Year: 2022

11 February 2022

We are very pleased to confirm that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to all areas of Whiddon Casino as of Monday, 14 February 2022. The COVID-19 outbreak is now considered over.

We thank you for your incredible efforts and dedication during the outbreak. It was great to see everyone working as a team to come together to support the wonderful people we care for, their families, and each other. Your commitment and efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and we are very appreciative of everything you have done. We know it has been a challenging time.

Please note that we will be asking visitors to wear an N95 mask and a face shield and complete a rapid antigen test when visiting. Visiting hours will be between 9am and 6pm daily. Visits after hours may be requested through our team and approved by the management team. Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitor aged 12 years and over, per day and visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms or a designated area. Bookings for visits are also required.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test when you arrive on shift. Social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please also monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if you are unwell.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot if eligible and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you once again for your amazing efforts.

11 February 2022

We are very pleased to confirm that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to all areas of Whiddon Casino as of Monday, 14 February 2022. The COVID-19 outbreak is now considered over and we do not have any residents that are now required to isolate.

Visits must be pre-booked through our administration team. We will be asking visitors to wear an N95 mask and a face shield and complete a rapid antigen test when visiting. Please note that we are also encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Visiting hours will be between 9am and 6pm daily. Visits after hours may be requested through our team and approved by the management team.

Please find the current visitation guidelines below:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitor aged 12 years and over, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms or a designated area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at
• least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you soon.

Please also find a letter from the Chief Medical Officer for families of residential aged care residents regarding the COVID-19 booster.  Click here to read the letter.

10 February 2022

We have been advised that another staff member has tested positive to a Rapid Antigen Test. All residents have continued to test negative to COVID-19.

Based on the advice of the local Public Health Unit, visitation does remain limited to compassionate grounds or for essential caring only. Please speak to the Director Care Services directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

Our team is committed to keeping you connected with your loved ones wherever possible, via video and phone calls at this time. If you would like to book in a phone or video call with your loved one, please speak to our team.

We will provide a further update to you soon and we thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support.

9 February 2022

We are very pleased to advise you that the COVID-19 outbreak at Whiddon Laurieton is now over. This is welcome news.

As a result, we are now in the position to welcome two fully vaccinated visitors per resident per day, and increase our visitation hours to between 11am and 2pm daily.

We do ask that you stay vigilant at this time and follow our visitation guidelines listed below. All visits must be pre-booked.

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits. Our current visitation hours are now between 11am and 2pm daily
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements
• Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued understanding and support.

9 February 2022

We are very pleased to let you know that all residents at Whiddon Kyogle have tested negative to COVID-19. This is welcome news.

Visitation does remain limited to compassionate grounds or for essential caring only, as a precaution at this time, and on the advice of the local Public Health Unit. Please speak to the Director Care Services directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

Our team is committed to keeping you connected with your loved ones wherever possible, via video and phone calls at this time. If you would like to book in a phone or video call with your loved one, please speak to our team.

We will provide a further update to you soon and we thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support.

9 February 2022

We are pleased to confirm that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Grafton as of tomorrow, Thursday 10 February.

Visits must be pre-booked through our administration team. We will be asking visitors to wear an N95 mask and a face shield and complete a rapid antigen test when visiting. Please note that we are also encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

As our visitor restrictions are relaxed, we have implemented a number of important precautionary measures for visiting at this time. Visiting hours will be between 10am and 2pm on weekdays. Visits on weekends and after hours may be requested through our team. 

Please find the current visitation guidelines below:

• Residents are permitted to have one fully vaccinated visitor aged 12 years and over, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms or a designated area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you soon.

9 February 2022

We are pleased to advise you that as of today, residents in the Cedar (West) wing who had tested positive to COVID-19 are no longer required to isolate in their rooms. However, they will be required to limit their movement at this time, to an area that has been set up with lounge, dining and courtyard facilities for them to enjoy.

Residents on the first floor of Whiddon Casino (Lindwall Wing) and in the Cedar (East) wing have already been able to freely move about the care home.

We are now awaiting confirmation from the local Public Health Unit as to when we may be able to welcome back visitors. In preparation for this, we wanted to let you know that visitors will be required to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry. We are also asking that visitors are over the age of 12 at this time, and fully vaccinated.

We hope to be in the position by the end of the week to advise you as to when visitors may be able to return to Whiddon Casino.

We thank you for your ongoing patience, support and understanding.

8 February 2022

Dear Whiddon resident and families,

We want to advise you of an important change regarding our supply pharmacy.

As part of our continuous quality improvement program, Whiddon Easton Park will be implementing a new medication management system. This exciting new system will commence on Monday 28 February and is provided by Lane Cove Advantage Pharmacy.

The Medication Management System was developed after extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Aged Care Consultants, Doctors, Registered Nurses, Care Staff and Pharmacy Staff. The system was designed after reviewing many other medications systems and receiving feedback about existing systems and suggestions for improvement.

The system offers many benefits including:

• Automated Sachet Packaging
• Simplicity
• Minimal Manual Handling of Medication
• Time Saving for Nursing Staff
• Time Saving for Doctors
• Flexibility
• A System That is User Friendly

Lane Cove Advantage Pharmacy offers a complete Medication Management System for Residential Care Facilities offering consistency and peace of mind. There will be no cost to residents and their families for this new system, standard prescription costs will apply.

We will be making contact with each of you by either email, post or in person about these impending changes in the coming days, to provide you with details around this pharmacy.

We will provide contact details for the pharmacy in forthcoming communications in the case that you may have any questions regarding the new pharmacy.

Warm Regards,

Whiddon Easton Park Management

8 February 2022

Further to our update to advise you that a resident at Whiddon Hornsby had tested positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing, we are pleased to advise you that their follow-up PCR tests have returned negative results. This means that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Hornsby. This is welcome news.

Please note that visits must be pre-booked through our administration team.

We will be asking visitors to wear an N95 mask and a face shield and complete a rapid antigen test when visiting Please also note that we are encouraging visitors to get their booster vaccine if they are eligible to do so.

Please find the current visitation guidelines below:

• Residents are permitted to have one fully vaccinated visitor aged 12 years and over per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and must take place in residents’ rooms
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements.
• Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you soon.

8 February 2022

Further to our update to you yesterday, the follow-up COVID-19 testing of all residents at Whiddon Beaudesert Star that was due to take place today has been postponed. The pathology provider has confirmed that this will now take place tomorrow.

Please call us on 07 5542 4700 if you wish to discuss any concerns or if you have any questions.