The NT Territory Government is creating 100 additional full-time frontline health workers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and keep Territorians safe.
The 100 full-time positions will be deployed across the Northern Territory to:
- Enable ongoing border screening of passengers arriving from interstate at NT Airports;
- Screen staff and visitors to NT Public Health facilities across the NT;
- Support management of mandatory supervised quarantine; and
- Conduct health tests and checks.
With the Australian Federal Police ceasing their screenings of incoming passengers to the Northern Territory from 31 July, NT Health will pick up this important function as part of the NT’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NT Health has already commenced working with NT Police and Australian Federal Police to facilitate this transition.
Staff will be deployed to quarantine facilities in both Darwin and Alice Springs to bolster the management of residents and undertake health checks to ensure any positive COVID-19 cases are identified early and transitioned into the care of a NT Health facility.
The workforce will be trained to be multi-skilled, to support testing and timely outbreak management contract tracing should the need arise.
As stated by Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles:
“Throughout this Public Health Emergency this Government has said we will do whatever it takes to protect Territorians.
“We’ve led the way on this since day one, being one of the first jurisdictions in Australia to take the significant steps needed to keep our vulnerable population safe.
“We know there is no vaccine, there is no cure, and COVID-19 has no end date. We are investing in our front line health workers now and making sure the Territory is protected.
“Our frontline health staff are integral to our response to COVID-19 and they have done an incredible job in trying times; these extra employees on our front line will go a long way in ensuring we stay a step ahead of the virus.”
