Executive Director’s Update to Principals #126: COVID Update - 25 Nov 2021

God of daily bread,
God of simple pleasures:
we ask for enough for today.
Help us give ourselves
the very thing we need:
a walk to clear the head,
a phone call that draws a familiar voice, a brief exchange with a passer-by,
a gentle word of encouragement. These little things and their significance can be easily dismissed,
but it is often the non-grand gesture,
or an everyday routine,
or an in-the-moment whim
that reminds us that our God
was always there.
Amen.

~ The Corrymeela Community

Vaccination Status Update

A reminder that the second dose deadline for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Education Workers is this Monday, 29 November 2021. 

Schools with staff still requiring a second dose are reminded to ensure you receive a copy of their COVID vaccination certificate (or medical exemption) prior to 29 November 2021. If a staff member has their appointment on the 29 November, they must not attend the school site until that vaccination is complete.

Please ensure your online vaccination register is up to date no later than 30 November 2021 via the PRS on CEVN or eHR for schools using ICON. Refer to Executive Director’s COVID Update #101 (18 October 2021) for guides on these registers and report functions. Casual staff and contractors’ vaccination status should continue to be recorded in a manual spreadsheet.

DOBCEL principals are required email details to their Education Consultant and the CEB HR (via jhuntley@dobcel.catholic.edu.au) of any staff members who have not provided accepted evidence of their vaccination status (including medical exemption) by this date. 

Key Dates and Next Steps

Key dates for vaccine mandate compliance can be downloaded as a PDF, or click the below diagram to enlarge. 

Following, from 30 November 2021, principals are required to have discussions with staff who have not complied with this Direction and provide that they can remain on leave without pay or long service leave until the end of the school year and can access school holiday pay in line with their entitlements under the Victorian Catholic Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2018.

Staff should be advised that if they have not received the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the start of the new school year (or by the completion of their paid entitlement to long service leave, or personal leave as supported by medical evidence), that their employment will be jeopardised.

The CEB HR team will support principals in these matters relevant to their circumstances, including a guidance note for conversations and template letters. 

LWOP Pro-Rata School Holiday Pay

Please be aware that the leave loading payments are due to be processed in the first payroll in December, therefore schools need to be conscious that there will be an impact on holiday and leave loading payments for any staff that have had more than 15 days Leave Without Pay (LWOP).

Please provide all relevant information to your payroll staff regarding leave for unvaccinated staff members as soon as possible to enable them to complete the appropriate pro-rata calculations.

Next COVID Update