15 August 2021

Dear Residents and Families and Friends

I am writing to advise you that yesterday evening I received notification that a staff member at our Queens Park Aged Care Home has been identified as a tier 1 close contact of a COVID19 positive person.  Fortunately, the staff member was tested on Friday 13 August 2021 and returned a negative test result.

There is no need to be alarmed as we do not have any staff or residents at Queen Park who have signs or symptoms of COVID-19. There is no outbreak at Queens Park nor at any Doutta Galla Home.

For the ongoing protection of our residents and staff Doutta Galla has activated its emergency management plan as a precautionary response. Our staff have been trained, and are monitoring, to ensure the highest standard of infection control practices are in place.

Residents will be closely monitored and twice daily COVID screening of each resident will be undertaken. Staff have already commenced wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to you or your family member.

As part of our COVID19 pandemic response, Doutta Galla has been actively supporting the COVID19 vaccination program for both our residents and staff. 93% of our residents at Queens Park are fully vaccinated, and 90% of Queens Park staff are vaccinated, including a further 6% who are booked into receive the vaccination. The close contact staff member is fully vaccinated. The Home was scheduled to host a further vaccination round on Monday 16 August 2021, however this will now be rescheduled.

Our staff have been briefed and are committed to the ongoing care and support of our residents, and arrangements are in place for all residents and staff to be tested this morning. Until the test results are completed, and results known, we will encourage residents at Queens Park to remain in their rooms.

As you know Doutta Galla continues to maintain strong Home entry protocols, requiring staff and emergency visitors or contractors to be temperature checked and to sign a health attestation.  We will continue with our enhanced cleaning protocols. Additional staff have been brought into the to support the home as we continue to provide the highest standard of care and support to our residents.  All of these measures are part of our emergency management precautionary response.

We will advise you immediately of any changes to your family member’s, health status, however if you have an enquiry or concern about your family member, please call Queens Park on 03 9372 8895. In addition, we have an email address where you can send any questions, comments or concerns related to COVID-19. The email address is covid19questions@dgas.org.au.

If you or your family would like more support during this time, please reach out to OPAN (Older Persons Advisory Network) on 1800 237 981.  They are available 6am-10pm, 7 days a week.  The other organisation that can assist you is Elder Rights Advocacy Victoria who can be reached on

1800 171 866 for support and advice.

We will keep in touch on a regular basis to inform you of any changes to your loved one’s status.

Yours sincerely,

Vanda Iaconese

Vanda Iaconese CEO