COVID-19 support for businesses
COVID-19 financial support
COVID-19 vaccinations
As a business owner and employer, it's important for you to know your rights and obligations regarding vaccinations for your workplace and how to keep your employees safe.
Start a vaccination program in your business
The Australian Government's Vaccine Administration Partners Program (VAPP) Panel can help to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to your employees.
The VAPP gives you access to an Immunisation Provider (IProvider) who can administer COVID-19 vaccines and may be able to co-administer the flu vaccine at the same time.
To get started:
- find an IProvider to suit your business location
- discuss the costs involved
- enter into an agreement with the IProvider.
The Australian Government does not provide financial assistance for this program.
You can find more information about the VAPP on the Department of Health website or by contacting the VAPP team at VAPP@health.gov.au.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements in your state or territory
The requirements on vaccinations are different in each state and territory and for different industries, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest advice and requirements. Check your state or territory for more details:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia.
Some workplaces may still require mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 under their own applicable work, health and safety obligations. Employers should take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with any vaccination obligations.
Rapid antigen tests
Using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in your business
Before you start a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program in your business it's important to understand your legal obligations. Follow these steps to ensure you're complying with privacy, workplace safety and employer laws.
States and territories may have different recommendations for testing and reporting positive results based on their public health orders.
Stay up-to-date on the latest information on rapid antigen testing in your state or territory:
The two key types of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are:
- Point-of-care (PoC) tests - approximately $7-15 each, but must be performed under the supervision of a health practitioner, which may have more costs.
- Self-tests - ranging from $12-20 each, self-tests can be used unsupervised at home without the involvement of a health practitioner. The person performing the test interprets the results by themselves.
You can find more information about the different types of tests on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website:
- Learn more about COVID-19 point of care tests.
- Learn more about the COVID-19 rapid antigen self-tests that are approved in Australia.
- Point-of-care (PoC) tests can be purchased by contacting test suppliers (sponsors) directly. You can find a list of approved suppliers on the TGA website.
- Self-tests can be purchased online or in chemists and supermarkets. Find a list of approved products on the TGA website.
Be aware of scams
It's important to be aware of scams to protect yourself when purchasing rapid antigen tests. Here are some tips to help keep you safe from testing scams:
- Purchase rapid antigen tests from a trusted and legitimate business that can validate the standard of the tests.
- When purchasing from an online store, look for a URL that starts with “https” and a closed padlock symbol to show that information transmitted on that site is secure.
- Avoid paying up-front, via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card, or electronic currency like Bitcoin.
- Carefully check the messaging from your regular suppliers, as scammers may pretend to be a business you usually deal with. Verify any requests to change any payment arrangements by calling them on a known and trusted number.
- Get quotes from more than one supplier to help you work out the best price.
- Keep records of rapid antigen test delivery, specifications and user instructions.
Find out how to obtain approved COVID-19 rapid antigen tests on the TGA website.
The Australian privacy legislation has specific clauses relating to medical and health information. If you're considering PoC testing, it is important you know your legal requirements relating to data collection and relevant use of private health data.
Learn more about your data collection legal requirements on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.
Unless rapid antigen testing is required under a specific law such as a public health order or to comply with obligations under WHS laws, there is otherwise no general requirement for employers to implement a rapid antigen testing program into their workplaces.
It's important for employers to understand all of their legal and consultation obligations before implementing testing requirements for their employees. If you employ people you should consider getting legal advice to help you decide what is the best approach for your workplace.
Learn about employer obligations for rapid antigen testing on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
As a general rule, you should follow the instructions provided with your home use test on how to dispose of it. Some tests come with a plastic bag for placing the contents of the swab etc into before placing this in the household rubbish bin.
If you are testing at your business premises and disposing of a large number of tests, you may need to comply with your state or territory waste management rules.
Check with your state, territory and local governments for your waste management obligations and local services.
Rapid antigen tests are one way of monitoring and protecting your business against COVID-19, but it should not replace other measures such as hand sanitisers, masks and social distancing.
If you plan on introducing a rapid antigen testing program into your business, you should consider how it will fit with your overall COVID-19 emergency management plan.
Use our downloadable emergency management plan to help you work it out.
Buying and selling COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits
If your business buys or sells rapid antigen test kits there are certain laws you need to comply with.
Buying rapid antigen kits:
If you would like to import rapid antigen tests to use in your business operations or to sell in Australia, you'll need to ensure you are purchasing an approved product on the Australia Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Any rapid antigen tests that are imported for commercial supply must be the version manufactured and approved for the Australian market and not a parallel import. The tests must be on the ARTG, under the name of the supplier, prior to importation.
Failing to adhere to the Australian rules can result in penalties.
Learn more about the rules for importing rapid antigen tests on the TGA website.
Reporting a problem with testing kits your business buys
Problems or issues with a test can be reported back to the place where you purchased the test or to the supplier of the test through the customer support contact information provided in the instructions provided with the test.
You can also report the problem directly to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) through their online form.
Your supplier is required to report serious adverse events related to the use or performance of the device, and all complaints associated with false positive and false negative results to the TGA.
Selling rapid antigen test kits:
When you advertise the rapid antigen test kits your business sells, you must comply with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code.
Legally, your business cannot say or imply the advertised goods are approved or endorsed by the TGA or any other government authority.
Representations used in advertising that refer to COVID-19 must be approved or authorised by the TGA. The TGA has authorised legally-binding requirements for what advertisements for COVID-19 rapid antigen self-tests can and cannot say.
Find guidance on lawfully advertising COVID-19 rapid antigen tests for supply to consumers on the TGA website.
If you are selling rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits, you need to include GST in the price of these kits. This is because rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits are not a ‘medical aid or appliance’ that is listed in either Schedule 3 to the GST Act or the GST Regulations, so they’re not GST-free.
Learn more about the supply of medical aids and the appliances used for treating COVID-19 on the Australian Taxation Office website.
Businesses are free to set the prices of their products or services. Neither the ACCC or your local state or territory agency have roles in setting prices.
But the Australian Consumer Law does protect consumers from unconscionable conduct by businesses. This means you shouldn't exploit customers, especially if your product or service is critical to health or safety, such as rapid antigen testing kits.
Whilst there isn't a precise legal definition for unconscionable conduct, you should always ensure that your conduct isn't so harsh that it goes against good conscience.
Find the latest information on increasing product prices due to COVID-19 on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.
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