Our goal will be that everyone attending La Trobe campuses who is eligible and able to be vaccinated, is fully vaccinated. In implementing this goal and, taking account of the State roadmap announced by the Premier yesterday, we propose to adopt a two-staged approach as outlined below.
As a public-spirited University with a global reputation for excellence in our health disciplines, including public health, our aspiration is that all members of the University community who can be vaccinated against COVID-19 will take that step to protect themselves and others.
Throughout the first stage, from now until the end of November, the University will continue to provide support and encouragement to all staff and students to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This includes continuing to provide vaccination leave for staff. During this time a vaccination hub, in partnership with Austin Health, will open on-site at the University’s Bundoora campus, further enabling community access to vaccinations. We are also exploring similar arrangements for our regional campuses.
Under the proposed approach, stage two will commence in early December. From that date, anyone attending campus (staff, students, contractors, visitors) will be expected to be fully vaccinated.
For staff and students with a valid medical exemption or other legally-recognised exemption from vaccination, the University will make arrangements to enable work and study to continue beyond that date. Staff and students who remain unvaccinated by choice may not be able to have special arrangements made for them, which may lead to them compromising their ability to fulfil their respective obligations for work or study.
The University will continue to monitor the pace of the vaccine roll-out and adjust these dates if necessary.
The University has a duty to eliminate or, if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. This proposed approach will therefore enable the University to fulfil its obligations and reassure staff and students who are already vaccinated that they will not be placing their health at risk by coming onto campus.
Work has commenced on designing the implementation arrangements, in consultation with health and safety representatives.
A voluntary survey will be conducted shortly for staff and students to share their perspectives, with aggregated responses helping inform future initiatives.
Quotes from experts in La Trobe University’s School of Psychology and Public Health
Vijaya Sundararajan, Professor in Public Health:
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have safe and effective vaccines available for COVID-19 that reduce the risk of severe illness. Bringing the vaccination rate as close to 100 per cent as possible amongst staff and students will enable us to get back to a vibrant on-campus life as soon as possible.”
Melissa Graham, Associate Professor in Public Health and Head, Department of Public Health:
“Vaccination is the most important thing La Trobe staff and students can do to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. Our University’s two-stage plan is consistent with public health principles and will help keep us all safe when we return to campus.”
Deborah Gleeson, Associate Professor in Public Health:
“La Trobe’s roadmap to re-opening will support staff and students by first making it easy to get a vaccine, and then, once everyone has had a chance to be vaccinated, making it essential for those on campus to be fully vaccinated unless they have a valid exemption. This is a sensible and ethical plan that will help protect our La Trobe community.”
The experts above can talk about the following topics:
- Professor Vijaya Sundararajan: Safety and effectiveness of vaccines
- Associate Professor Melissa Graham: Staff and student safety and wellbeing on campus; public health implications
- Associate Professor Deborah Gleeson: Public health policy and role of the University in the wider uptake of vaccines; significance of the University’s approach
ENDS
Media Contact: Claire Bowers – c.bowers@latrobe.edu.au - 9479 2315 / 0437279903
