Executive Director’s Update to Principals #5 - 14 February 2023
Actions to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Diseases in High-Risk Areas
A range of mosquito-borne diseases have recently been detected in mosquitoes in Northern Victoria. There are a number of schools in the Ballarat Diocese, which are located within the high-risk area, and are being encouraged to follow the CECV health advice to minimise the risk for students and staff.
The local government areas, within the Ballarat Diocese, at the highest risk from mosquito-borne diseases are:
- Buloke
- Hindmarsh
- Horsham
- Mildura
- Northern Grampians
- Swan Hill
- West Wimmera
- Yarriambiack
Mosquito-borne diseases can cause serious illness, including infections of the brain, with children particularly at risk.
Schools within the areas listed above are asked to consider the risks of mosquito-borne disease when planning outdoor activities, and to:
- Reconsider outdoor activity or limit time spent outdoors to areas where residual insecticide treatments have been applied;
- Recommend that staff and students wear insect repellent if outdoor activities occur; and
- Undertaking maintenance to prevent mosquitoes from breeding around the school.
The Department of Education has recently announced financial support to schools to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, the Victorian Government has advised that it will reimburse low-fee Catholic schools in high-risk local government areas for expenditure reasonably incurred by schools in the application of insecticide sprays.
The Department of Education has provided a list of qualifying schools, which is available on CEVN.
Schools can submit invoices for up to two insecticide applications separately, if two applications are required. Insecticide sprays must be conducted on or after 1 January 2023 to receive reimbursement. Invoices must be emailed to the Department of Education by COB Friday, 26 May 2023; email to: insecticide.invoices@education.vic.gov.au.
If required, the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) can provide advice about engaging pest control contractors. To contact the VSBA phone 1800 896 950 or email vsba@education.vic.gov.au.
Student Activity Locator (SAL)
All Catholic schools in the Dioceses of Ballarat are reminded to enter the details of any offsite school activities in the SAL. Offsite activities include camps, excursions (including interstate and overseas trips), day trips, sporting activities, school closures, pupil free days and all overnight activities.
By centrally recording offsite activities in the SAL, Emergency Services can quickly be notified of student locations and identify the numbers of staff, chaperones and students on excursions who may be at risk during an emergency and facilitate their immediate support if required.
Principals are reminded that the duty of care for students on offsite activities resides with the school. The CEVN Offsite Activity Planning Checklist should be used to plan for and document the details of any offsite activity for approval by the principal. Principals should ensure that all staff coordinating excursions are thoroughly conversant with the Student Activity Locator and the obligation to correctly complete the online form, including all required details.
Principals are also reminded that any school groups travelling overseas must register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the smartraveller website: http://smartraveller.gov.au, in order to receive up-to-date information in relation to countries being visited and travel warnings.
If you require further information on the use of SAL, please contact Simon O’Brien.
Capital Funding Updates
Schools Upgrade Fund – Applications now open.
The Australian Government has established the Schools Upgrade Fund, which is intended to help support more equitable access to resources for students and schools, to help keep students safe and get their education back on track after disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will provide funding to schools to help improve ventilation and air quality and make small scale improvements including building and maintaining outdoor learnings spaces, upgrade ICT equipment, and repairs to school facilities.
There will be an open round of $32 million dollars funding that will be open to all schools – Government, Catholic and Independent and will provide grants of up to $25,000 per school with eligible projects being prioritised based on project need and relative school disadvantage.
Further information and guidelines are available here.
Applications are now open and close on Friday 24th February 2023 with successful schools to be notified in May 2023, with funding to be provided in June 2023.
Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) - Applications now open.
Applications for grants to fund major capital works under the Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) are now open and will close at midnight on Friday 24 March 2023.
Major capital works may include the construction of new facilities, and the refurbishment or demolition of existing facilities.
For further information about the CGP, please refer to the attached Circular here.
Victorian Government Non-Government Schools Capital Fund Program (VGCFP)
Applications will open later this year in line with the release of the State Budget. Further details will be announced via COMS once timelines are confirmed. We encourage schools to continue to prepare Masterplans, project proposals and quantity surveyors estimates so that they are ready to submit when applications open.
If you have any queries regarding any of the above capital funding opportunities or require additional support with your application, please contact Ashley Wiseman, Manager: Planning and Infrastructure on phone 0484 819 360 or email awiseman@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections
During Term 3 and 4 last year the first round of annual Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections was undertaken by Hutchinson Parks Services for all Primary Schools within the Diocese.
The audit report for each school has now been received by DOBCEL and is being internally reviewed and will be forward to each individual school within Term 1. Penelope Irish will follow this up with a site visit to each school in Term 1 and 2 where she will walk each principal or nominated representative through the audit and any related matters.
In the meantime, DOBCEL is seeking to obtain costs from a pre-qualified playground maintenance service provider who will be able to provide quotes to rectify any identified items based on the findings of the report and then consequently undertake any required maintenance prior to the next scheduled inspection.
For queries or further information in relation to the Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections, please contact Penelope Irish: Properties and Facilities Advisor on phone 0429 473 351 or email pirish@dobcel.catholic.edu.au