Welcome to YMAC’s dedicated COVID-19 coronavirus webpage.
This page contains current health and safety measures being undertaken by YMAC, as well as general information and links to trusted sources of government and community information with a focus on Aboriginal people and communities.
The health and safety of YMAC clients, staff and community remains a priority. This means, in some situations, YMAC may opt to maintain higher health and safety standards than those required by the State Government.
Please read further to learn about YMAC’s current COVID-19 health and safety measures.
If you need clarification about any of the information on this page, please call us during business hours on 1800 270 709.
Visiting YMAC offices or attending YMAC meetings
The below measures are currently in place for attending any of YMAC’s offices and meetings we coordinate.
Mask-wearing
Staff and visitors are not currently required to wear a face mask when attending YMAC offices. Masks will, however, be available upon request to visitors, if this helps them to feel more comfortable in face-to-face meetings.
Signing-in
While YMAC is no longer required to maintain a COVID-19 contact register, we have introduced a new visitor register to all our offices to ensure we remain compliant with the Work, Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA). We appreciate your cooperation in filling in this register when visiting our offices.
Many staff in Perth and our regional offices are opting to work from home or may be required to work in isolation for a short time, due to being deemed a close contact with a COVID-19 case. For this reason, we strongly recommend calling ahead if you are planning to drop into a YMAC office to see a staff member. All YMAC staff are available through email, phone or online meetings.
We request that everyone continues to follow safe hygiene practices (e.g. hand-sanitising, maintaining a social distance of 1.5m, keeping surfaces clean, coughing into elbows etc).
Proof-of-vaccination
Visitors to our offices are not currently required to provide proof-of-vaccination when visiting YMAC offices or attending YMAC-coordinated meetings.
Community information
Vaccinations
The government continues to promote the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations and ensuring that your vaccinations are up-to-date.
Vaccinations are free for everyone. Read more information on vaccinations, including where to get the jab. However, as information is constantly changing, we encourage you to ask your local health provider if you are unsure about getting the jab, or where to go to make it happen.
COVID-19 testing
The State Government continues to recommend testing for anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms. Learn more about symptoms for current variants of COVID-19, such as Omicron.
The free RAT program for Western Australians continues. Read more information and details on registration, including specific information for regional residents.
Remote Aboriginal communities directions
From 15 June 2022, the State Government announced that Directions to restrict access to remote Aboriginal communities will be removed, given the wider spread of COVID-19 across the state. The lifting of the ban is intended to allow communities to continue their operations in areas such as tourism, community stores, arts and cultural centres.
The State Government has also announced it will continue to work with, and support, the communities to facilitate them through the transition in a way that is best suited to their unique circumstances, as some communities may choose to still apply their own restrictions.
The information contained in this update is current as of 3 June 2022.
As information from the government changes regularly (often daily), we encourage you to check government websites for updated information.
Useful links
The following links are useful resources to provide you with the latest information and advice to keep yourself safe:
Related announcements from other organisations can be found here:
Closure of Gun Shops (No2) Direction – Aboriginal person entitled to exercise a native title right to hunt
The following can be used by Traditional Owners to support their right to exercise native title rights:
Country is our mother, the provider and keeper of cultural belongings. Country and Culture go together. You can’t have one without the other.
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians throughout Western Australia, and on whose Country we work. We acknowledge and respect their deep connection to their lands and waterways.
We honour and pay respect to Elders, and to their ancestors who survived and cared for Country.
Our offices are located on Whadjuk Country, Southern Yamatji Country, Yinggarda Country, Kariyarra Country, and Yawuru Country. We recognise the continuing culture, traditions, stories and living cultures on these lands and commit to building a brighter future together.
Disclaimer: Caution: Please be advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.
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