a COVID-19
pandemic Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed
Agreement Event (AGEE) stream
visa.


Staying in Australia
I have a Student visa
Latest updates/media releases

Boosting health and disability worker numbers during the coronavirus
Coronavirus and temporary visa holders
Australia’s major supermarkets will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees to help keep shelves stocked.
International students ready to fill critical staff shortages in aged care.

The Government is taking a flexible approach in relation to student visa
conditions where COVID-19 restrictions have prevented conditions being met,
such as attendance at class or use of online learning.
If your study in Australia is ending, and you are unable to depart Australia,
you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You need to do this before
your Student visa expires.
If your course is ‘out of session’
You can work unlimited hours if your course is considered ‘out of session’.
Courses are considered ‘out of session’ during scheduled course breaks or if a
student has finished their course as scheduled.
If you are studying a masters by research or a doctorate course
If you have commenced studying a masters by research or a doctorate course,
you may work unlimited hours.
If your course has been deferred
You can work over 40 hours per fortnight if your course has been deferred.
Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders
Certain student visa holders are temporarily permitted to work more than 40
hours per fortnight to support the supply of essential goods and services for
Australians if they are:

employed in the health sector, enrolled in a health related course (such as nursing or medicine) and are directed by a health official to assist in the effort against COVID-19
employed by registered supermarkets (this temporary measure will cease on 1 May 2020 for supermarkets)
employed in aged care by an Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider
employed by a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider.

See Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa
holders.


Staying in Australia
I have a Working Holiday Maker visa
I work in a critical sector for COVID-19 (Agriculture, Food processing, Health care, Aged care, Disability care or Child care)
Working Holiday Maker visas cannot be extended. However, if you have completed
three or six months of specified work in Australia, you may be able to
apply for a second or third Working Holiday Maker visa.
The Australian Government has introduced new measures in response to COVID-19.
Working holiday makers who are employed in critical sectors including
agriculture, health, aged and disability care and childcare will be exempt
from the six month work limitation with one employer.
Working holiday makers employed in critical sectors who haven’t completed the
3 or 6 months of specified work required to apply for a second or third
Working Holiday Maker visa, and are unable to return to their home country can
apply for COVID-19 pandemic Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) Australian
Government Endorsed Agreement Event (AGEE) stream
visa
and will not incur a visa application charge. This visa will allow you to
remain lawfully in Australia, and continue working, should you wish to do so,
until it is safe and practicable for you to return to your home country.
To be granted a new visa, you must meet the requirements for that visa,
including any age limits, English language, health and character requirements.
Visa condition 8547 — six month work limitation with one employer
Working Holiday Makers can do any kind of work during their stay in Australia,
but this is generally limited to six months’ work with any one employer,
unless the Department has given permission to work with the same employer for
longer than six months.
Working Holiday Makers working in critical sectors, like health, aged care or
agriculture have permission from the Department to work for the same employer
for longer than six months, on the grounds of exceptional, unforeseen
circumstances.
Other situations where Working Holiday Makers have permission from the
Department to work for the same employer for longer than six months, include
where the work is:

in different locations and work in any one location does not exceed six months
in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia
in certain industries in northern Australia only
assisting bushfire recovery efforts.

In any other circumstance, you need to request
permission
to work with the same employer for longer than 6 months.


Staying in Australia
I have a Bridging visa A, B or C
Expiring Bridging visas
Bridging visas A, B and C allow you to stay in Australia after your current
visa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.
If you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply
for another visa.


Staying in Australia
I have a Special Category visa
New Zealanders and Australians have arrangements whereby we can each stay and
work in each other’s country.


Staying in Australia
I have a permanent visa
Permanent Resident (PR) visa holders can remain in Australia indefinitely but
if you intend to leave Australia and come back, you need to check the travel
facility period on your permanent visa (usually a five-year period).
You can check by:

using the VEVO service, or
accessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.

If you enter Australia on a temporary visa when the travel facility on your
permanent visa has expired, this will have an adverse impact on you. See
'Resident Return visa' for details.


Support for Australian households
Working from home and energy use

If you're concerned about your health and safety when working from home, COMCARE has detailed advice.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre has advice on sound cyber security practices.
Tips on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams and phishing emails is available from Stay Smart Online.
The Australian Taxation Office has issued new advice for people working from home at this time.

These tips can help you save energy working from home. Detailed information on
how to save energy is available for
households and
businesses.
Heating and cooling

Around 40% of home energy use can go on heating and cooling. Close off rooms not in use. Set your heating between 18°C and 20°C and your cooling between 25°C and 27°C.
For every degree you increase heating and cooling, you increase energy use between 5% and 10%.
Dress comfortably. You may need to look professional from the waist up for virtual meetings, but working from home means you can dress for the season.

Computers

Set your monitor to switch off/sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity.
Reduce screen brightness to the lowest, visibly comfortable setting.
Switch off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you’re not using them as they use a substantial amount of power by constantly searching for a signal.
Close any applications you’re not using.
Ensure air vents on computer towers and laptops are kept clear and away from objects.
Don’t use active or animated screensavers.
Unplug any USB devices (like mice, keyboards, speakers and flash drives) when not in use.
Switch off when you’ve finished using your device, or set a timer.
If purchasing new equipment, look for the Energy Rating Label on all computer monitors—the more stars the better.
Laptops, ultrabooks and notebooks use less energy than desktop computers and can be battery-operated for extended periods.

Mobile phones

Switch off chargers at the wall once charging is complete, and avoid charging overnight if you can.
Reduce screen brightness and turn off live (animated) wallpapers to reduce battery drain.
Switch off Bluetooth and GPS when you’re not using them as they use a substantial amount of power by constantly searching for signal.
Use aeroplane mode where applicable.
Shorten the amount of time for the screen to turn off automatically—try 30 seconds.
Delete unwanted apps. The more applications your smartphone has, the faster the power will drain.
Set your notification alerts to check at 30 minute intervals (or longer) and close applications when you don’t need them. This can also make a big difference to your data usage.

Office equipment

Turn off your printer, copier, scanner and multi-function devices when you're not using them.
‘Think before you print’ and opt for a printer that prints on both sides of the paper—saving both time and resources.


Support for Australian households
Billing and payment help

If you or your business are having trouble paying your bill you should call your electricity or gas provider. Their phone number is on your bill.
Ask about what hardship support they can offer you. They have staff trained to assist.
Ask to go on a payment plan, to pay your bill over a longer time or make small regular payments.
Stay on the plan to protect yourself from disconnection, interest payments and late fees.
Ask if there are government concessions or rebates to help you at home or at work.

Ask your current retailer if they can offer you a better deal. If they can’t
give you more help you can switch providers to save. We step you through how
to do this using free comparator sites on our Find the best energy
deal page.
Ask your retailer if you are on all of the concessions you may be entitled to.
You can also check for all of the government rebates and
assistance in your state or territory.
If your energy bill seems wrong, your retailer must review it if requested.
If you're still not satisfied, contact the energy ombudsman in your state or
territory. An ombudsman is a free and independent dispute resolution service.
Their numbers are listed below.
If you receive a disconnection notice from your retailer, contact them
immediately to discuss your options. You should not be disconnected during a
protected period, such as a weekend or public holiday. People registered as
depending on a life-support system have further protections from
disconnection.
Some states and territories and some energy retailers have announced a pause
on disconnections during the COVID-19 emergency.


Supporting the Flow of Credit
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority - Ensuring banks are well placed to lend
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced temporary
changes to its expectations regarding bank capital ratios. The changes will
support banks’ lending to customers, particularly if they wish to take
advantage of the new facility being offered by the RBA.

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)


Supporting the Flow of Credit
Support for non-ADI and smaller ADI lenders in the securitisation market
The Government is providing the Australian Office of Financial Management
(AOFM) with $15 billion to invest in structured finance markets used by
smaller lenders, including non-Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (non-
ADIs) and smaller Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs). This support
will be provided by making direct investments in primary market
securitisations by these lenders and in warehouse facilities.

Australian Office of Financial Management


Supporting the Flow of Credit
Support for immediate cash flow needs for SMEs
Under the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, the Government will provide a guarantee of 50 per cent to SME lenders
to support new short-term unsecured loans to SMEs. The Scheme will guarantee
up to $40 billion of new lending. This will provide businesses with funding to
meet cash flow needs, by further enhancing lenders’ willingness and ability to
provide credit. This will assist otherwise viable businesses across the
economy who are facing significant challenges due to disrupted cash flow to
meet existing obligations.


Supporting the Flow of Credit
Reserve Bank of Australia – Supporting the flow and reducing the cost of credit
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a package on 19 March 2020 that
will put downward pressure on borrowing costs for households and businesses.
This will help mitigate the adverse consequences of the Coronavirus on
businesses and support their day-to-day trading operations. The RBA is
supporting small businesses as a particular priority.
The RBA announced a term funding facility for the banking system. Banks will
have access to at least $90 billion in funding at a fixed interest rate of
0.25 per cent. This will reinforce the benefits of a low cash rate by reducing
funding costs for banks, which in turn will help reduce interest rates for
borrowers. To encourage lending to businesses, the facility offers additional
low-cost funding to banks if they expand their business lending, with
particular incentives applying to new loans to SMEs.
In addition, the RBA announced a further easing in monetary policy by reducing
the cash rate to 0.25 per cent. It is also extending and complementing the
interest rate cut by taking active steps to target a 0.25 per cent yield on
3-year Australian Government Securities.

Reserve Bank of Australia


Supporting the Flow of Credit
Quick and efficient access to credit for small business
The Government is cutting red tape by providing a temporary exemption from
responsible lending obligations for lenders providing credit to existing small
business customers. This reform will help small businesses get access to
credit quickly and efficiently.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Boosting cash flow for employers
Timing of additional payment
The additional payment will be applied to a limited number of activity
statement lodgments. We will deliver the payment as a credit to the entity
upon lodgment of their activity statements. If this places the entity in a
refund position, we will deliver the refund within 14 days.
Quarterly lodgers will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the
quarters ending June 2020 and September 2020. Each additional payment will be
equal to half of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payment
(up to a total of $50,000).
Monthly lodgers will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the
June 2020, July 2020, August 2020 and September 2020 lodgments. Each
additional payment will be equal to a quarter of their total initial Boosting
Cash Flow for Employers payment (up to a total of $50,000).


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Temporary early release of superannuation
How to apply
If you are eligible for this new ground of early release, you can apply
through ATO online services in myGovExternal
Link. You will
need to certify that you meet the eligibility criteria.
If you are a member of an APRA fund, we will process your application and then
issue you with a determination. We will also provide a copy of this
determination to your superannuation fund which will advise them to release
your superannuation payment. Your fund will then make the payment to you,
without you needing to apply to them directly.
If you are a member of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), you can
apply through myGov from mid-April. We will issue you with a determination
advising of your eligibility to release an amount. When your SMSF receives the
determination from you, they will be authorised to make the payment.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, go to COVID-19 early
release of super.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Backing business incentive
The government is introducing a time limited 15-month investment incentive to
support business investment and economic growth over the short-term, by
accelerating depreciation deductions.
A deduction of 50% of the cost of an eligible asset on installation will
apply, with existing depreciation rules applying to the balance of the asset’s
cost.
Eligibility
Eligible businesses are businesses with aggregated turnover below $500
million.
Eligible assets are new assets that can be depreciated under Division 40 of
the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (that is, plant, equipment and specified
intangible assets, such as patents). This does not apply to second-hand
Division 40 assets, or buildings and other capital works depreciable under
Division 43.
Timing
This applies to assets acquired after announcement and first used or installed
by 30 June 2021.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
JobKeeper Payment
Under the temporary JobKeeper Payment, businesses significantly impacted by
the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak will be able to access a subsidy
from the government of $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months.
This will allow them to keep paying their employees.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Boosting cash flow for employers
Timing of Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments
The Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payment will be applied to a limited
number of activity statement lodgments. We will deliver the payment as a
credit to the entity upon lodgment of their activity statements. If this
places the entity in a refund position, we will deliver the refund within 14
days.
Quarterly lodgers will be eligible to receive the first payments for the
quarters ending March 2020 and June 2020.
Monthly lodgers will be eligible to receive the first payments for the March
2020, April 2020, May 2020 and June 2020 lodgments. To provide a similar
treatment to quarterly lodgers, the payment for monthly lodgers will be
calculated at three times the rate (300%) in the March 2020 activity
statement.
The minimum payment will be applied to the entities’ first lodgment.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Temporary early release of superannuation
Timing
You can apply for early release of your superannuation between 20 April and 24
September 2020.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
JobKeeper Payment
Payment process
The JobKeeper Payment will assist employers to continue operating by
subsidising all or part of the employee's income. We will make the payments to
the employer on a monthly basis (in arrears).
Eligible employers will be paid $1,500 per fortnight per eligible
employee.
Eligible employees will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight,
before tax. Employers are able to top-up the payment.

Employees will receive $1,500 per fortnight (before tax) if they were
employed on 1 March 2020
ceased employment with their employer due to the effects of COVID-19
re-engaged by the same eligible employer.

Where employers participate in the scheme, their employees will receive the
payment as follows:

If an employee's income is normally $1,500 or more per fortnight (before tax) they will continue to receive their regular income according to their usual workplace arrangements.
If an employee's income is less than $1,500 per fortnight (before tax), their employer must pay their employee $1,500 per fortnight (before tax).
If an employee has been stood down , their employer must pay their employee $1,500 per fortnight (before tax).

It will be up to the employer to decide whether to pay superannuation on any
additional wage paid because of the JobKeeper Payment.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Boosting cash flow for employers
Eligibility for Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments
Small and medium sized business entities and NFPs with aggregated annual
turnover under $50 million and that employ workers will be eligible.
Eligibility will generally be based on prior year turnover.
We will deliver the payment as an automatic credit in the activity statement
system from 28 April 2020 upon employers lodging eligible upcoming activity
statements.
Eligible employers that withhold tax to the ATO on their employees’ salary and
wages will receive a payment equal to 100% of the amount withheld, up to a
maximum payment of $50,000.
Eligible employers that pay salary and wages will receive a minimum payment of
$10,000, even if they are not required to withhold tax.
The payments will only be available to active eligible employers established
before 12 March 2020. However, charities that are registered with the
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission will be eligible
regardless of when they were registered, subject to meeting other eligibility
requirements. This recognises that new charities may be established in
response to COVID-19.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Enhancing the instant asset write-off
The government is increasing the instant asset write-off (IAWO) threshold from
$30,000 to $150,000 and expanding access to include businesses with aggregated
annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million).
Timing
This proposal applies from 12 March 2020 until 30 June 2020, for new or
second-hand assets first used, or installed ready for use in this timeframe.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Temporary early release of superannuation
Eligibility
Citizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand
To be eligible for early release, citizens and permanent resident of Australia
and New Zealand must be in one of the following circumstances :

You are unemployed.
You are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments), special benefit or farm household allowance.
On or after 1 January 2020, either
you were made redundant
your working hours were reduced by 20% or more
you were a sole trader and your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20% or more.

Temporary residents
To be eligible for early release of super, temporary residents must be in
one of the following circumstances :

You hold a student visa that you have held for 12 months or more and you are unable to meet immediate living expenses.
You are a temporary skilled work visa holder whose working hours have been reduced to zero, however you remain engaged with your employer.
You are a temporary resident visa holder (excluding student or skilled worker visas) and you are unable to meet immediate living expenses.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
JobKeeper Payment
Timing
The subsidy will apply from 30 March 2020.
Businesses will be able to register their interest in participating in the scheme from 30 March 2020.
The first payments will be received by employers in the first week of May.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
JobKeeper Payment
Eligibility

Employers
Self-employed individuals
Employees

Employers
Employers (including not-for-profits) will be eligible for the subsidy if:

their business has a turnover of less than $1 billion and their turnover will be reduced by more than 30% compared to a similar period (of at least a month) last year
their business has a turnover of $1 billion or more and their turnover will be reduced by more than 50% compared to a similar period (of at least a month).

Businesses subject to the Major Bank LevyExternal
Link
are not eligible for the subsidy.
Employers will need to:

apply to us
provide supporting information demonstrating a downturn in their business
report the number of eligible employees employed by the business on a monthly basis.

Eligible employers will receive the payment for each eligible employee that:

was on their books on 1 March 2020
continues to be engaged by that employer.

Self-employed individuals
Self-employed individuals will be eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment if
their turnover has reduced (or is expected to reduce) by 30% compared to a
similar period (of at least a month)
Self-employed individuals will need to:

apply to us
provide supporting information demonstrating a downturn in their business

Employees
Eligible employees include:

full-time, part-time or long-term casuals (with their employer on a regular basis for at least 12 months) as at 1 March 2020
stood down employees of eligible employers on 1 March 2020
stood down employees re-engaged by a business that was their employer on 1 March 2020

Where employees have multiple employers:

Only one employer will be eligible to receive the payment.
The employee will need to notify their primary employer to claim the JobKeeker Payment on their behalf.
The employee's claiming of the tax-free threshold will, in most cases, be sufficient evidence that the employer is the employee’s primary employer.To be eligible, employees must be either an:
an Australian citizen
the holder of a permanent visa
a Protected Special Category Visa Holder
a non-protected Special Category Visa Holder who has been residing continually in Australia for 10 years or more
a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder.

If an employee has applied for support though Services Australia and the
employer will be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, the employee will need to
advise Services Australia of their new income.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown rates
The government is temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown
requirements for account-based pensions and similar products by 50% for
2019–20 and 2020–21. This measure will benefit retirees holding these products
by reducing the need to sell investment assets to fund minimum drawdown
requirements.
The government is also reducing both the upper and lower social security
deeming rates by a further 0.25 percentage points in addition to the 0.5
percentage point reduction to both rates announced on 12 March 2020.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Temporary early release of superannuation
Individuals financially affected by COVID-19 may be able to access some of
their superannuation early. They will not need to:

pay tax on amounts released
include it in their tax return.

Eligible Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents can apply
online through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 30
June 2020. They can also access up to a further $10,000 between 1 July 2020
and 24 September 2020.
Accessing your super early:

will affect your super balance
may affect your future retirement income.

You should consider seeking financial advice before applying for early release
of super. Services Australia's Financial Information ServiceExternal
Link can provide free , confidential financial
information.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Boosting cash flow for employers
As announced on 22 March, the government is providing up to $100,000 to
eligible small and medium sized businesses and not-for-profits (including
charities) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. These
payments will help business and not-for-profit cash flow so they can keep
operating, pay their bills and retain staff.
Small and medium sized business entities with aggregated annual turnover under
$50 million and that employ workers are eligible. Not-for-profit entities
(NFPs), including charities, with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million
and that employ workers will now also be eligible. This will support
employment activities at a time where NFPs are facing increasing demand for
services.
Under the enhanced scheme, employers will receive a payment equal to 100% of
their salary and wages withheld (up from 50%), with a:

minimum payment of $10,000
maximum payment of $50,000.

An additional payment is also being introduced in the July – October 2020
period. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the
total of all the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments they have received.
This means that eligible entities will receive at least $20,000, up to a total
of $100,000 under both payments. This additional payment continues cash flow
support over a longer period:

increasing confidence
helping employers to retain staff
helping entities to keep operating.

The cash flow boost provides a tax-free payment to employers. We will
automatically calculate it.


The Australian Government's economic response to coronavirus
Boosting cash flow for employers
Eligibility for additional payment
To qualify for the additional payment, the entity must continue to be active.
Monthly activity statement lodgers
For monthly activity statement lodgers, the additional payments will be
delivered as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will
be equal to a quarter of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers
payment following the lodgment of their June 2020, July 2020, August 2020 and
September 2020 activity statements (up to a total of $50,000).
Quarterly activity statement lodgers
For quarterly activity statement lodgers the additional payments will be
delivered as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will
be equal to half of their total initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers
payment following the lodgment of their June 2020 and September 2020 activity
statements (up to a total of $50,000).


Transiting Australia
I am a New Zealander or Pacific Islander transiting to Australia
If you are a New Zealander, citizen of a Pacific Island Forum country, Timor
Leste citizen or resident of New Caledonia or French Polynesia transiting
though Australia on your way to or from New Zealand or a Pacific Island Forum
Country, you do not need a transit exemption if you have booked a
connecting flight to depart Australia within 72 hours of your arriving flight.
Due to domestic travel restrictions, your outbound connecting flight must be
departing from the same airport in Australia as your arrival flight, unless an
exemption has been granted.
If your connecting flight means you will spend longer than 72 hours, you are
not considered to be transiting Australia and will need toapply
online to the Commissioner of the ABF for an
exemption from the travel restrictions.


Transiting Australia
Transiting Australia
Foreign nationals transiting through Australia to another country don’t need
to apply for an exemption to travel restrictions if they are booked on a
connecting flight from the same airport and they are not going to leave the
airport. If you plan to leave the airport before boarding your connecting
flight, you will need to apply to the Commissioner of the ABF for a travel
exemption. You can apply online .


Transiting Australia
Transit quarantine arrangements
If you cannot remain in the airport before your connecting flight departs, you
will need a valid visa, or be eligible to TWOV, and you must follow the
quarantine and isolation requirements in the state or territory that you have
arrived in. You must do this, even if you have an exemption from the ABF
Commissioner.
State and territory authorities will consider exemptions to the mandatory 14
day quarantine
period on a case by
case basis. To find out more about how quarantine works in your state or
territory, or to ask about someone you know who has been quarantined, contact
your state or territory government health
department.


Transiting Australia
Transit visa requirements
To transit through Australia, you must either hold a valid visa or be from an
eligible country to Transit Without a Visa
(TWOV).
If you don’t have a visa or are not eligible to TWOV that allows you lawful
entry into Australia, you can apply for a Transit visa (subclass
771) which allows you to transit through Australia for up to
72 hours while you wait for your onwards flight. This visa doesn’t allow you
to stay in Australia longer. If you need to stay longer, you should apply for
a different visa.
Eligible New Zealand citizens can transit through Australia on a Special
Category visa (Subclass 444).


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Treatment
There is no treatment for COVID-19. Medical care can treat most of the
symptoms.
COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.
Some reports suggest certain drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, can be used
to treat COVID-19. The Therapeutic Goods
Administration has not approved hydroxychloroquine,
or any other drug, for treating COVID-19, in Australia
We are supporting research to find effective treatments for the
virus. There is no approved vaccine for COVID-19, but global
efforts to develop a vaccine continue.
Limits on medications
Many Australians need medication to manage a health condition. Medication
shortages can threaten lives.
To make sure everyone has access to the medications they need, pharmacies must
limit sales of some prescription and over the counter medications.
Learn more about limits on prescribing
hydroxychloroquine and limits on other prescription and
over-the-counter medications.


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
How it spreads
The virus can spread from person to person through:

close contact with an infectious person (including in the 48 hours before they had symptoms)
contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face

COVID-19 is a new disease, so there is no existing immunity in our community.
This means that COVID-19 could spread widely and quickly.
See how to protect yourself and others.


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people
will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly. People with
coronavirus may experience symptoms such as:

fever
respiratory symptoms
coughing
sore throat
shortness of breath

Other symptoms can include runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains,
nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste,
loss of appetite and fatigue.
To stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory
infection are encouraged to get tested.
If you are concerned you may have COVID-19:

use the symptom checker
see how to seek medical attention
see more about testing

healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker
Answer questions about your symptoms to see if you need to seek medical help
or get tested. This tool is available online at any time.
If you do not have any symptoms, you should still protect yourself and
others.


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
What is COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections.
These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new form of coronavirus. It was first
reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.
Other coronaviruses include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS).


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
How to seek medical attention
If you are sick and think you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek medical advice.
If you want to talk to someone about your symptoms, call the National
Coronavirus Helpline for advice.
National Coronavirus Helpline
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or
help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
1800 020 080
View contact
To seek medical help from a doctor or hospital, call ahead of time to book an
appointment.
You will be asked to take precautions when you attend for treatment. Follow
the instructions you are given.
If you have a mask, wear it to protect others. Stay at least 1.5 metres away
from other people. Cover your coughs or sneezes with your elbow.
Tell the doctor about:

your symptoms
any travel history
any recent contact you have had with someone who has COVID-19

GP respiratory clinics
Find out below if there is a GP respiratory clinic near you and how to
register for an appointment :

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Who is most at risk
In Australia, the people most at risk of getting the virus are:

travellers who have recently been overseas
those who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
people in correctional and detention facilities
people in group residential settings

People who are, or are more likely to be, at higher risk of serious illness if
they get the virus are:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions
people 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions
people 70 years and older
people with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems
people in aged care facilities
people with a disability

At this stage the risk to children and babies, and the role children play in
the transmission of COVID-19, is not clear. However, there has so far been a
low rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases among children, relative to the broader
population.
There is limited evidence at this time regarding the risk in pregnant women.
See our advice for people at risk.


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Testing
The criteria for having a test for COVID-19 are updated regularly as new
evidence becomes available. Testing diagnoses patients with COVID-19 and also
helps health authorities monitor and track the spread of COVID-19.
People with mild symptoms can still spread the virus. To help stop the
resurgence and spread of COVID-19, anyone with symptoms of an acute
respiratory infection should get tested.
The symptoms include:

fever
respiratory symptoms
coughing
sore throat
shortness of breath

If you have one or more of these symptoms, even mildly, it is important you
get tested as soon as possible. Early diagnosis means you can take steps to
avoid spreading the virus to someone else.
If you have other symptoms that may occur with COVID-19 you should seek advice
from your doctor or from healthdirect
about whether you should get tested.
As the situation changes, states and territories may adjust their testing
criteria based on local needs. For latest information check your state or
territory health website.
Testing is even more important if you have symptoms and any of the following
apply to you:

you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days
you travelled on a cruise ship (either passenger or crew) in the 14 days before developing symptoms
you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
you are a health care, aged care or residential care worker or staff member with direct patient contact
you have lived in or travelled through an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit

People in high-risk settings will be regularly monitored to ensure symptoms
are identified early. Rapid response plans will be activated if someone in
those settings develops a fever or respiratory symptoms. People who have
recovered from COVID-19 need to be tested before they can go into high risk
settings.
High-risk settings include:

aged and residential care facilities
detention centres or correctional facilities
boarding schools
military group residences and other closed settings, such as Navy ships or live-in accommodation
rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Where to get tested
You can:

contact your doctor and they will arrange the test
attend a respiratory or fever clinic

Respiratory or fever clinics are dedicated health centres around the country
focusing on testing people with acute respiratory infection symptoms
Find the respiratory/fever clinic nearest to you. Your state or territory
may have extra clinics where you can get tested. You can find them through
your state or territory health website.
If your symptoms are serious, you should seek urgent medical attention. If
possible, call ahead so the medical facility can prepare.
If it is a medical emergency, please call 000.
The Department of Health regularly reviews these criteria.
After testing
It may take a day or two for your test results to come back.
If you have serious symptoms you will be kept in hospital and isolated from
other patients to prevent the virus spreading.
If your doctor says you are well enough to go home while you wait for your
test results, you should:

isolate at home
protect yourself and others

For questions about testing or patient welfare, call the National Coronavirus
Helpline.
National Coronavirus Helpline
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or
help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
1800 020 080
View contact


What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
Temperature checks
A temperature check is when a monitoring device, such as a contactless
thermometer or thermal imaging, checks whether someone has a fever. In places
like hospitals and aged care facilities, temperature checks may be useful as
an extra precaution to protect vulnerable people. Some places might test
visitors as well as workers.
Temperature checks are not as useful in other settings. People with COVID-19
don’t always develop fever, or they might have a fever from another illness.
Some medications reduce fever.
If you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones, stay home and get
tested for COVID-19. This is an important part of our 3-step framework for a
COVIDSafe Australia.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
When should staff not come to work?
All staff, whether or not they have patient contact, should not come to work
if they:

have a fever
have a symptom, even a minor symptom, of respiratory illness, such as a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion

Staff should quarantine after:

returning from overseas in the past 14 days
being a cruise ship passenger or crew who travelled in the past 14 days
being in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19

Staff should isolate:

while waiting for the result of a COVID-19 test
after testing positive for COVID-19

If you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones, stay home and get tested for COVID-19. This is an important part of our
3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia. Discuss whether you might be able to
work from home.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
Employer responsibilities
As an employer, you should brief all staff on how to prevent the spread of
COVID-19. This includes your
contract staff and domestic and cleaning staff.
If one of your staff members has tested positive for COVID-19, you need to
follow the health advice from the National Coronavirus
Helpline on 1800 020
080 or state or territory helpline.
You also need to:

support employee personal hygiene
make sure the workplace is thoroughly cleaned
promote physical distancing, where this does not prevent care
adhere to the limits on public gatherings, noting that this does not apply to staff meetings
support your employees’ mental health
provide information to workers in residential age care facilities


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
Ahpra pandemic response
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
(Ahpra) have established a pandemic response sub-
register for up to 12 months (or less if the pandemic subsides) to
help with fast tracking the return to the workforce of experienced and
qualified health practitioners.
Practitioners included are:

medical practitioners
nurses
midwives
pharmacists
diagnostic radiographers
physiotherapists
psychologists

More information is available for
employers and
practitioners.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
Temperature checks in the workplace
Temperature checks of workers and visitors may be useful as an added
precaution in high-risk places such as hospitals and aged care facilities.
This helps protect the vulnerable people in those settings.
But temperature checks aren’t always an accurate way of knowing whether
someone has COVID-19. This is because:

people with COVID-19 don’t always have a fever
various other medical conditions or infection can cause a fever, not just COVID-19
fever can go up and down during an infection or after taking medication—it might be down at the time of the check


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
Accessing payments when staff cannot go to work
Staff who are eligible for personal (‘sick’) leave can claim this if they are
unwell, or need to isolate.
If other staff are unable to work financial support is available. Find out
what they may be eligible for and how they can
apply.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
When should staff be tested for COVID-19?
Health care or aged care employees are at greater risk of exposure to
confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus. It’s important to detect COVID-19
early to protect both staff and those they come into contact including
patients, clients and care recipients.
Staff should be tested for COVID-19 if they develop fever or respiratory
symptoms.
Their doctor will confirm if they need to be tested and will arrange for the
test.
Staff should stay home in isolation until they receive their results.
As aged and residential care facilities are high-risk-settings, residents and
staff will be also be tested if there are 2 or more people with fever and
respiratory symptoms in the setting.
COVID-19 test results
If the result is negative , the employee should remain at home until they
are well enough to return to work.
If the result is positive , ask your staff member to follow the advice of
their doctor and isolate themselves in their home or in a hospital until they
are well.
Read more information on
testing.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
When other responsibilities may apply
Additional responsibilities may apply when your organisation:

supports patients face to face
supports patients remotely
provides aged care

Online training
A 30-minute online module — COVID-19 infection control
training — is
available for care workers across all health care settings.
This training is hosted on an external site, provided by our COVID-19 training
partner Aspen Medical.
Register now
Publications and fact sheets
See our resources on working arrangements for health and aged care workers
during COVID-19.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged
care providers, pathology providers and health care
managers
A collection of resources for health professionals, including aged care
providers, pathology providers and health care managers, about coronavirus
(COVID-19).
Webinars
View our webinars on the COVID-19 response for the health and aged care
sector.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
Flu vaccination
The annual influenza (flu) vaccine for 2020 is now available.
We strongly encourage health care workers to get the flu vaccine every year.
The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, but if anyone becomes ill
with both influenza and COVID-19 this can be very serious.
Aged care workers and all people entering aged care
facilities are required to be
vaccinated.
Staff may experience fever as a side effect of the
flu vaccination. As fever is also a symptom of COVID-19, we recommend that
staff with fever be tested as a precaution.


Working arrangements for the health and aged care workforce during COVID-19
When can staff come to work?
Health care providers rely on their workforce for the delivery of a range of
hospital, aged care and allied health services. This ensures that Australians
receive the health care they need to stay well and maximise quality of life.
Staff can still go to work if they have directly cared for confirmed cases
while using personal protective equipment (PPE) properly.
Where vulnerable workers undertake
essential work a risk assessment must be undertaken. Risk needs to be assessed
and mitigated, taking into account the worker, the workplace and the work.
This should be conducted with your local Public Health Unit.
Where possible vulnerable people should be redeployed to non-care based roles.
Where risk cannot be appropriately mitigated, employers and employees should
consider alternate arrangements to accommodate a workplace absence.


Working from home during COVID-19
Calculating running expenses
There are three ways you can choose to calculate your additional running
expenses:

shortcut method ─ claim a rate of 80 cents per work hour for all additional running expenses
fixed rate method ─ claim all of these
a rate of 52 cents per work hour for heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning and the decline in value of office furniture
the work-related portion of your actual costs of phone and internet expenses, computer consumables, stationery
the work-related portion of the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device.

actual cost method ─ claim the actual work-related portion of all your running expenses, which you need to calculate on a reasonable basis.

For more information on how to calculate and claim a deduction under the
actual cost method or fixed rate method see Home office
expenses.


Working from home during COVID-19
Claiming a deduction
To claim a deduction for working from home, all of the following must
apply:

You must have spent the money.
The expense must be directly related to earning your income.
You must have a record to prove it.

This means you can't claim a deduction for items provided by your
employer, or if you have been reimbursed for the expense.
If you are not reimbursed by your employer, but instead receive an allowance
from them to cover your expenses when you work from home, you:

must include this allowance as income in your tax return
can claim a deduction as outlined on this page.


Working from home during COVID-19
Expenses you can claim
If you work from home, you will be able to claim a deduction for the
additional running expenses you incur. These include:

electricity expenses associated with heating, cooling and lighting the area from which you are working and running items you are using for work
cleaning costs for a dedicated work area
phone and internet expenses
computer consumables (for example, printer paper and ink) and stationery
home office equipment, including computers, printers, phones, furniture and furnishings – you can claim either the
full cost of items up to $300
decline in value for items over $300.


Working from home during COVID-19
Shortcut method
You can claim a deduction of 80 cents for each hour you work from home due to
COVID-19 as long as you are:

working from home to fulfil your employment duties and not just carrying out minimal tasks such as occasionally checking emails or taking calls
incurring additional deductible running expenses as a result of working from home.

You do not have to have a separate or dedicated area of your home set aside
for working, such as a private study.
The shortcut method rate covers all deductible running expenses, including:

electricity for lighting, cooling or heating and running electronic items used for work (for example your computer), and gas heating expenses
the decline in value and repair of capital items, such as home office furniture and furnishings
cleaning expenses
your phone costs, including the decline in value of the handset
your internet costs
computer consumables, such as printer ink
stationery
the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device.

You do not have to incur all of these expenses, but you must have incurred
additional expenses in some of those categories as a result of working from
home due to COVID-19.
If you use the shortcut method to claim a deduction for your additional
running expenses, you cannot claim a further deduction for any of the expenses
listed above.
You must keep a record of the number of hours you have worked from home as a
result of COVID-19. Examples are timesheets, diary notes or rosters.
If you use the shortcut method to claim a deduction and you lodge your 2019–20
tax return through myGov or a tax agent, you must include the note ‘ COVID-
hourly rate’ in your tax return.


Working from home during COVID-19
Expenses you can’t claim
If you are working from home only due to COVID-19, you can't claim:

occupancy expenses such as mortgage interest, rent and rates
the cost of coffee, tea, milk and other general household items your employer may otherwise have provided you with at work.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Wedding cancellations
My wedding has been cancelled or reduced in size. Am I entitled to a refund of the deposit I’ve paid separately to other vendors for products or services I no longer need, such as my florist, photographer, live band, car hire company, etc.?

You should first approach the provider of each service to see if they are prepared to offer a refund or other remedy, such as credit note or voucher.
Whether you are entitled to refund of your deposit will depend on the terms and conditions of your booking with each vendor.
You may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.
Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Telecommunication services
I’ve paid for a subscription service to receive sporting service – what are my rights?

Major sporting codes in Australia and overseas have cancelled, suspended or postponed their seasons in response to COVID-19, and this means that many popular live sports are currently not available on subscription service platforms.
If you signed up with a subscription service to receive live sports, and these live sports are no longer available, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, and will not continue to be charged for your subscription while the services cannot be provided.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, businesses should not take payments for services when they know they are unable to supply those services, or will only be able to supply materially different services.
If you are not receiving what you signed up for, including concerns about any replacement services (e.g. a ‘movies’ package in substitute for live sports), you may be entitled to certain remedies under the consumer guarantees.
You should contact your subscription service provider to see if they are prepared to offer a change of plan or other remedy.
If you have not been able to resolve things directly with your service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Local sporting clubs or associations
What if the season is cancelled?

If your sporting club or association’s season has been cancelled, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher for a future season, in most circumstances.
If the season is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.
You should check for a cancellation policy under your membership terms and conditions, and contact the state or national body directly to see if you are entitled to full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.
If you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your membership, the state or national body is not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.
You may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.
You should contact your club directly if you believe you are entitled to a refund or other remedy, such as a credit voucher to use in a future season. Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages the state and national bodies, and clubs and associations, to treat consumers fairly and consider appropriate mechanisms to provide refunds or credit notes to consumers.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Travel cancellations and changes
My flight, cruise or tour has been cancelled. Am I entitled to a refund?

If your travel is cancelled the ACCC expects that consumers will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher, in most circumstances. In some cases, consumers will have the right to receive a refund, rather than a credit note or voucher. For example, you may be entitled to a refund under the terms and conditions of your ticket.
If you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your ticket, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.
Similarly, if you were previously told by a business that you would receive a refund for your cancelled travel, the business is not permitted to later deny you the promised refund.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.
Travel cancellations due to government restrictions do impact your rights under the consumer guarantee provisions of the Australian Consumer Law. However, you may have other remedies, including potential rights to a refund, outside of the consumer guarantees, as explained above.
You should check your terms and conditions, and any previous communications with the business, and contact the business directly to request a remedy. This may be a refund or credit note or voucher, depending on your circumstances.
If you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.
State and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.
The ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly in these exceptional circumstances.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Gym memberships
What if I have made an upfront payment that covers the closure period?

If you’ve made an upfront payment that covers the period of the closure then the ACCC expects you will receive a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher. However, if the service has been suspended due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights to a refund under the consumer guarantees. You should look at the terms and conditions of your contract and any cancellation policy announced by the business, and get in touch with them directly. You may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Local sporting clubs or associations
What if the season resumes, but is shortened?

If your sporting club or association announces that the 2020 season will be resuming, but will be shortened or altered, you may still be entitled to a remedy such as a partial refund, credit note or voucher where the value of the service has been reduced.
However, whether you are entitled to a remedy will depend on the particular circumstances of the revised season, any applicable terms and conditions of your membership, and what you receive in exchange for your membership fees. For example, funds paid toward uniform, equipment or insurance costs may be non-refundable given they cover the duration of the season or registration, irrespective of the season length.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Wedding cancellations
I’ve purchased my wedding dress online from overseas and I’m worried it won’t be delivered. Can I cancel my order and get a refund?

If a supplier has accepted payment for your wedding dress, they must supply it to you by the date they have indicated or, if no time was specified, within a reasonable timeframe.
You should first contact your supplier to ask whether the dress is still able to be delivered and, if so, when you can expect to receive it.
If the business advises that your dress can no longer be supplied, then the ACCC expects you will receive a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher.
The ACCC understands that many businesses are struggling to manage supply delays at this point in time due to circumstances outside their control. We urge consumers to remain patient and anticipate that it may take longer than usual for goods to be supplied.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Event cancellations
I bought tickets for an event that has been cancelled. Am I entitled to a refund?

If your event is cancelled the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher, in most circumstances.
If the event is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.
For example, you may be entitled to a refund under the terms and conditions of your ticket.
If you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your ticket, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.
You should contact the business directly to request a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher.
If you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.
State and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.
Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Wedding cancellations
My venue has cancelled my booking. Am I entitled to a refund of my deposit?

If your wedding is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.
For example, you may be entitled to a refund of your deposit under the terms and conditions of your booking.
You should contact the venue directly to request a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note to postpone your wedding to a later date.
If you had a right to a refund under the terms and conditions at the time you made your booking, businesses are not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.
If you receive a credit note or voucher, it should have an expiration date which is long enough to allow you to use the credit note or voucher.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also have other rights under common law, contract or state legislation.
For example, you may have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.
State and territory consumer protection agencies may be able to assist with guidance or conciliation involving relevant state legislation. Consumers may also wish to seek independent legal advice about whether they may have a remedy under common law, contract or state legislation.
The ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly in these exceptional circumstances.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Event cancellations
I bought tickets to an event that has been cancelled. Am I entitled to compensation for related travel or accommodation expenses booked separately?

You should first approach your travel or accommodation provider to see if they are prepared to offer a replacement service, refund or voucher.
You should also check whether you are covered under any travel insurance policy.
You may be entitled to compensation for these expenses under the Australian Consumer Law but this will depend on the specific circumstances. This is unlikely to be the case where the event is cancelled due to government restrictions.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Material changes to services
Do I need to keep paying for this changed service?

Where there have been changes to the service being provided, the ACCC expects that the business will clearly communicate these changes to its customers.
Your rights in relation to a changed service will depend on whether the change is a material change or whether the change has a minimal effect on the business’ ability to provide the service originally contracted for.
Where the change is a material change, you may wish to still continue with the service. However, if you do not wish to continue, the ACCC expects that business will not charge you for the changed service where you have advised the business that you do not wish to proceed with the changed service.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Gym memberships
Can my gym charge me a membership ‘freeze’ or ‘holding’ fee for the period they are closed?

Membership ‘freeze’ or ‘holding’ fees may be charged by gyms when customers elect to pause their membership, if this is permitted by the terms and conditions.
Given many memberships are being paused due to the government restrictions preventing gyms from operating, rather than customers requesting a pause, the ACCC expects that gyms will not charge membership ‘freeze’ or ‘holding’ fees.
The ACCC also expects that gyms will refund any such holding fees incorrectly charged since the government restrictions came into effect.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Travel cancellations and changes
My flight, cruise or tour service has been cancelled. Am I entitled to compensation for related expenses booked separately, such as accommodation?

You should first approach the provider of the related service to see if they are prepared to offer a refund, replacement service or voucher.
You should also check whether you are covered under any travel insurance policy.
You may be entitled to compensation for these expenses under the Australian Consumer Law but this will depend on the specific circumstances. This is unlikely to be the case where the travel is cancelled due to government restrictions.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
Business closures
I have a gift card, or have paid for a series of services in advance, and the business has gone under.

If a business has become insolvent, you may become an ‘unsecured creditor’ if you have:
bought or received a gift card and have not used it
been issued with a credit note
paid in advance for products or services.

If the business continues to trade under control of an external administrator, you may still receive products or services that you paid for, and/or still be able to use gift cards or credit notes. However, the business may also refuse to accept gift cards or credits as a form of payment.
Whether and how the business will honour specific transactions will be announced by the external administrator. You should follow the directions given by the administrator for these transactions. For example, the administrator may honour gift cards by requiring an additional dollar be spent for every dollar used on the gift card.
If the business ceases trading, consumers will generally become unsecured creditors. You will need to register with the external administrator as an ordinary unsecured creditor to seek to recover your money. The insolvency process will determine whether you receive any payment at all. The Corporations Act 2001 regulates the order in which external administrators and liquidators repay money owed by a company to secured and unsecured creditors.
Please see our guidance on when a business goes bust for further information.