We're happy to say that visitors are welcome to Austin Health sites from Friday 25 June. However, some restrictions remain in place to limit the number of visitors each patient can have per day.
From 25 June:
- Each patient is able to have one visitor OR one group of visitors at a time
- Groups can be made up of up to two (2) adults or one adult plus children (under 16 years of age)
- Each patient can have a maximum of five (5) visitors per day
There will be two visiting periods each day:
Visitors do not have to be from the same household but those who have been to exposure sites or who have returned from hot spots interstate within the last 14 days are not permitted to visit (see below for more information).
Exemptions
Exemptions remain in place for:
- Patients who are receiving end-of-life, terminal phase care
- Patients who are children under the age of 18
- Patients who have a disability or behavioural needs where their carer is supporting clinical care.
Please discuss with your Nurse Unit Manager or care team to confirm if you are eligible.
You must maintain a physical distance of 1.5 meters from others and wear a mask when inside our hospitals.
Contact a ward
To speak to a ward, call our Switchboard on 03 9496 5000.
Specialist clinics (outpatient) appointments
Where possible, Specialist Clinics (outpatient) appointments are being held by phone or Telehealth, rather than in person.
You will be contacted before your appointment to let you know if it will be conducted by phone or Telehealth. Please attend as normal unless told otherwise.
Patients who are required to attend face to face appointments are requested to come alone where possible.
One carer may remain if a patient:
You must maintain a physical distance of 1.5 meters from others and wear a mask when inside our hospitals.
- is a child under 18 years old
- has a disability
- has a behavioural need
- is non-English speaking and requires assistance with translation.
- is physically frail
- requires psychological support.
Find out more about attending your Specialist Clinics appointment.
Visitors from exposure sites
The Victorian Government has a list of identified COVID-19 exposure sites that can be found here.
If you have visited any of these sites then please follow the COVID testing and isolating instructions relevant to the exposure site/s (Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3) you have visited.
The traffic light system is also still in place to help keep the community safe during COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks across Australia. If you have been to a:
- Red zone: You may not visit our sites
- Orange zone: You may only visit our sites once you have completed your mandatory self-isolation period and have received your negative COVID-19 test result
- Green zone: You are welcome to visit our sites.
Find out the latest information on which areas in Australia are red, orange or green zones on Victorian Travel Permit System.
Screening
We are screening all visitors and outpatients entering Austin Health buildings, and have limited the number of entrances that people can use.
Find out more about screening points for visitors and patients.
You can help us to speed up the screening process by completing our Visitor Registration form before coming to hospital.