Community Supported Accommodation For Wentworth
NSW Health is establishing Community Support Accommodation (CSA) in Wentworth to assist the close contacts of people with COVID-19 to isolate safely and effectively, if they cannot do so at home.
The CSA will consist of a community of motorhomes established at the council-owned Wentworth Showgrounds, with associated infrastructure to support it.
This option provides a respectful, comfortable and appropriate environment for Wentworth residents to safely isolate in line with Public Health Orders. It is modelled on the successful implementation of the CSA at Wilcannia to support that community during the pandemic.
Up to 10 motorhomes, and supporting infrastructure, will be redeployed from Wilcannia CSA to establish the Wentworth CSA. The facility is planned to be operational from Monday, 11 October 2021.
Each motorhome has living and bedroom accommodation, kitchen, toilet, a shower, and radio/television, along with heating and cooling. The campervans are well insulated to cater for the variable weather in Far Western NSW. CSA residents will be supported with food and linen.
The Wentworth CSA is being implemented in consultation with Health Infrastructure, Far West LHD, the Wentworth Shire Council, Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) which includes representatives of the Aboriginal community and the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
Throughout the pandemic the NSW Government has provided temporary accommodation options for people, including staff and community members, who need to self-isolate out-of-home to help protect their loved ones and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.
The establishment of the Wentworth CSA using motorhomes from Wilcannia, will leave 20 motorhomes remaining there. The partial drawdown of resources in Wilcannia CSA supports NSW Health plans to support other communities in the Far West as required, in a timely and appropriate way.