CEB Staff Newsletter #7 - 25 February 2022

Monday Morning Prayer

Staff prayer is taking place on Monday 28th February at 8.30am.

All are most welcome to attend. Please this Google Meet link to join.

Latest COVID Updates For CEB

Easing of Measures.

The Victorian Government announced on Tuesday, 22 February an easing of some COVID Safe measures for a safe and sensible return to the office.

Effective from 11.59pm Friday, 25 February 2022, in education settings face masks will only be required indoors in limited circumstances.

This includes;

• students in year three and above at primary school.
• workers at early childhood centers and primary schools; and 
• for anyone on public transport, in taxis or rideshare services. 

Masks are no longer mandatory in secondary schools or workplace settings such as Catholic Education Ballarat offices.

The public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will be removed. We welcome all CEB staff to return onsite to CEB offices in alignment with any blended working arrangement or service level agreements to be onsite in schools. 

COVID Safe Workplace.

The health and safety of every employee and visitor to CEB offices is paramount. As we facilitate onsite working, we remind all staff of some of the COVID Safe practices in place and remind everyone to do their part to keep each other safe. 

• A supply of Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) Kits are available for CEB staff via Simon O’Brien for voluntary twice-weekly testing.
• Hand sanitiser and handwashing facilities continue to be available in every office location  
• The space and layout of our offices, especially where it is unusual for all staff to be onsite every day, allows for physical distancing to be observed where practical.
• Office locations where windows can be opened, staff may elect to do so while onsite (remembering to please close these before leaving the office). 
• Where there are no openable windows and a ducted air conditioning system has been installed these are generally required to introduce a percentage of outside air. Additionally at Gillies Street there are also dedicated fan systems providing fresh, outside air to the rooms with split systems.
• While not mandatory, we continue to support any staff who choose to wear a face mask in the office or other work location. Masks for office staff are available in each office location or via Simon O’Brien.
• Gillies Street office are still doing a “Touch point” clean every weeknight.
• If you have a concern about workplace practices that you feel may not be safe, we encourage you to speak up. Please speak with your Team Leader or Grant Victor-Gordon (OHS Coordinator).

Extension for Third Dose Deadline.

The Minister for Health has indicated an extension for the booster deadline for education workers; 

• The third dose deadline for workers in education facilities who were fully vaccinated on or before October 25 will be extended by a month, provided that workers have a booking within that time – meaning all education workers have until 25 March to be ‘up to date’. 
• Fully vaccinated workers who are not yet eligible for a third dose will have a third dose deadline of three months and two weeks from when they had their second dose. 
• Workers who are recent international arrivals will have a new third dose deadline of four weeks from the date of their arrival, provided they have evidence of a future vaccine booking. 
• Workers whose temporary medical exemption (e.g., because they had COVID-19) has expired will have a new third dose deadline of two weeks following the expiry of the medical exemption.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lauren Gould who is getting married on Saturday March 4th in Tasmania. 

We wish Lauren and her fiancée André a wonderful day of celebration with their families and friends.

March Birthdays

Sally Anderson - 3rd

Wendy Morley - 5th

Liz McIntyre - 18th

Scott Essery - 31st