Even though the state reopened to double-jabbed people Monday, it is still weeks before a government app update to verify New South Wales residents' vaccination status.
Victor Dominello (NSW digital minister) confirmed that a new update to the Service NSW app was being tested. This app allows people to check in to venues and also checks a person's vaccination status.
2. Timing - We are currently consulting the industry. We are looking to have closed pilots with between 100 and 500 people in regional NSW by 6 October.
3. Follow the pilots. As NSW reopens in October, we are currently working towards a state-wide rollout (@VictorDominello). September 22, 2021
The trial began this week in NSW with participants from the internal government. It will be continued with 500 employees and customers from selected clubs, aged care facilities, and taxi companies starting Monday 11 October.
Charles McHardie (Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Transformation Projects at Services Australia) told the Senate Covid Committee last month that the app will now display a green tick when someone checks in to a venue if they are fully vaccinated.
The state-based apps will contain a version of the vaccination certificate, which will be identical to ours. There is also a QR code authentication option that sits on it. States can then decide if they want to add any additional authentication capabilities to paper-based certificates they wish to offer.
Service NSW spokesperson said that the pilot would last for two weeks and be used to verify connectivity and security between Service NSW's app and the Australian Immunisation Register.
A privacy toggle will allow people to choose whether or not they want to show their vaccination status.
Service NSW could access the register only at the end of the last month. However, a spokesperson for Services Australia said that there was no delay as federal and state agencies have been working together since mid-August to create the app.
Services Australia provided the development work required to begin systems integration testing in September. The spokesperson stated that there was no delay.
Service NSW has worked closely with us to make sure everything was ready for the pilot check-ins on 6 October.
McHardie stated late last month, that the system changes at Services Australias end were made and integration testing was ongoing. There are enhancements, such as to show people who have been exempted from vaccinations being worked on, McHardie added.
He said that we aim to have this capability ready in a few weeks, but all other things are good to go.
A spokesperson for Service NSW stated that the department would coordinate the app rollout with state governments' reopening plans.
Customers can use the Service NSW app to quickly and easily prove their vaccination status when they check in at a business location.
The app will allow people to confirm their vaccination status by using their Express Plus Medicare app.
Guardian Australia reported previously that the flaw in the app allowed for quick falsification of vaccination certificates. This is an on-device flaw. The federal government's record has not been altered. Therefore, the Service NSW app would display the same status as the federal government record.
McHardie didn't say whether the flaw was fixed. However, Rebecca Skinner, chief executive of Services Australia, said that if an event is concerned about a forgery, they can call to verify.
We would recommend that a facility with high assurance that someone is vaccinated call us. If they consent, we will be able to support them in attesting to that person's vaccination status.
Victoria could be next, according to Danny Pearson, assistant treasurer. Pearson told reporters that the government would soon have more to share about changes to the Service Vic App app.
If a person does not have a smartphone or is not interested in using the apps, they can request a paper certificate from AIR to be presented instead. According to department officials, it could take as long as 14 days for paper certificates to reach the Senate Covid committee. The department sent 167,000 paper certificates in September alone.
The consent to provide vaccine certificates to state-based apps lasts 12 months. However, the public health orders for each state will determine how long Australians will need to continue to be vaccinated.
NSW no longer requires proof of vaccination starting 1 December under public health orders.
