Essential Services / Travel

Travel out of Australia

Travel out of Australia continues to be a challenge with the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Boarder Force still restricting international travel.  

Applications for Travel restriction exemption for travellers to and from Australia can be made here. 

MTAA recommends applications include:  

  • A detailed itinerary with clear plans for quarantine (where applicable); 
    • This should include a guarantee that the applicants will adhere to relevant procedures and the company will cover the cost of their quarantine upon return  
  • A letter from the customer (in most cases the hospital CEO); 
    • This should include why the individual(s) and the work is essential.  
  • A letter from their employer outlining their role. 
    • This should include why the work can not be done by a person already at the destination  

Please contact MTAA if you encounter any difficulties with these requirements. 

 

Travel into New Zealand  

Requests for travel into New Zealand can present some challenges particularly regarding the bulk of information required.  

MTAA is working in collaboration with MTANZ to make this process more achievable.  

If members can provide MTAA with the below information this can be provided to MTANZ who have direct contacts within New Zealand departments.  

  • Company Name: 
  • Technician(s) Name, DOB and Nationality: 
  • Technician(s) job title and brief description of area of expertise: 
  • Specific task/assignment (e.g. repair, installation, maintenance): 
  • Supporting documentation from the DHB or public health sector organisation (e.g. email, letter, works or purchase order): 
  • Any previously submitted documentation/correspondence relating to this specific application: 

Where information is commercially sensitive it is requested the above contains as much detail as possible with sensitive lines (such as cost) redacted. 

 

Interstate Travel Update

SA:  

Travel between NSW and South Australia reopened to normal as of 24 September 2020. South Australia’s restrictions with Victoria remain unchanged.  

QLD:  

New border restrictions are now in place, as of 1am, 5 September 2020 details of the directions are available here.  
Under Schedule 1, Section 2 part 3 of the  Border Restriction Direction No.13 persons who, in carrying out their duties, are responsible for providing critical health support services for the critical maintenance, resupply or repair of health services infrastructure critical to Queensland are required to have: 

  • evidence of Government or employer-issued identification or an official letter from an employer confirming employment;  

  • a letter confirming that the employee is required in Queensland. This is to be from the facility where the work will be undertaken or an appropriate officer of QLD Health. (from the hospital if private) 
    • It must be on a letterhead, and must include detail as to why it is essential and that nobody in Queensland can perform the service.   

Persons under Section 1.2.3 are not required to complete 14 days mandatory quarantine in a government nominated hotel but are required to comply with the requirements in Schedule 1 of the direction, namely:

A person entering Queensland for an essential activity must only remain in Queensland for the time necessary to carry out the activity and must:  

  • keep and retain written records of close contacts for a 14-day period commencing on their date of arrival in Queensland, or, if they remain in Queensland for a period of less than 14 days, for that period; and 
  • provide the records to an emergency officer (public health) if directed by an emergency officer (public health) or to a contact tracing officer; and 
  • minimise contact with the community for a period of 14 days; and 
  • to the extent reasonably practicable, practice physical distancing including by remaining at least 1.5 metres from other people. 

Applications for a Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Essential Activity) can be made here.

VIC:

Restrictions that began at 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August have been extended.   

Employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a Permitted Worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility. 

For more information on eligibility and to apply for a permit, please click here.

MedTech employees who are required to access healthcare facilities are eligible to do so under the ‘all sectors’ category of Stage 4 Restrictions:  

In addition to the Permitted Worker permit, we continue to recommend that all MedTech employees carry with them at all times: 

  • A letter from the customer (in most cases the hospital CEO); and 
  • A letter from their employer outlining their role. 

We also recommend that you seek clarification from the customer regarding specific PPE requirements. 

A dedicated Industry Coordination Centre has been set up within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to support businesses and consider ‘grey area’ cases to determine if businesses can safely operate under Stage 4 restrictions.  

If you have further questions about the Permitted Workers Scheme please call Business Victoria on 13 22 15. 

Please contact MTAA if you encounter any difficulties with these requirements.

 

International Freight Assistance Mechanism  

Austrade are happy to confirm new and extended flight capacity from Melbourne to Narita and Melbourne to Los Angeles return. 

The table below provides a summary of all new and extended flights announced by the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) in the past fortnight.

Full details can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound.

IFAM Virtual Briefings

IFAM regularly holds state-based virtual industry briefings to provide updates. If you would like to join the invitation list, please email  freightbriefing@austrade.gov.au with: 

  • your name 
  • business name 
  • State

 

August Travel Update

VIC:

Restrictions that began at 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August remain in place in Victoria.

From 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August, employers that require their staff to attend a worksite must issue a Permitted Worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility.

For more information on eligibility and to apply for a permit, please click here.

MedTech employees who are required to access healthcare facilities are eligible to do so under the ‘all sectors’ of Stage 4 Restrictions:

In addition to the Permitted Worker permit, we continue to recommend that all MedTech employees carry with them at all times:

  • A letter from the customer (in most cases the hospital CEO); and
  • A letter from their employer outlining their role.

We also recommend that you seek clarification from the customer regarding specific PPE requirements.

A dedicated Industry Coordination Centre has been set up within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to support businesses and consider ‘grey area’ cases to determine if businesses can safely operate under Stage 4 restrictions.

If you have further questions about the Permitted Workers Scheme please call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Please contact Edward Strong on 0437 629 884 or estrong@mtaa.org.au  if you encounter any difficulties with these requirements.

 

IFAM airfreight service provider update 

Air New Zealand and United Airlines have joined the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) airfreight service provider panel. Both airlines will be supporting new flights to the USA.

 For further details on the airfreight service provider panel and new USA flights, please see the IFAM webpage.

IFAM have also confirmed the following new and extended flight capacity on the following routes:

Full details can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound.

Exporters still need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and should keep in regular contact with freight forwarders to access IFAM-supported flights. Further information on how IFAM works is available on the. IFAM webpage.

 

General recommendations

MTAA recommends that MedTech employees carry with them at all times, as a minimum:

  • Physical copies of any documentation specifically required by the state to which they are traveling;
  • A letter from their employer; and
  • A letter from the relevant customer (ie the hospital to which they are travelling).

MTAA is able to provide a letter confirming MTAA membership and completion of OTP course if required. We can also provide a template letter to assist with identification purposes for staff of member companies. Please contact Peter Tustin for further assistance: ptustin@mtaa.org.au.

NSW

New border entry rules from August 7 – NSW/VIC: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/border-restrictions

A transit permit is required to enter NSW if you've been in Victoria in the last 14 days, except if you're entering NSW:

  • as an emergency or law enforcement services worker
  • to access emergency medical, hospital, dental or veterinary care
  • to avoid injury or escape a risk of harm. 

The permit is valid for 3 days from the date of issue.

In almost all cases, permits are issued subject to conditions. The permit will indicate if you need to:

NSW border entry permit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-nsw-border-entry-permit

Registration for critical services worker for a COVID-19 NSW border entry permit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-critical-services-worker-covid-19-nsw-border-entry-permit

QLD

New border entry rules from August 8 - entry to Queensland is currently only permitted in accordance with the Border Restrictions Direction (No 11), which may require additional documentation, and a completed Queensland Border Declaration Pass.

To cross the border you will need to obtain a Queensland Border Declaration Pass. Applications can be made at the border, however you may face delays

All of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are now COVID-19 hotspots. COVID-19 hotspots are updated regularly here.

Returning travellers will need to quarantine for 14 days: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/quarantine

Exemptions are available, but not many are being  granted currently: https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/queensland-government-covid-19-quarantine-exemptions-contact.

NSW/QLD border bubble

Waiver for mandatory 14 day quarantine requirement can be applied for at https://qldsurgeryconnect.service-now.com/hdsp

Current exemptions can be found at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions

The current postcodes that are included within the QLD/NSW ‘bubble’ can be found at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/998000/map-border-zones-qld-border-restriction-direction.pdf

NSW/VIC border zone

Information for critical service workers in the border region: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/border-restrictions/areas#critical-service-workers-in-the-border-region

Border zone address check: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/border-zone-address-check

VIC

From 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August, workplaces in Melbourne must be closed unless:

  • the workplace is part of a permitted activity, or
  • all employees are working from home.

From 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August, employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a Permitted Worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility.

For more information on eligibility and to apply for a permit, please click here.

MedTech employees that are required to access healthcare facilities are eligible to do so under the ‘Health care and social assistance’ category of Stage 4 Restrictions.

SA

From 12:01 am Wednesday 29 July, only essential travellers will be able to enter SA from Victoria. South Australians will no longer be able to return to SA from Victoria.

All visitors are still required to register online up to 72 hours earlier.

Travellers still need to self-quarantine whilst in the state and wear a mask in public.

To qualify as Essential Skills (industries and businesses), you will need a letter detailing that the person is required to conduct a service that is time-critical and where the provision of the service requires that the person be physically present in South Australia.

Travellers will need to qualify under one of the following categories:

  • Specialists required for industry or business continuity and maintenance of competitive operations where the appropriate skills are not available in South Australia, where the service is time-critical and where the provision of the service requires that the person be physically present in South Australia.
  • Persons who, in the conduct of their duties, are responsible for maintenance or repair of infrastructure critical to South Australia and are required to be physically present in South Australia for such purposes.

You must provide a letter from your employer or other documentation in support of your application.

On arrival in South Australia:

  • You are required to self-quarantine at all times when you are not undertaking, duties, functions or activities associated with your essential traveller status or travelling to or from such duties, functions or activities.
  • You are required to wear a surgical face mask (covering mouth and nose) when coming in to contact with members of the public.

Further information is available here.

WA

As of August 17 you cannot enter WA unless you are an exempt traveller.

Exemptions are set out under the Quarantine (Closing the Border) Directions and can be applied for under the G2G PASS. Claims are currently being processed within 6 days.

Alternatively, you can submit an exemption application form via email with supporting documentation. These paper-based application forms take longer to process. If you choose to submit an application using the WA Entry Form, please submit your application at least 4 weeks prior to travel.

You should receive an email from noreply@mail.g2gpass.com.au once your application has been received.

You should ensure you receive approval to travel from WA Police before entering WA.

You will need to carry evidence of this approval with you, when you travel. If you have a G2G Pass, your unique QR code can be scanned at border checkpoints for this purpose. Authorised officers will scan the code to confirm you are travelling for your approved purpose.

If your exemption category requires further documentation or proof, you must produce this on request. Failure to do so may result in your application being refused.

TAS

Please be advised that due to NSW updating their border restrictions for travel from Victoria, entry to the ACT from Victoria is now only possible through Canberra Airport, by air. 

Under a Public Health Direction, anyone (other than ACT residents) travelling into the ACT from Victoria will be denied entry to the ACT unless they are granted an exemption by ACT Health.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible, and at least 72 hours before the intended travel date, wherever possible.

If it has been more than 14 days since you have been in Victoria, you will not require an exemption to enter the ACT.

Additional contact details: COVID.exemptions@act.gov.au

ACT

Please be advised that due to NSW updating their border restrictions for travel from Victoria, entry to the ACT from Victoria is now only possible through Canberra Airport, by air. 

Under a Public Health Direction, anyone (other than ACT residents) travelling into the ACT from Victoria will be denied entry to the ACT unless they are granted an exemption by ACT Health.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible, and at least 72 hours before the intended travel date, wherever possible.

If it has been more than 14 days since you have been in Victoria, you will not require an exemption to enter the ACT.

Additional contact details: COVID.exemptions@act.gov.au

NT

There are strict border controls in place for all arrivals to the Territory, including returning Territorians.

All arrivals to the Northern Territory (NT) must:

Information on exemptions available here.

For further information regarding exemptions, you can call 1800 490 484.

 

Send requests for NZ border exemptions to MTANZ by 3pm (AEST), 6 August 2020 

Several members have contacted MTANZ for support in bringing engineers / technical experts from Australia to repair, maintain or upgrade medical equipment in New Zealand.

MTANZ has been working with the NZ Ministries MFAT and MBIE to seek border exemptions for Australian based technicians to enter New Zealand. MTANZ now has support at Cabinet level for specific requests to be submitted for consideration.

URGENT:
Please send any new or pending requests to MTANZ CEO, Faye Sumner (faye@mtanz.org.nz), for border exemptions.

The more details you can provide the better.

  • Company Name:
  • Technician(s) Name, DOB and Nationality:
  • Technician(s) job title and brief description of area of expertise:
  • Specific task/assignment (eg repair, installation, maintenance):
  • Supporting documentation from DHB or public health sector organisation (eg email, letter, works or purchase order):
  • Any previously submitted documentation/correspondence relating to this specific application:

Again, please send to Faye Sumner faye@mtanz.org.nz who will consolidate and forward to the MFAT contact.

 

VIC update

From 11:59pm Wednesday 5 August, workplaces in Melbourne must be closed unless:

  • the workplace is part of a permitted activity, or
  • all employees are working from home.

From 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August, employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a Permitted Worker permit to their employees – this is the employer’s responsibility.

For more information on eligibility and to apply for a permit, please click here.

We have received confirmation from the Victorian Health Minister’s office that MedTech employees that are required to access healthcare facilities are eligible to do so under the ‘all sectors’ category of Stage 4 Restrictions:

Any ancillary business (including IT) involved in the production, supply, manufacture, repair, maintenance, cleaning, security, wholesale, distribution, transportation or sale of equipment, goods or services necessary for the operations of a permitted work site or for closed work sites where there are safety or environmental obligations.

In addition to the Permitted Worker permit, we continue to recommend that all MedTech employees carry with them at all times:

  • A letter from the customer (in most cases the hospital CEO); and
  • A letter from their employer outlining their role.

We also recommend that you seek clarification from the customer regarding specific PPE requirements.

Please contact Rachel Fry on 0417 887 432 or rfry@mtaa.org.au if you encounter any difficulties with these requirements.

 

 

SA Travel update

From 12:01 am Wednesday 29 July, only essential travellers will be able to enter SA from Victoria. South Australians will no longer be able to return to SA from Victoria.

All visitors are still required to register online up to 72 hours earlier.

Travellers still need to self-quarantine whilst in the state and wear a mask in public.

To qualify as Essential Skills (industries and businesses), you will need a letter detailing that the person is required to conduct a service that is time-critical and where the provision of the service requires that the person be physically present in South Australia.

Travellers will need to qualify under one of the following categories:

  • Specialists required for industry or business continuity and maintenance of competitive operations where the appropriate skills are not available in South Australia, where the service is time-critical and where the provision of the service requires that the person be physically present in South Australia.
  • Persons who, in the conduct of their duties, are responsible for maintenance or repair of infrastructure critical to South Australia and are required to be physically present in South Australia for such purposes.

You must provide a letter from your employer or other documentation in support of your application.

On arrival in South Australia:

  • You are required to self-quarantine at all times when you are not undertaking, duties, functions or activities associated with your essential traveller status or travelling to or from such duties, functions or activities.
  • You are required to wear a surgical face mask (covering mouth and nose) when coming in to contact with members of the public.

Further information is available here.

 

Current State Border Closure Summary

  • NSW: From 8 July, NSW border to VIC is closed. 
  • ACT: From 8 July, ACT border to VIC is closed. 
  • VIC: no changes to entry to VIC.  
  • SA: Currently open to WA, TAS, QLD and NT. Premier axed plans to open to VIC, ACT and NSW on 20 July. But is looking closely at opening to NSW and ACT. 
  • NT: 17 July for all, apart from those arriving from a COVID “hotspot”. VIC now deemed a COVID hotspot, any traveller from VIC will not be allowed to enter the NT. 
  • TAS: 24 July open, but this is contingent on other conditions. Premier has said “it will be very difficult to lower borders to Victoria at this time” but is yet to formally announce that VIC will be excluded from border opening (announcement Friday).  
  • QLD: 10 July to open to all states apart from VIC.
  • WA: no changes to entry to WA. 

 

Travel between NSW and VIC

As of midnight 8 July 2020, the NSW/VIC border has been closed. The NSW Government has issued health advice for people who have travelled to NSW from Victoria or Melbourne in the last 14 days and managing those in high-risk settings.

On its website, Services NSW has provided information and established a process for applying for a permit to travel from Victoria into NSW for exempted categories.

People covered by the permit include a person providing critical services, including:

  • freight and logistics 
  • maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure
  • medical or hospital care

The website currently notes that high volumes of applications mean there are delays in processing permit applications and an alternative is to carry sufficient paperwork to demonstrate you are in an exemption category as above.

Advice for staff of health facilities who have returned from greater Melbourne

All persons entering a health facility will be:

  • assessed for symptoms and fever and asked to be tested and self-isolate if symptomatic
  • asked if they have travelled from greater Melbourne metropolitan area in the last 14 days

If they have travelled from greater Melbourne metropolitan area in the last 14 days then:

  • the will be advised that should even the mildest of symptoms arise, they must self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19
  • the will be asked if they have been in a hotspot. If they have been in a hotspot then they will be asked to self-isolate and be excluded from work, except in exceptional circumstances
  • exceptional circumstances include where the absence of the staff member will significantly compromise clinical care. In this case, assess the risk of COVID infection against the consequence of impacting patient care, and whether the risk can be adequately mitigated, with consideration given to:
    • the location and duration of contact in COVID-19 community outbreaks areas in Melbourne, and nature of the transmission risk involved (e.g. number of social contacts, level of contact with potentially affected communities);
    • the type of clinical duties undertaken, and whether other mitigation strategies such as physical distancing, hand hygiene and use of PPE will be possible at all times.

The full fact sheet is available here.

We will provide additional updates as they become available, in the meantime, please contact rfry@mtaa.org.au if you have any queries regarding this.

 

Essential traveller update - SA

From July 1 visitors to SA will need to apply for pre-approval 72 hours prior to entering the state. They will then be told if they need to quarantine or not. The SA Premier has advised that the state will not open its border with Victoria on July 20. For more information, please go to https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/cross-border-travel-application.

 

State Governments - Essential Service Providers/Essential Travellers/Ancillary Services

MTAA is continuing to work on addressing issues faced by members around interstate travel restrictions, however, we have received feedback from a number of member companies that in most cases, restrictions can be addressed by providing the relevant documentation. We recommend that medtech employees carry with them, as a minimum:

·       Physical copies of any documentation specifically required by the state to which they are travelling;

·       A letter from their employer; and

·       A letter from the relevant customer (ie the hospital to which they are travelling).

MTAA is able to provide a letter confirming MTAA membership and completion of OTP course if required. We can also provide a template letter to assist with identification purposes for staff of member companies. Please contact Peter Tustin for further assistance: ptustin@mtaa.org.au.

Please contact Rachel Fry at rfry@mtaa.org.au if you require further assistance with travel authorisations.