CEB Staff Newsletter #34 - 1 Oct 2021

Immediate Lockdown for Moorabool Shire LGA

In today’s Victorian press conference, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the Moorabool Shire LGA will enter a 7 day lockdown at 11.59pm tonight, Friday 1 October. 

The following schools are affected: 

• St Brigid’s Primary School, Ballan
• St Mary’s Primary School, Clarke’s Hill
• St Brendan’s Primary School, Dunnstown
• St Patrick’s Primary School, Gordon

Please refer to today’s Executive Director’s COVID Update #89 for details. 

COVID Reminders for CEB Staff

Working On-Site

Whilst lockdown restrictions have been eased in regional Victoria, if you can work from home, you must continue work from home.

Currently, only 25% of employees, or up to 10 people if the total workplace is 40 or less, can return to working on-site in the office, with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm.

Therefore, if there is an essential reason to visit the office, you must discuss this with your Team Leader before attending.

Working in Schools

Whilst schools are returning to on-site learning next week for Foundation - Year 2 students and students studying VCE Units 3 and 4 subjects, we request that staff continue to minimise school contact, supporting schools remotely where needed.

If there is an essential reason to visit a school, please discuss this with your Team Leader before attending.

School COVID Updates

Please continue to refer to our Executive Director’s COVID Updates for updates pertaining to schools.

School Operations Guide

We are awaiting an updated School Operations Guide. In the meantime, we will continue to operate under the Term 3 School Operations Guide until further notice. 

Return to On-Site Learning Plan

As detailed in yesterday’s Executive Director’s COVID Update #88, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, James Merlino, has announced the plan for the return of on-site learning for schools in regional Victoria.

Mandatory Vaccination Information for CEB Staff

The Victorian Government has now formalised the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Directions (No. 4). The Directions introduce mandatory vaccination for specific workplace industries to limit the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID-19) within the population in these settings. The Directions by the Chief Health Officer include “education facilities” and therefore mandates that people who work in these settings be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by specified dates.    

What is the definition of an education facility?

The Directions define this as:

• a childcare or early childhood service, and includes outside school hours care services;
• a school means a registered school as defined in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006; and
• school boarding premises

Who must be vaccinated under the Directions?

The mandate for vaccination includes:

• any person who is employed by an education operator to work in an “education facility” or school (including teachers, early childhood educators and educational support staff);
• people contracted to work at an “education facility” and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator, including casual relief teachers, Breakfast Club suppliers, IT personnel, NDIS providers and auditors, but does not include delivery personnel or contractors;
• staff of any other entity who attends an “education facility” eg. CEB staff, priests, DOBCEL board directors;
• volunteers that attend an “education facility” and that work in close proximity to children, students or staff (including parent helpers); and
• students on placements at an “education facility”.

What is the mandated deadline for vaccination?

The Directions mandate a first dose by 25 October 2021 and a second dose by 15 December 2021.   All groups identified in the Directions in all Victorian education facilities, including Catholic schools, must comply with the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Directions and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the 15 December deadline unless a medical exemption applies. Individuals will be required to show evidence of their vaccination status or valid medical exemption. This will work similarly to the Working with Children Check/Police Check requirements – staff must be vaccinated to work in any Victorian educational facility, including DOBCEL schools.

What information must the employer collect?

Employers must collect, record and hold the following vaccination information about their vaccination status for all workers scheduled to work at an education facility on or after 18 October 2021.  This information must be recorded as one of the following

1. fully vaccinated – the person has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine; or
2. partially vaccinated – the person has received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and is not an excepted person – and whether the worker has a booking to receive a second dose by 15 December 2021; or
3. unvaccinated – the person has not received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and is not an excepted person – and whether the worker has a booking to receive a first dose by 25 October 2021; or
4. an excepted person – the person has obtained certification from a medical practitioner that the person is unable to receive a dose or a further dose of a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical contraindication.

Part 3 of the Directions, Definitions (6) says: “Vaccination information may be recorded in a variety of documents, such as a letter from a medical practitioner, a certificate of immunisation or an immunisation history statement obtained from the Australian Immunisation Register.”

Permitted to attend a school for work purposes

In the event an employee is unvaccinated by the first date (25 October 2021), clause 5 (1) of the Directions states, “An operator of a specified facility must take all reasonable steps to ensure that, on or after the relevant date, a worker who is unvaccinated does not enter, or remain on, the premises of a specified facility for the purposes of working at the facility.” 

An unvaccinated worker may be permitted to attend for work between 18 October and 25 October 2021 only if they have a booking to receive a first dose by 25 October.  If an employee declines to provide proof of vaccination set out in the Directions by the specified dates, the employer is obliged not to permit them to be on the premises for work purposes. This may also have consequences for their ongoing employment. 

We strongly encourage all staff who are not yet fully vaccinated to make an appointment to ensure they meet the mandated deadlines. For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations and how to book, see the Department of Health website.

Where can I access more information?

The Directions made by the Chief Health Officer are available via the Department of Health website.  CEB is working with DET and CECV to develop a consistent approach to undertaking this Direction as an urgent priority.  Including determining how evidence of vaccination will be collected, recorded and held.

A set of frequently asked questions providing advice on specific circumstances is being developed.  We will provide this as soon as possible, and before the deadline of 25 October. 

For support relating to the application of the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Directions, speak with your team leader in the first instance. Or contact Michael Trainor (Manager: HR) on 0436 460 275 or Ange Jones (Assistant Director: People and Development) on 0400 831 040. While we do not currently have a great deal more information, we would be happy to work through concerns with you where possible.

We will continue to keep staff updated as new information is received.

Reminder – October CEB Staff Meeting Session Selection

The agenda for the October CEB Staff Meeting to be held on Tuesday 5 October and Wednesday 6 October is available in Knowledge Banks under 9. CEB Staff > 1. Meeting Materials > 2021 October. This includes the Zoom links required for each session.

A reminder that staff need to nominate their preferred IT workshop via this google form by midday, Monday 4 October. In an effort to keep session numbers even, there is no guarantee that you will be placed in either of your preferred sessions. If you do not nominate any preferred sessions, your selection will be made for you, based on participant numbers.

Staff Prayer

Staff Prayer will take place remotely on the morning of Monday 4 October at 8.30am. The google meet link and the prayer for the session will be on our SIMON homepage on Monday.

Staff Birthdays

We hope these staff enjoy their special day…