BUSHkids Annual Report 2019-20

ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020

Note: corresponding documents in the evolving COVID-19 suite of guidelines also covered overlapping procedures such as ICT security requirements for the installation and use of ZOOM on BUSHkids equipment, as well as a comprehensive clinical/procedural guide on delivering BUSHkids services from home; these packages were both carefully and quickly integrated. Numbers of Risk Assessments were down from last year, mainly due to COVID-19 with staff unable to attend offsite Outreach, visit schools or run playgroups, etc. Together with the temporary closures of Centres and staff WFH during the height of the pandemic, numbers of Incidents were also fewer than the previous year.

In preparation for the return to work, the ‘Phase 2 – Back to BUSHkids our new Normal’ document was created. As the opening paragraph by CEO Carlton Meyn stated, ”this important document updates the organisational processes and procedures to be followed by all staff as we begin returning to work at our service centres across Queensland in our new COVID-19 world. This document outlines for staff our organisation’s new service delivery and operational processes to ensure our workplaces and work practises are healthy and safe for everyone.” BUSHkids’ Maintenance and Safety Coordinator worked closely with our admin staff, Line Managers and Team Leaders to ensure all locations had correct posters and signage in place, workstations met the 4m 2 space requirements, and appropriate stocks of PPE and sanitiser made available for staff. New sign-in sheets for visitors were created, with a series of COVID- related questions included, requiring a signed declaration of wellness. The sign-in sheets can also be used to trace who’s been in a Centre, should an active case of the virus come to be identified in the community. Cleaners were contacted and offices given thorough cleans before the staff returned to work, and nightly ‘mini- cleans’ were also reintroduced once Centres were reopened. Mental Health also became a popular topic of conversation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were all encouraged to talk about how we were feeling, and to stay fit and healthy so we could not only support ourselves and our families during the challenging times but also so we could continue to supporting our BUSHkids families. Managers and Team Leaders touched base with their staff every day while they were working from home, and we also had our very first ‘all-staff’ meetings (divided into 3 sessions) beaming live into staff members’ home offices – with the occasional pet pooch making a guest appearance in the background – it was fantastic! BUSHkids is well set up to continue the battle against the pandemic, should it take another turn for the worst, and we continue to strive to keep all staff, volunteers, clients and families we see in our Centres safe.

Questions such as the following were included in the checklist documents:  Do you have a segregated office space: for instance, a dedicated room for office use with closing door for privacy?  Walkways: clear of clutter and trip hazards?  Is there adequate lighting in the work area?  Do you have a comfortable ergonomic chair with 5-star castor base, adjustable height and back rest?  Desk height is at or just below elbow height?  Is a basic first aid kit easily accessible? To ensure clarity and coordination of messaging – both internally to staff and volunteers as well as externally to clients, co-providers and funders – sub-branded graphics were swiftly developed to differentiate between fast-evolving ‘news’ (government advisories and/or BUSHkids’ own operational developments) and ‘tips’ (our own advice to clients, including the resources described later in the ‘Wellbeing’ section of this report). These were used on documents and to identify the purpose of web and social media communications.

TOPIC SECTION 11 WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY C V D-19 AND BEYOND

Risk Assessments 2020

46 85

2019

2018

51

Incident Reports

2020 2019

42 64

2018

27

Staff travel was also affected by the pandemic, reflected by the kilometres travelled across the organisation.

161,740 km in 2018–19

147,807 km in 2019-20

During the Centres’ closures, many BUSHkids vehicles were placed into secure storage. With the vehicles idle for so long this presented a problem on how to keep the batteries charged. With all the vehicles having GPS tracking units installed and these requiring 24/7 battery power, issues did occur. Admin staff were asked to visit Centres to start the vehicles on a regular basis but it just wasn’t enough to charge the batteries and several failed and needed to be replaced. Many WHS policies and procedures needed changing, or new protocols developed to manage COVID-related situations in the workplace.

COVID-19 NEWS

COVID-19 TIPS