About COVID
COVID
COVID hit us hard in 2020. It hit out our families, communities and our profession. As an association, we were with you every step of the way, advocating for you and for the Myotherapy profession.
All the information listed on this page has been a work in progress due to the different phases, waves and government information we have had at hand. We have dedicated time to ensure we are always providing the most accurate and current information available from the Government. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any further questions that have not been covered in this dedicated section of our website. We appreciate your patience in these trying times and are here to
support you in the best capacity we can.
Member FAQs
The information on this page contains specific advice to support our members, community and patients answering common questions many of you may have. We continue to monitor the situation and will provide you with relevant up-to-date information as it becomes available. For all information about CORONA Virus Australia, visit click here.
You can reach out to our team at [email protected]
What are the details of the Vaccination rollout for Myotherapists?
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines will become available in phases. Learn about priority groups and who will receive the first doses of the vaccine.
- Check your eligibility
- COVID-19 vaccines – priority rollout
- Advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
- Why these groups are prioritised
- What this means for you
Commencing 22 March 2021 Myotherapists, as part of Phase 1b of the National vaccine rollout, will be able to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.
The following fact sheet lists the general practices, Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services, and GP-led respiratory clinics where COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to people in phase 1b of the rollout.
MA will ensure they keep members informed in relation to when vaccinations are available to them as we understand that each jurisdiction are managing when and how invitations are being sent. You can contact our team on [email protected] with any questions.
ATAGI statement on AstraZeneca vaccine in response to new vaccine safety concerns
Date published: 8 April 2021
A statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in response to new vaccine safety concerns. Read the statement at here.
What restrictions are in my jurisdiction?
The actions and information from MA, including any recommendation for businesses, will be driven by the Australian Government Department of Health and the World Health Organization. See the latest links for detailed guidelines from the government :
What is the latest Advice on for all Allied Health in Private Practice?
View the most up to date information about the recommendations and correct use of PPE here.
State by State PPE Guidelines are below:
What COVID resources and training is provided for my practice?
The Government is providing free online training on the below:
COVID-19 infection control training
Infection Prevention and Control eLearning Modules
Looking after your mental health during Covid-19 restrictions
What if I can't pay my renewal due to financial hardship?
We appreciate that these unprecedented events are presenting financial challenges for many members. Members who may experience difficulty committing to membership renewal payments are encouraged to contact our team so that we can discuss what options are available at [email protected]
Federal Treasurer’s announcements Where do I go for Economic Stimulus and other assistance?
Federal and State Governments have announced, and are continuing to announce stimulus packages. Stay informed by visiting:
In addition to this, the below dedicated JobKeeper hotlines that have
been established by the major banks
CBA: 13 26 07
ANZ: 1800 571 123
NAB: 1800 JOBKEEPER
Westpac: Westpac 1300 731 073 / St George 1300 730 196 / Bank of Melbourne 1300 784 873 / Bank SA 1300 669 472
What if I have to let staff at my practice go?
If you have already had to make the tough decision to stand your staff
down, please consider providing them with a letter such as this:
XX/XX/2021
Notice of Stand down of employment during the COVID-19 required shutdown
Dear XXXX,
Due to to the direction from the State and Federal governments, XXXXX will have to close for the foreseeable future.
I am providing you this notice that we are unable to sustain your employment through this time, which puts you in the best position possible to utilise the schemes available from the banks and the government.
Best of luck,
Staff may require this letter for Centrelink benefits. For further info see Fairwork site.
What are the guidelines around Telepractice?
All practicing
members are strongly encouraged to carefully evaluate patients lists
and provide telepractice (remote consultations) where it is deemed
practically appropriate.
Resources for Telehealth can be found in this webinar or in the Telepractice Guidelines.
What is the Government advice around COVID Safe plan in Victoria?
MA suggests a staged return to business activities, in line with Covid-19 restrictions. An easy-to-follow guide to this plan can be downloaded here.This plan will be updated in accordance with Government advice.
The Victorian government guidance in relation to what is required as part of the COVID-safe plan that all businesses must now have if they fall into category 2 can be found at Creating a covid safe workplace.
If I choose to practice am I still insured?
You must familiarise yourself with and follow your local Government Public Health Orders in relation to whether or not you can provide in-person care, including best practice hygiene controls and work within your scope of practice, your insurance will cover you. To read more about our Insurance cover with BMS Group, see here.
For those in Stage 4 restricted areas:
Should MA members choose to provide face to face myotherapy care (that does not meet the overarching criteria of endorsed care plan patients only) against the advice of the Association and Government, this may likely result in your insurance being void if a claim is raised against you during the period of which Government restrictions have been imposed.
This action may also come before our ethics committee as a breach of the association codes and may result in the termination of your membership.
You are encouraged to contact your association if you have any questions or are unclear about what restrictions apply to you in your jurisdiction.
Can my patients receive private health rebates for remote consultations?
No. At this stage, video/remote consultations conducted by myotherapists are not a rebatable private health insurance service.
We encourage you to clearly outline this when obtaining patient financial consent for remote consultations. MA also encourages members to clearly note this on your receipts for example this is not a rebatable private health insurance service.
In the interest of reducing the likelihood of confusion for patients receiving remote consultations, we strongly recommend providers remove their provider number from these receipts.
Decisions by government regarding video/remote consultations are rapidly evolving. We are in regular contact with the private health insurers to ask them to reconsider whether they will pay rebates for remote consultations.
What resources are there for my mental health/wellbeing?
Recognising that this is a difficult time for our members, MA want to remind members that it is important that you practice self-care and reach out if you are experiencing challenges in managing your mental health throughout these and other times. View mental health helplines here.
To our valued members
I sat here for a long time trying to find the best way to open this message to you. The truth is, I donât know how best to communicate the current situation across the world, Australia and Victoria.
First, be assured that all of us at MA continue to work hard to bring you the facts relevant to our members as soon as we can.
We appreciate that sometimes the changing nature of governmentâs response to the evolving Coronavirus situation can be difficult to understand, or apply to the real-life situations that each of us face every day.
Often, there are no black and white answers and you need to make a judgement call, based on your personal circumstances. We tell you where this is the case.
Right now, many of you are asking how the Victorian stage 4 restrictions apply to real-life situations and why seemingly arbitrary distinctions have been drawn between different allied healthcare practices.
We are working closely with agencies across the Victorian government to provide some more clarity to the situation for myotherapists.
We are keen that you help us advocate on your behalf â please send us your real life stories of how the current restrictions are impacting you, your patients and the medical system. We have provided some guidance here to assist you.
We are also liaising with other professional associations that represent healthcare and other small business organisations to bring a more unified voice to government and the situation.
We will update you as soon as we have further information. You can read more about how MA are working to support those members impacted by the Stage 4 lockdowns here, and be confident that we are prepared to provide this same level of support to all our members should the unfortunate situation arise that your state or territory be forced to increase lockdown measures.
In the meantime, please be patient and respectful with our staff. We are receiving unprecedented numbers of phone calls and emails and we have limited numbers of phone lines and a small team of staff are responding to phone calls and emails as soon as they can.
As a sole practitioner, I am feeling many of the same emotions that many of you are.
I want to reassure you again that we are here for you in these difficult times and doing everything we can to bring you factual information as soon as possible.
My kindest regards
Nick Steward
MA President and fellow myotherapist
Tuesday 11th August, 2020