COVID-19 Student Update
Updated COVID Vaccination requirements for TAFE students
While most students and other visitors attending onsite (excluding paid or volunteer workers) are no longer required to show evidence that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, those undertaking placements must continue to adhere to the vaccination mandate that applies to their sector.
Pure Academy students: as an operating hair, beauty and massage facility to the public, Pure Academy will be following industry vaccination requirements where two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are required. Therefore, all students are required to show evidence that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Updated QR code and face mask requirements
QR code check-in requirements will no longer be in place for TAFEs, universities and other training and adult education providers. This includes hospitality venues such as cafes and restaurants that are on campus.
In addition, hospitality workers will no longer be required to wear face masks when working on site, unless they are a household contact permitted to work onsite.
Any students or staff members who wish to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Updated requirements for people who test positive for COVID-19
People who return a positive PCR or rapid antigen test for COVID-19, must continue to isolate for 7 days.
You must also notify SWTAFE if you were onsite during your infectious period (in the 48 hours prior to returning the positive result if you had no symptoms, or in the 48 hours before you first experienced symptoms of COVID-19), so SWTAFE can notify potentially exposed staff and students.
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their 7-day isolation period are not required to get tested or isolate/quarantine if re-exposed to a case within 12 weeks (previously within 8 weeks) of ending their isolation period.
If a recovered case develops new symptoms during the 12-week period, they should get tested for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses (for example, influenza) and remain at home until symptoms resolve. Those at high risk of severe disease should consider seeking advice from their primary care provider.
Updated rules for household contacts
Household contacts will no longer be required to self-quarantine if they follow these additional requirements for a period of 7 days.
- To continue working onsite at SWTAFE during this period, all household contacts will be required to wear a face mask indoors at work (and in all indoor settings when outside of your home) and conduct at least 5 rapid antigen tests over the course of the 7 days. These tests must be at least 24 hours apart.
- Household contacts must have returned a negative rapid antigen test prior to working on site, and must not work onsite if they return a positive rapid antigen test. If a household contact does test positive they must follow the checklist for cases, report their result and isolate for 7 days.
- Household contacts must notify SWTAFE that they are a household contact if they are attending during the household contact period.
- Household contacts must not visit a hospital or care facility. It is strongly recommended that household contacts also do not interact with members of their family or the community who may be at risk of severe disease from COVID-19, including the elderly.
Vaccinations are the key to staying well
Influenza (or ‘the flu’) is a highly contagious virus that causes widespread illness every year. The Victorian Department of Health recommends a flu shot as the best way to protect against the flu and reduce the spread of it during the coming months. Note that the flu vaccine cannot give you influenza as it does not contain any live virus.
If you are still awaiting your COVID vaccination or booster shot this can be administered at the same time as your flu vaccine. There is no requirement for a time interval between these vaccines.
Keep on keeping safe
Please remain vigilant with hand hygiene and feel free to wear a mask if you wish to add further protection.
For more information on current restrictions, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au. It is the single destination for all Victorian COVID-19 information and resources, including information about TAFE, university, training and adult education providers, apprentices and trainees, and health and wellbeing.
Regards,
Mark Fidge
CEO