23 March, 2020

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council will immediately transition into a state-wide work from home program as part of its efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that we have a healthy workforce to support our LALC Network and Community.

The Council and its senior executive have today ramped up measures following the most recent directive from the Prime-Minister.

As a consequence, NSWALC CEO James Christian has announced the closure of all offices as of 5pm today. They are located in Parramatta, Gosford, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Dubbo, Canberra and Broken Hill. These arrangements will be in place until 20 April, 2020.

It is an unprecedented move designed to limit people’s movements during this critical time and best protect staff from the threat of the virus. Cross-contamination is now an escalating issue and as such, the NSWALC workforce has been grounded.

Like all organisations across the world at this current time, NSWALC has a social responsibility which it is taking seriously.

The Council and Executive remain committed to our staff and the servicing of the communities that rely on our support. All staff have been assured that their employment at NSWALC will not be jeopardised by COVID-19. The measures being taken today are in some way designed to ensure that.

NSWALC would like to assure the Network and its stakeholders that while our methods of operating will be somewhat different under a work-from-home model, our commitment to service delivery will in no way be diminished.

When the crisis phase is over, NSWALC we will be focussing on assisting the recovery in Aboriginal communities. Yarpa, NSWALC Employment and Training (NET) and NSWALC Housing Ltd (NHL) will be well placed to help with recovery in the areas of employment, economic development and prosperity for our people.

Over the coming weeks, some NSWALC staff will be tasked to work on its response to COVID-19 and to transition the workforce back to our offices when it is safe to do so.

Zone offices will be working with LALCs to minimise the burden of some reporting and compliance during this period. We will also be working on the release of the next quarter of funding to eligible LALC’s.

We will issue guidance materials and advice for LALC’s in relation to COVID-19 in the coming days. NSWALC are working in close partnership with the peak body for Aboriginal Medical Services the NSW Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council.

These are extraordinary times which require extraordinary measures. NSWALC is committed to keeping its workforce safe and playing its part of the broader community responsibility to combat the corona virus pandemic.

NSWALC urges everyone to please be vigilant and take care your family and friends over the coming weeks and months.