COVID-19 Student Update

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 / Coronavirus Student Updates

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has this morning announced that a range of restrictions will ease across Victoria from midnight tonight, and the following now applies for the next two weeks:

primary and secondary schools return tomorrow
5km radius from your home has been lifted
five reasons to leave home no longer apply
no visitors or gatherings allowed at home for another two weeks
cafes and restaurants can open for seated service
retail and beauty will open with density limits as well as entertainment and community venues
public gatherings will be allowed with up to 10 people
live music venues and gyms will open with density requirements of 1 person per 4sqm
maximum of 50 people permitted at weddings and funerals
no crowds at sport and no large crowds
masks are will still be required everywhere indoors and outdoors, except for private residences

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has advised that while the lockdown will be lifted, there are still thousands of Victorians in quarantine and people will need to remain vigilant to stay on top of this highly infectious Delta variant.

That means COVIDSafe behaviours like checking in everywhere, every time, wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, and getting vaccinated when you’re eligible will remain key as we cautiously open up again.

How does the change in restrictions impact training delivery at SWTAFE

For higher education and training, the Victorian Government has advised if you can study from home you should continue to study from home.

SWTAFE is therefore carefully planning the next two weeks, with the aim of all courses returning on-site after the next announcement due on Tuesday 10 August.

From tomorrow (Wednesday 28 July) the following classes will be returning to onsite delivery as per timetable:

Pre-apprenticeships (Carpentry)
All apprentices (as per timetable)
EAL classes
All VET DSS & school-based apprentices
VCAL
Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
Diploma of Accounting
Certificate III in Accounts Administration
Certificate III in Information Technology
Certificate III in Tourism
All visual art classes (Warrnambool and Colac)

Next week (from Monday 2 August) the following classes will be returning to campus as per timetable:

Pre-apprenticeships (Carpentry, Electrical, Furniture Making and Automotive)
Certificate IV in Disability
Certificate III in Individual Support
Certificate II in Horticulture – Hamilton & Sherwood
Certificate IV in Wool Classing
Certificate II, III, and IV in Agriculture – Colac & Noorat
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery – Warrnambool
Diploma of Travel and Tourism
Short courses as timetabled (except for first aid courses)
Training within workplaces will recommence for Bakery, Butchery and Hospitality courses

From Monday 2 August, NDIS only programs will return to on-campus through South West Disability Services (SWDS) including Producers, Motivators, Ladies Lifestyle, Vortex, CLS, Triple J’s, LCA and Healthy Living.

Please note that our Disability courses (Certificate I in Transition Education, Certificate I & II in Work Education and Certificate I Initial Adult and Literacy) will remain in a home learning environment for the next two weeks.

Student support/NDIS supports can be arranged for those who are unable to remain at home during this time for remote learning. Please contact Disability Services on (03) 5564 8720 - disability.support@swtafe.edu.au to discuss your individual support requirements.

Students wishing to access Webex tutoring support during these times may submit a request via https://www.swtafe.edu.au/about-us/contact-us.

All other classes will remain as remote learning (from home) unless you receive direction from your teacher to come on campus for any required practical classes.

Does everyone have to wear a face mask?

As outlined in today’s update, the wearing of a face mask remains compulsory when you are outside your home. Masks play an important part in our defence against the virus and play a huge role in slowing its spread. In an education setting, compliance with face mask wearing is critical.

All staff and students must wear face coverings at all times when on campus.
Teachers are not required to wear face coverings during course delivery, but they must be worn at all other times on campus, and where 1.5 metres physical distancing cannot be maintained in class.

Keep keeping COVIDSafe

As always, we encourage all of you to continue to follow the guidelines that keep us all COVIDSafe – particularly given how infectious the Delta variant is.

We will provide you with timely updates as future announcements (in regard to restrictions and their impact on our education delivery) are made by The Victorian Government.

Best regards,
Mark Fidge
CEO