Personal Protective Equipment

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is currently not issuing emergency supplies of PPE as per official guidelines. This may change in the future. To view the guidelines, visit the Department of Health website.

View the current Department of Health guidance for distribution of PPE through PHNs Tranche 4 and Tranche 5.

Primary health care employers may need to work with a variety of commercial PPE suppliers, beyond their traditional suppliers. This will ensure adequate PPE stock levels are available and maintained, enabling safe and effective infection prevention and control.

• For Australian Government information on intended use of eye protection, use, and reuse of eye protection including cleaning and disinfection, and further information, view the Tranche 5 eye protection guidance for general practices, including Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services, and for allied health practitioners in Queensland.
• The Australian Department of Health Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) has updated the COVID-19 Guidance on the use of PPE by health care workers in areas with significant community transmission.
• Queensland Health has produced guidance documents for clinicians relating to PPE.  Clinicians should use this information to keep patients safe, and to reduce and rationalise the use of PPE.
• Please read the Department of Health’s information on the use of surgical masks here.
• Watch the Wearing personal protective equipment in aged care video by Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.
• There are also informative demonstration videos from the Tasmanian Government on how to use and fit PPE.
• For more advanced education and training for infection control portfolio holders within private facilities, please refer to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care e-learn modules on the principles of infection prevention and control.