In line with the revised Department of Health & Human Services Residential Aged Care Restrictions, the only exemptions to this decision will be in the following situations:

• Parent/guardian of a resident who is a minor: Where the resident is aged under 18 years—the visitor is the parent or guardian of the resident or has temporary care of the resident (very few limits)
• ‘Normal’ visitors: Where the visitor is the parent, guardian, partner, carer or support person of the resident, and the person's visit is for the purpose of providing emotional, cultural, spiritual or social support to the resident that cannot reasonably be provided by that person via electronic or other non-contact means (1 visitor at any time, once per day for max 2hrs)
• Essential care persons: Visitor’s presence at the facility is for the purposes of providing essential care and support necessary for the resident's physical wellbeing that optimises the care and support delivered by workers at the facility and cannot reasonably be provided by that person via electronic means (1 visitor, no time limits)
• Essential behaviour assistance person: Visitor’s presence at the facility is necessary to support individual behaviours of concern, such as for people living with dementia, cognitive impairment or cognitive disability, or who have a known or emerging serious mental illness (no time limits)
• Interpreters or informal language support (no time limit)
• Visitor is being assisted to handover care for discharge (max 2 hrs)
• Visitor is viewing facility as a potential site to live in (max 2 hrs)
• End of life – 2 visitors, no time limit

If you believe you meet the above exceptions, please call us on 0429138978 to make a time to visit.

Until we are clear on the situation in Shepparton and the wider surrounds, we feel this is the responsible approach given the full extent of the outbreak is unknown and still unfolding.

Please note, this visitor update supersedes previous visitor policies and comes into effect immediately to ensure the safety of residents, staff and visitors to our homes. We strongly seek your assistance in cooperating with these directives in light of the changing situation in the community.

If you have visited Shepparton Villages prior to today, we urge you to please check the nominated community hotspots as listed by the Department of Health and Human Services and follow the advised procedures. Please contact us if you have visited Shepparton Villages and are deemed to be a close contact.

We thank you for your patience and we will keep you updated of this change as more information comes to hand.