Executive Director’s Update to Principals #128: COVID Update - 30 Nov 2021

Updated School Operations Guide

The Term 4 School Operations Guide (SOG) was updated over the weekend and shared with principals via email.  The current version is available to download on CEVN.

Changes include:

• Use of school facilities by community and sports groups – p. 2
• Interschool sport (sport between schools) – p. 16
• Excursions – p. 16
• Camps – p. 16
• Students, staff, and families arriving from overseas – p. 19
• Face masks – p. 29
• Management of contacts – p. 32

Summary of Key Operational Requirements

The updated Summary of Key Operational Requirements (p. 4) is below and can be downloaded as a one-page PDF.

Density Limits

The SOG still makes reference to density limits in some scenarios (e.g., staff areas on p. 28).  However, we can confirm that density limits have been lifted under the roadmap for Victoria as we hit 90% vaccination rates effective 11.59pm, 18 November 2021, where vaccination status and QR check in is managed such as by use of a COVID marshal. Staff, contractors and visitors are still required to register attendance meeting both requirements for QR scanning and vaccination status according to the table on p. 13 of the SOG.

Complying with the Vaccination Mandate

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said he believes ‘that morally everyone must take the vaccine … it is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others’. He has described taking the vaccine as ‘an act of love’. Bishop Paul Bird, CSsR, has said ‘The basic reasons for vaccination are to protect our own health and the health of people around us.’ Bishop Paul noted, ‘I encourage everyone throughout our diocese to be vaccinated.’

All school staff are reminded of the key dates for compliance with the vaccination mandate, as applied to education facilities. It is important, that those staff who have not provided evidence of their full vaccination, or medical exemption, are advised of what this means including that they may be placing their employment in jeopardy if they do not meet the directions into 2022. It is important that we continue be respectful, transparent and provide those individuals with information regarding how this may impact on their employment.

CECV has provided further template to support principals in managing the situation where staff remain unvaccinated post 29 November 2021. Principals can contact Ange Jones or Jo Huntley to access these templates or for advice.

We will continue to closely monitor the advice of the Victorian Government, Department of Education & Training, and Department of Health regarding the specific details for Victorian schools and workplaces. We will communicate promptly if further, or different, information comes to light. 

DOBCEL’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy, aligned to the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions, should be distributed to all staff before the end of Term 4 (also available in eSORT). The policy should also be provided with any new contracts commencing in the 2022 school year.  The policy will be reviewed again in January 2022. 

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