Safety & First Aid News
COVID Safety News
COVIDSafe requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work on school site
The third dose vaccination requirements (March 25th, 2022) apply to any visitor or volunteer performing work on school sites. This includes:
- a person contracted to work at an education facility and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator including casual relief teachers, NDIS providers and auditors (but does not include delivery personnel).
- Department staff who attend an education facility (such as allied health personnel)
- staff of any other entity who attends an education facility
- volunteers that attend and education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students or staff (including parent helpers)
- students on placements at an education facility.
Schools must advise visitors and volunteers they must adhere to COVIDSafe requirements – including vaccination, physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good hand hygiene.
Schools will collect and register vaccination information during visitor and volunteer sign-in. This will remain private at all times.
More information about the collection of vaccination information from visitors and volunteers on school sites is available at COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites : Policy | education.vic.gov.au
Other visitors to schools (not performing work)
Service Victoria QR code check-in is not required at schools. Routine school visitor record keeping arrangements will continue to apply.
In Victorian government schools, parents, carers and other adult visitors (excluding students who visit a school to complete a secondary school subject) who enter school buildings must be able to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.
The following limited exceptions also apply:
- when attending to administer medical treatment to their own child when the treatment cannot be administered by the school
- when attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school building unaccompanied by their parent/carer
- when attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project, collecting a packet of rapid antigen test or similar.
Proof of vaccination can be checked by a COVID-19 digital certificate (Service Victoria app or smartphone wallet) or printed copy of a digital certificate or immunisation history statement.
Mask Requirements
The latest Department School Operations (March 25) guide states:
* Students in Year 3 to Grade 6 must wear a face mask indoors at school and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies.
Year 3 to 6 students must wear face masks even if vaccinated.
Year 3 to 6 students are not required to wear masks outside, however they are strongly recommended if physical distance cannot be maintained or when students are not undertaking physical exercise (for example; masks are strongly recommended when classes are held outside).
Staff in schools with both primary and secondary aged students must don face masks indoors when working in the primary education settings.
- When attending outdoor school camps and excursions, face masks are not mandatory, unless physical distancing cannot be maintained. Face masks must continue to be worn when indoors on camps and excursions.
- Everyone over 8 years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.
- Visitors aged 8 and above to schools that include Grades 3 to 6 must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.
- Students in Prep to Grade 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program.
A face mask must be well fitted and cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements. There are lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception should provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school.
*There is no requirement for a letter for a medical exception for not wearing a face mask from a medical practitioner.
Outside of lawful exceptions, schools should treat any deliberate and persistent non-compliance with the face masks direction as a serious matter. Usual school procedures for dealing with non-compliance with school rules should be followed, in the same way that school uniform enforcement is dealt with.
Please note that masks are available for student use in both children and adult sizes. However, it is preferred that students provide their own masks that are labelled with a sandwich bag in which to store them when not being worn.