Dear Parents and Families,

As you may be aware, the situation regarding novel coronavirus continues to evolve.

On Saturday 22 February, the Minister for Education, James Merlino, along with Commonwealth Ministers for Education and Health, and the Chief Health Officer, announced limited and conditional exemptions to the restrictions currently in place for travellers to Australia from mainland China.

These exemptions relate only to the small number of international VCE students who were due to start in Term 1 this year, but have been unable to leave China due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth government.

International students who are in Year 11 and 12 and enrolled in VCE studies in Victoria may be exempt from travel restrictions from mainland China if they meet strict criteria set by the Commonwealth. To apply for an exemption, students must demonstrate that they:

Hold a current visa (for themselves and, where applicable, their guardian) and are enrolled in Year 11 or 12 in an Australian School;
Are not currently unwell (Chinese authorities are screening all departing passengers, and passengers will undergo mandatory screening on arrival to Australia);
Are not travelling from, or through, Hubei Province; and
Are willing and able to meet the quarantine requirements set out by Victorian health authorities at their port of arrival.

As per other travellers from mainland China, on arrival, these students will be required to self-isolate for 14 days before being able to attend school.

Our school is working closely with the Department to confirm the process for students who may meet this criteria to apply for an exemption to return to our school. This includes working closely with host families to ensure that effective self-isolation arrangements are in place.

The Department’s International Education Division will regularly update eligible international students in government schools. Eligible international students and families who have not been contacted by Monday 2 March, should email international@education.vic.gov.au

Rest assured that this decision has been made based on the best advice from State and Commonwealth health agencies and provides a measured approach to ensuring that these students are able to continue with their studies at a critical time for their education.

Please refer to the Department’s coronavirus web page for the latest advice and information.

The Staughton Report