Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information and links to assist schools to manage and prepare for the potential impact of the Coronavirus on operations, staff, students, and the community.
The following information and links to external resources are designed to assist Member Schools to manage and prepare for the potential impact of the Coronavirus on their operations, their staff and students, and the wider school community.
It outlines their obligations, provides advice and links to the relevant government agencies which are the best sources of information.
Schools should be aware that government advice is being updated regularly and can change from day-to-day. While we will try to keep this information current, this might not always be possible.
As well as these resources, we will communicate directly to schools via email and memos in the event of significant developments.
An important document for schools:
- Protocols for schools in the event of a suspected or confirmed coronavirus case
These protocols were prepared in consultation between ISV, representatives of Catholic Education, and the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Please click on LINKS AND DOWNLOADS below to find the Protocols and other important documents, links and resources.
Yes – under the provisions of the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 (Vic), the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) and the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 (Vic).
Under Victorian occupational health and safety law, employers have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe workplace. This obligation extends to all people at the workplace, whether they are employees or not.
Schools should:
- Continue to monitor the advice from the Australian and Victorian governments
- Review the school’s emergency management plan
- Ensure that communications to parents, students and staff are clear and timely
- Prepare for the possibility of high absenteeism from large numbers of students and staff
- Review the school’s capacity to deliver online learning to students
- Review the school’s business continuity plan
- Make appropriate arrangements for international students
You may be in breach of the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 (Vic).
You may also be in breach of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.) and the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2007 (Vic.). Non-compliance with the minimum standards for school registration could result in the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA):
- imposing conditions on a school’s registration
- prohibiting a school from enrolling any new students
- requiring the school to report its non-compliance to parents
- suspending, cancelling or imposing conditions on a school’s registration.
Your reputation could be affected.
Peter Roberts
Director, School Services
Ph. 03 9825 7211
peter.roberts@is.vic.edu.au
Tom Hyland
Media and Communications Advisor
Ph. 03 9825 7217
tom.hyland@is.vic.edu.au
Australian Government websites
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment:
- Coronavirus
- This website provides up to date fact sheets for schools, early childhood providers and CRICOS registered providers.
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment: Early Childhood and Care Relief Package
- Australian Government Department of Health:
- Australian Government, Treasury:
- Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council:
- Australian Taxation Office:
- Safe Work Australia:
Victorian Government Websites
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services:
- Victorian DET:
- Coronavirus
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for early childhood services
- Funding for Four-year sessional kindergartens remains unchanged. The State Government has also announced support for unfunded three-year kindergarten programs – full information can be found here
- Learning from home in an early childhood setting
- Educator to child ratios
- Educator to child ratios for funded kindergarten programs
- Early childhood teacher centre-based services
- Health and hygiene in early childhood education and care services
- Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC): Advice on reducing the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools
- Safe Work Australia: General information and guidance for workplace health and safety in a variety of industries, including education and training
- Safe Work Australia: Early childhood education and care
Downloads
ISV: Advice on Swimming and Sporting Facilities ISV: Social Distancing in Early Childhood Education Services Vic DET: Advice in Managing COVID-19 Risks in Boarding Schools Vic DET: Advice on medical vulnerability Vic DET: Assessment Guidance for Remote and Flexible Learning Vic DET/ISV: Coronavirus: Reactive School Closure Process Vic DET: Coronavirus School Closure – Reactive Comms Pack (Highlighted Areas for Non-Govt Amendments) Vic DET: COVID-19 Boarding School Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning Vic DET: Guide - Semester 1 Student Reports Vic DET: Letter to Parents - Semester 1 Student Reports Vic DET: Roadmap to Return to On-site Teaching and Learning Vic DET: Guidance for the use of PPE in education settings 2020 Vic DET Return to School Operations Guide Victorian Government: Physical Distancing and Transmission Reduction in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings Victorian Government: School Staff Coronavirus Testing Information Pack Victorian School Building Authority: Enhanced School Cleaning GuidelineDownloads
Australian Government DESE: Schools HUB COVID19 Factsheet – Condition on Approval, 9 April 2020 Letter: Victorian Minister of Education to VRQA, 14 April 2020 Ministerial Direction: Attendance, 14 April 2020 Vic DET: Attendance Recording Advice for Remote and Flexible Learning Vic DET: Guide to On-site Attendance Vic DET: On-site Attendance Form Vic DET: Learning from Home Communications Pack Operating Model: Transition to Flexible & Remote Learning Victorian Government Schools (Term 2 2020) Vic DET: Remote and On-site Operations Vic DET: Roadmap to Flexible and Remote Learning Vic DET: Roadmap to Flexible and Remote Learning - Planning Template Vic DET: Students at Risk Planning Tool Victorian Independent Schools: Protocols for COVID-19 communication and decision-making, 12 March 2020This section contains useful content in the form of exemplars, templates and relevant links for schools.
Downloadable resources are located in isConnect for Member School access.
Relevant links:
ACARA: Resources for parents and carers
ISV: Student support discussion and resource space on isLearn
ISV: COVID-19 Research Articles
Downloads
Advice regarding Choirs, Instrumental Music and Ensembles Example Letter 1: Return to On-site Learning Example Letter 2: Return to On-site Learning Example Letter 1: Confirmed Coronavirus Case Example Letter 1: Exposure Tests, School Closed Temporarily Example Letter 1: Update on Confirmed Coronavirus Case Example Letter 1: Additional Confirmed Case(s) Example Protocols 1: Return to On-site Learning Return to On-site Learning Example Checklist 1 Return to On-site Learning Example Checklist 2Downloads
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Employment Relations: An Update, 1 April 2020 Coronavirus and Employment Relations FAQ JobKeeper Legislation Summary Modern Award Variations: Additional Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic Circumstances Allowing Stand Down Stand Down - Key Messaging Stand Down Letter Template Vulnerable WorkersAustralian Government, eSafety Commissioner: COVID-19: Tips on how to stay safe online during the COVID-19 pandemic
Going Digital: Making digital ways of working, work!
ISV: Remote Learning – curated digital forums on isLearn
Victorian Department of Education and Training: Learning from home