National cabinet has agreed to include more workers to be exempt from COVID isolation to help ease the pressure on workforces and supply chains. 

It means thousands more people will now be allowed to return to work if they are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

Wondering if this includes you? Check out the full list of services and jobs put forward by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Health, welfare, care and support

• Healthcare, including allied health
• Dental care
• Therapy (e.g. physiotherapy, remedial massage, Eastern medicine, mental health support)
• Clinics/laboratories
• Blood/plasma donation
• Medical, pharmaceutical and health supplies (including PPE)
• Housing/homelessness support
• Welfare services
• Drug and alcohol services
• Disability/vulnerable persons support
• Residential aged care
• Veterinary, animal welfare and accommodation
• End of life services (including crematorium, cemetery, mortuary services)

Food, beverage and other critical goods

• Farming and agriculture
• Essential food, drink, groceries
• Pet/animal supplies
• Essential office supplies, newspapers, magazines
• Building and landscaping supplies
• Hospitality (for takeaway or food delivery)

Transport, freight and logistics

• Road, rail, air and sea transport services
• Transport operations
• Delivery services
• Distribution centres
• Port operations (including airports) and import/export
• Delivery services
• Post offices
• Passenger transport 
• Taxis and rideshare
• Removalist services
• Vehicle repairs and maintenance including disinfection, roadside assistance and towing
• Vehicle hire

Energy, resources and water, and waste management

• Energy supply (electricity, liquid fuels, gas)
• Water supply, sewerage, sanitation and drainage
• Supply of resources, including mining and FIFO workers
• Waste resource recovery (including collection, treatment, storage and disposal services)

Telecommunications, data, broadcasting and media

• Telecommunications services
• Journalism and media services for the provision of news or information to the public
• Broadcasting

Financial and insurance services

• Superannuation services
• Insurance services
• Other financial services

Education and childcare

• Education and schooling services
• Early childhood education and care
• Adult and higher education

Building and construction

• Urgent repairs or maintenance
• Completion of building or construction in progress, to the extent to ensure that construction sites are safe and stable
• Building and construction work to enable or support essential functions (e.g. health and quarantine facilities)

Emergency services, safety, law enforcement, justice and correctional services

• Police, fire and rescue, ambulance, and other emergency, safety and crisis response
• Defence and national security
• Operation of courts/tribunals, correctional centres
• Legal services

Essential research

• Research essential to public health, and Australia's society and economy
• Continuation of research that cannot be shut down and restarted
• Research involving clinical trials and animal facilities

Critical government functions, federal, state or local government and public works

• Administration of social benefits, workers compensation, child support, Medicare
• Conduct of elections
• Functions/requirements of Australian parliament
• Consular and diplomatic services
• Operation, inspection, maintenance of public property, land and infrastructure (e.g. roads)
• Regulatory activities

Accommodation and real estate

• Private inspections to facilitate new leases, end of lease, or the sale of a property
• Conduct of online auctions, and processing of sales and lease agreements.
• Accommodation for existing guests, essential workers, for welfare purposes, or for quarantine

Jobs that support the above categories

• Sourcing, production, manufacturing, processing, packaging, distribution of materials and products
• Administrative, regulatory, operational, logistical, communications, work health and safety, industrial relations, customer support
• IT support, cybersecurity, engineers, technicians, legal support, research
• Cleaners, installation, construction, maintenance, and repair (including plumbing, electricians, pest control, locksmiths, technicians)
• Provision of accommodation and food to those carrying out essential functions