SANTS Response To Coronavirus COVID-19

South Australian Native Title Services response regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 Monday 16/3/20South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) has continued to monitor and consider advice from authorities on appropriate action in response to the Coronavirus.Our priority is to strive to ensure the wellbeing of our clients, the communities we partner with and our staff. We are particularly mindful that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are identified as a vulnerable group. We will also act in a way that we believe will best contribute to the health of the wider community.To follow is SANTS’ current position on our operations in light of the Coronavirus pandemic:TravelSouth Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) has taken the difficult decision to cancel all staff travel plans due to the Coronavirus (COVID-10) pandemic, effective today Monday 16 March 2020.No SANTS staff member will be allowed to travel outside of the Adelaide CBD on SANTS business until further notice.Community MeetingsThis means that our staff can not attend many planned upcoming community meetings. Most smaller meetings to be held in the Adelaide CBD can continue as planned.Wherever possible we will proceed with meetings through teleconferencing or other measures that do not require physical attendance.We sincerely regret any impact that this may have on community plans and will communicate with groups affected to allow them to consider their activities in the light of this decision.Staff locationAt present, the SANTS office will remain open and SANTS staff will work from the office.SANTS staff will continue to be advised on hygene and best practices for prevention of the spread of the virus.OtherThe SANTS management team will continue to meet on the COVID-19 situation and implement changes to our operations as needed.

In making decisions we are informed by expert opinion from the World Health Organisation, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the Federal Department of Health and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) among others. We will ensure we act consistently with any relevant legislation related to this public health situation.If you have any queries please contact SANTS on santss@nativetitlesa.org or (08) 8110 2800Keith ThomasCEO, SA Native Title Services