Find out the most up to date info on coronavirus
Country SA PHN will continue to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and SA Health to relay relevant information to primary health care providers and provide support as required.
Delivering high quality care and safety to patients
Country SA PHN will continue to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and SA Health to relay relevant information to primary health care providers and provide support as required.
If you would like to received the COVID-19 Vaccine Update please email the Communications Team at comms.support@countrysaphn.com.au
Commonwealth funded respiratory clinics, supported by
Country SA PHN, have been established at six sites across country SA.
The Australian Government has established GP Led Respiratory Clinics around the country to support the assessment, testing and diagnosis of community members experiencing mild to moderate respiratory symptoms. Commonwealth funded respiratory clinics, supported by CSAPHN, are being established at six sites across country SA.
Find out below if there is a GP respiratory clinic in your region and how to book an appointment.
Respiratory Clinic
Respiratory Clinic - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients only
COVID-19 vaccine rollout
The Australian Government is expecting approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month, with a rollout to priority groups beginning mid-February. In addition to being able to administer the vaccine when available, healthcare professionals will also be able to receive the vaccine in the following rollout phases:
Phase 1a
Phase 1b
More information about the approved COVID-19 vaccine approach is outlined in:
The Department of Health developed a new vaccine website this website is regularly being updated with more information as it becomes available. Information will also be available in 63 languages.
Subscribe to the COVID-19 vaccines updates to ensure you receive the latest updates available on the website.
The Australian College of Nursing has been appointed to lead the development of the mandatory training materials for COVID-19 immunisation providers. Healthcare professionals will not be able to administer any COVID-19 vaccines without having first completed the training modules.
Country SA PHN continue to support practices and pharmacies with vaccine supply management.
Where possible, Country SA PHN will endeavour to obtain additional doses or redistribute excess vaccines.
Please note that Country SA PHN will largely only be able to seek supply solutions within other Primary Care clinics in Country SA, being other GP Vaccinating Clinics and Pharmacies.
Need support? Contact the COVID-19 Response Team
Support for Nurses
Supporting COVID and Respiratory Ready General Practice with supply of masks and other PPE (Living with COVID Program)
PPE Bundle & Pulse Oximeters Eligibility and Ordering: (IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
Please note that The Department of Health is offering PPE bundles to clinicians until 30 September 2022 who will be:
Clinics that meet the eligibility criteria, as above, and are requesting support with PPE Bundles and Pulse Oximeters will have their information available through Healthdirect and SA Health Websites.
Each clinician that is providing either of these services and requires PPE support is eligible to access 1 bundle per eligible clinician. PPE bundles that are intended to support approximately 4 weeks of COVID-19 positive patient consultations per clinical staff member. PPE requests and distributed bundles will be matched against patient caseloads and MBS applicable activity.
However, clinicians with an existing high COVID-19 caseload, or those who are in an identified COVID-19 hot spot or outbreak region, can apply for top up PPE or additional pulse oximeters, via CSAPHN as required.
The current SA Government COVID-19 care pathways means that the majority of COVID-19 positive patients are being cared for by the GPAT and CRCT. Therefore, the distribution of these PPE bundles is preparatory for seeing COVID-19 positive patients and full PPE kits should not need any restocking until your clinic is involved in care. However, it is expected that services seeing Respiratory Patients face to face will be using P2/N95’s and eye protection and will be supplied according to the guidelines.
PPE Order Form - General Practice Living with COVID Program
This order form is intended to supply approximately one month's supply of PPE per practitioner for GPs, ACCHSs and GPRCs willing to treat COVID positive patients face-to-face, until 30 September 2022. ACCHSs and rural and remote GPs willing to treat COVID positive patients virtually and respiratory patients face-to-face, where workforce capacity is limited and the GP is serving the community for most or all health needs, until 30 September 2022. Please complete all fields and submit the form to Country SA PHN by 12pm Friday.
PPE Order Form - Pulse Oximeters Living with COVID Program
This order form is to supply 10 pulse oximeters per practice managing COVID positive patients. Please complete all fields and submit the form to Country SA PHN by 12pm Friday.
Supporting General Practice with supply of masks and other PPE (those not participating in Living with COVID program)
To support general practices providing assessment and testing of patients with suspected COVID-19 and in recognition of the limited availability of commercial supplies, the Commonwealth Department of Health (DoH) and SA Health have been distributing PPE from National and State stockpiles via Country SA PHN to general practices with a demonstrated need across country SA.
All supplies remain very limited and allocation of all masks and other PPE items will continue to consider accessibility of commercial supplies, National and State distribution guidelines, demonstrated need, use within current guidelines and equitable access across our region.
Where your practice is running low of any masks or other PPE, please recomplete and submit the order form. Where available and there is evidence of use within current guidelines – Country SA PHN is supporting resupply.
PPE Order Form - Emergency Provision (General Practice, GP Respiratory Clinics, ACCHS)
Emergency Provision PPE can only be accessed where there is no local supply available commercially, or from another State or Territory government scheme, except for GPs and GPRCs treating respiratory patients face-to-face who are eligible to access P2/N95 and eye protection until 30 September 2022. Please complete all fields and submit the form to Country SA PHN by 12pm Friday.
Supporting Pharmacy with masks and face shields
The Australian Government is continuing to support the COVID-19 booster and vaccination program delivered in community pharmacy. To date, only surgical masks have been available to pharmacies via Primary Health Networks (PHNs). To provide extra support in the community pharmacy setting, the Australian Government will provide temporary additional access to personal protective equipment (PPE) from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS), comprising of P2/N95 respirators and eye protection (in the form of either goggles or face shields) for eligible pharmacists.
All supplies remain very limited and allocation of all masks and other PPE items will continue to consider accessibility of commercial supplies, National and State distribution guidelines, demonstrated need, use within current guidelines and equitable access across our region.
All pharmacists administering the COVID-19 vaccination program and applying for the PPE pharmacy bundle through the NMS are required to:
We need to advise you that compliance checks and audits of distributed PPE volumes may be undertaken using Australian Immunisation Register data. The Commonwealth have advised that anyone found to be breaching these obligations may be charged full cost for all stock and no further PPE provisions will be made.
Country SA PHN will be supporting pharmacies with available stock for N95/P2 respirators and eye protection/face shields using our existing process to access surgical masks until a national distributor is engaged early in 2022.
PPE Order Form - Pharmacy Living with COVID PPE Bundle
This order form is intended to supply approximately one month’s supply of PPE to each pharmacist administering COVID-19 vaccinations. Please complete all fields and submit the form to Country SA PHN by 12pm Friday.
Emergency Provision PPE can only be accessed where there is no local supply available commercially, or from another State or Territory government scheme.
All supplies remain very limited and allocation of surgical masks will continue to consider accessibility of commercial supplies, National and State distribution guidelines, demonstrated need, use within current guidelines and equitable access across our region.
PPE Order Form - Allied Health Emergency Response
Please complete all fields and submit the form to Country SA PHN by 12pm Friday.
Guides users through their quarantine, testing and/or symptom check requirements.
HealthCheck SA has been developed to protect South Australia and minimise the impact of COVID-19 once the state’s borders open.
If you are travelling to South Australia from interstate or overseas, you must complete an EntryCheck SA application. This will assess your risk and advise of any entry conditions and requirement to use HealthCheck SA. Depending on your level of risk, you may need to complete quarantine, testing and symptom check requirements using HealthCheck SA.
Download HealthCheck SA from the App Store or Google Play.
Supporting practices with the implementation of telehealth
CSAPHN are providing access to two telehealth platforms:
CSAPHN can provide support with registration, implementation and training.
Need support? Contact our Support Team
World-first 'living guidelines' for Australian healthcare professionals caring for people with COVID-19 have been launched by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce.
To report a suspected breach of quarantine or isolation orders, community are directed to contact:
NWMPHN has launched a new series of vaccination videos in 20 languages. The “Goodbye COVID” videos feature more than 60 volunteers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities speaking in their own language on why they’re getting vaccinated.
A COVID-19 Gateway, linking to relevant information on State and Federal government websites, has been established: https://www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
Please see our helpful resources below. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to covid19@countrysaphn.com.au.
Provides information and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) from an Australia wide perspective.
Offers local information and advice on general COVID-19 information for South Australians. Operates from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm every day.
Provides information on immunisations from medical officers.
Find information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time.
This service will be available from 5:00pm to 11:30pm, 7 days per week.
Virtual Support Network is a network of specialist services based locally in South Australia.
Check eligibility and apply for a Household Relief Loan Without Interest
Available Monday to Friday, except public holidays, from 8.30am to 6.00pm (AEST).
Coronavirus (COVID-19) mental health to support the community during this period. Life in Mind at Everymind has worked with the suicide prevention and mental health sectors.
12 month trial of a 24/7 support line has been established to provide assistance to GPs, palliative care teams, and medical and nursing staff.
Provides specialised advice regarding the care of a person with disability diagnosed with COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Offers a free and anonymous telephone service that provides senior Australians with the opportunity to chat with a volunteer. The services is available 24/7 between 10.00am and 8.00pm.
For mental health support by phone and video in relation to COVID-19, contact the SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line by calling 1800 632 753, available 8.00am to 8.00pm, 7 days a week.