Contact Us Join Login
07/08/20

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment - Victoria

The Australian Government recently announced the introduction of a $1500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for those people living in Victoria who are unable to access any income because they need to self-isolate or quarantine.

This payment is only applicable to people living in Victoria, it does not apply to people living in South Australia.

To be eligible to receive the disaster payment individuals must be:

  • At least 17 years of age
  • Living in the state of Victoria
  • Unable to work
  • Have no sick leave entitlements, including pandemic sick leave

The payment is not available to those individuals who are in receipt of:

  • JobKeeper Payment
  • Income from paid work
  • Income support payments, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Paid Personal Leave or Dad and Partner Pay
  • The Victorian Coronavirus (COVID-19) Worker Support Payment[1]

The Australian Government have not at this stage announced any form of paid pandemic leave disaster payment being rolled out in any other states or territories outside Victoria.

Paid Pandemic Leave – Nurses Award, Aged Care Award & Health Professionals Award

The Fair Work Commission recently handed down a variation to the Nurses Award 2010, Aged Care Award 2010, and Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 with the introduction of paid pandemic leave into these Awards.

A new temporary Schedule Y – Industry Specific Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic was inserted into these Awards which operates from 29 July 2020 until 29 October 2020.

The variation allows for full-time, part-time and eligible casual employees to take up to 2 weeks’ paid pandemic leave on each occasion the employee is prevented from working (including working from home) because;

  • The employee is required by government or medical authorities to self-isolate or quarantine;
  • The employee is required by their employer to self-isolate or quarantine;
  • The employee is required on the advice of a medical practitioner to self-isolate or quarantine because they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or have come into contact with a person suspected of having contracted COVID-19;
  • The employee is in isolation or quarantine while waiting for results of a COVID-19 test; or
  • Of measures taken by government or medical authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are no paid pandemic leave provisions under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 or any other Modern Awards at this stage.

Unpaid Pandemic Leave – Hospitality Award, Restaurant Award & Retail Award

Temporary unpaid pandemic leave provisions exist in numerous Modern Awards including the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, Restaurant Industry Award 2020 and General Retail Industry Award 2010.

The temporary unpaid pandemic leave provisions under Schedule X – Additional measures during the COVID-19 pandemic under these awards operate until 30 September 2020.  

Under Schedule X of the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 any employee is entitled to take up to 2 weeks’ unpaid leave if the employee is required by government or medical authorities or on the advice of a medical practitioner to self-isolate and is consequently prevented from working, or is otherwise prevented from working by measures taken by government or medical authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

For more information on pandemic leave provisions Members can contact Owen, Didier or Gary at the AHA|SA office.

 

 

 

[1] See - www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/news/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-victoria

Read previous article
Read next article