Who can visit people in care facilities?

No visitors are permitted at care facilities, unless an exception applies. Exceptions apply in limited circumstances.

You may only visit a care facility for the following excepted reasons:

  • if the resident is under 18 years of age – you are a parent, guardian or temporary carer of that resident
  • as a nominated person under the Mental Health Act 2014
  • for providing essential care and support that is necessary for the resident’s immediate physical or emotional wellbeing
  • for providing interpreter or informal language support to enable the care team to provide care
  • for learning to support a resident’s care upon discharge
  • for providing end-of-life support to a resident of the facility (subject to visitor limits).

Despite these exceptions, you will not be allowed to visit a care facility if you:

  • are awaiting a COVID-19 test result (unless you are being tested in accordance with the Surveillance Testing Industry List and Requirements)
  • are unwell with any symptoms of COVID-19 or have a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, or any symptoms of a fever such as night sweats or chills
  • have arrived in Australia within the last 14 days, unless you have come from a green travel zone via a ‘quarantine-free flight’
  • have had known contact in the past 14 days with a person who was a confirmed case of COVID-19, or are self-isolating and have not yet been given clearance to exit
  • have visited a Tier 1 exposure site and have been advised to immediately isolate, get a COVID-19 test, and remain isolated for 14 days.
  • are self-isolating and have not yet been given clearance to exit
  • are under 16 years, except if your presence is for the purpose of providing end of life support for a resident and:
    • you are a child, grandchild, sibling, or have a kinship relation to the resident; or
    • you are a child or dependant of a permitted visitor and the visitor cannot access alternative care arrangements; or
    • you have permission from the hospital and the Chief Health Officer.

For more information, please visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/visiting-care-facilities