Health advice and safety measures
General health information
- All students and staff must follow the health advice of the Department of Health and that of the Monash Chief Medical Officer.
- A reminder that if you do attend campus displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19 you may be asked to leave and get tested for COVID-19, and not return to campus until you have your test results, and are no longer feeling unwell/displaying symptoms.
- The Department of Health will no longer publish exposure sites. Visit the University’s COVID-19 confirmed cases and exposure locations webpage regularly and follow the relevant health advice.
- Find out where to get tested on the Victorian Government's COVID-19 website.
- Follow basic hygiene rules to prevent further spread:
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (with a flexed elbow or tissue, not your hand).
- Wash your hands often.
- Avoid touching your face and mouth after touching surfaces.
- Don't spend time with people who are sick.
- Don't go to work or attend campus if you feel sick.
COVID-19 vaccination
Students, staff and visitors
- Students, staff, visitors and contractors do not have to register their vaccination status or show proof of vaccination in order to attend Australian Monash campuses and other locations.
- Though not a requirement, the University will continue to encourage students to be vaccinated to protect their health and the health of the broader Monash community, and provide access to vaccinations through the University Health Service
- In line with the University's Immunisation Procedure, several vaccination exemptions to attend campus are now in place.
- Effective Monday 18 July 2022, staff (except certain categories of workers under the Pandemic Orders), students and visitors do not have to register their vaccination status or show proof of vaccination in order to attend Australian Monash campuses and other locations. In line with the University's Immunisation Procedure, several vaccination exemptions to attend campus are now in place.
Specified workers
- The Victorian Government’s updated Pandemic Orders came into effect on Saturday 25 June. Under the Orders, vaccination requirements remain in place for certain categories of workers including healthcare, residential aged care, emergency services and disability workers. For Monash, this includes:
- University Health Services staff
- Staff and students working, or placed, in healthcare facilities
- Monash Sport lifeguards
- Staff and students in the above groups who are over 18 and yet to upload proof of your booster dose (or approved medical exemption) to Monash’s vaccination status form are asked to do so.
- In addition to the Monash requirements, please also ensure you comply with the proof of vaccination requirements of your local healthcare workplace (if applicable).
- Please note that your COVID-19 vaccination must be undertaken on the advice of a health practitioner.
- Any Monash specified worker who is medically exempt from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine due to a recognised medical contraindication or acute medical illness will need to submit proof via Monash’s vaccination status form. In line with the Chief Health Officer’s Directions, a current COVID-19 digital certificate (or printed version) issued by Services Australia is now the only evidence accepted for medical exemptions. Your doctor will need to update your record on the Australian Immunisation Register to show that you have a medical exemption, then once your exemption has been processed, you can download your COVID-19 digital certificate. For more information on how to show proof of your vaccination exemption, see here.
- Please refer to the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccination website for more information about approved vaccines, vaccination eligibility and timeframes.
- Specified workers should keep the confirmation email following verification for their records, as they may be asked to show this to security staff as proof that they are allowed onsite. If they do not produce these documents, they will be provided with information on what they need to do in order to get permission to attend our campuses and locations.
- Specified workers are advised not to share their vaccination documentation via any other channel (for example, emailing their COVID-19 digital certificate to their lecturer or supervisor) than those specified in official University communications.
Recognised vaccines
- Monash will accept any of the following TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccines, when staff or students provide their proof of COVID-19 vaccination:
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
- Moderna Spikevax
- Pfizer Comirnaty
- Coronavac (Sinovac)
- Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen
- Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India)
- BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China)
- Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute)
- Nuvaxovid (Biocelect on behalf of Novavax)
- If you have received a vaccine that is not currently TGA-approved, you are advised to make an appointment with your GP to discuss the options available to you to be able to meet vaccination requirements.
COVID-19 vaccination appointments
- International students currently in Australia have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and can attend a state government-run vaccination clinic, GP Respiratory Clinic or community pharmacies that are administering COVID-19 vaccines by contacting the National COVID Booking Line (1800 675 398). More information can be found here.
- Fixed-term and ongoing staff can apply for sick leave, in accordance with existing entitlements, to attend a vaccination centre or GP off-campus for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
- Students who make a COVID-19 appointment at a vaccination centre are permitted to be absent from a specific learning activity (without penalty), provided the appointment does not clash with a compulsory assessment. Students are not required to show proof of booking, however can do so if they wish.
University Health Service
- If you have recently returned from overseas and you have any questions regarding your vaccination status, please email nurse.help@monash.edu.
- If you have any enquiries, please contact UHS Clayton on 9905 3175.
- Monash staff, students and community members don’t need to have visited UHS previously, you can visit the UHS COVID-19 vaccinations page to make your booking.
Information for staff and students without a Medicare card
- COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone, including staff and students who don’t have a Medicare card (such as international students).
- If you don’t have a Medicare card, you can apply for an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI).
- An IHI will enable you to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
- Applying for an IHI and being vaccinated for COVID-19 will not impact your visa status or your eligibility for government payments.
How to get an IHI:
- The quickest way to get an IHI is online through your myGov account. If you don’t have an account, it’s easy to create one. You’ll need one of the following identification documents:
- your passport, with a valid Australian Visa
- your Australian driver licence.
- These documents will be used to verify your identity and give you an IHI. Follow these steps to get an IHI online:
1. Sign in to myGov.
2. Select services or link your first service.
3. Select IHI service from the list.
Where can I get vaccinated?
- Non-Medicare card holders can receive free vaccination appointments at Victorian Government-run GP Respiratory Clinics or vaccination centres, and community pharmacies that are administering COVID-19 vaccines. Non-Medicare card holders cannot make an appointment to be vaccinated at General Practitioners without incurring a fee.
- There are a number of Victorian Government-run vaccination locations within the South East Public Health Unit (of which Monash Clayton and Caulfield are within), including Sandown Racecourse.
- Pharmacies offering vaccinations can be located using the Vaccine Clinic Finder.
- To book an appointment online, follow the below steps. Alternatively, you can call the National COVID Booking Line on 1800 675 398.
1. Visit the online booking system
2. Create an account
3. Complete your ‘Personal details’ – if you don’t have a Medicare card, leave this field blank
4. Complete your ‘Contact details’
5. Complete the ‘Other details’
6. Complete all other steps to finalise your booking
What to bring to your appointment
- a face mask
- any emails about your vaccination appointment (on your phone or printed)
- photo identification, if you have one, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- a Medicare card or IHI number
Getting to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment
- If you don’t have a car or access to appropriate public transport, there are alternative options you can explore such as 13cabs, Uber or DiDi.
- DiDi are offering discounted rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Visit the website for more information.
Getting proof of your COVID-19 vaccination appointment
- If you don’t have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare, you can get proof that you have had your COVID-19 vaccination by:
- Asking your vaccination provider to print a copy of your Immunisation History Statement (IHS) for you.
- Calling the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809. For interpreting services call 13 14 50 to have an IHS sent in the mail. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the mail.
COVID-19 testing and vaccination options
Medical centres who can upload proof of vaccination to AIR
The following medical centres are available to assist international students in uploading their vaccination status to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR):
- Victoria Crescent Medical Centre: 533 Blackburn Road, Mount Waverley Ph: 9005 6001. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm, Weekends and public holidays 9am-3pm. You will need to book an appointment with a GP to arrange uploading your vaccination status to AIR.
- Waverley Family Healthcare: 58 Pinewood Drive, Mount Waverley Ph: 9802 8000. Open 7 days a week 7am-midnight, including public holidays. You will need to book an appointment with a GP to arrange uploading your vaccination status to AIR.
- Medi7 Clayton: 255 Clayton Rd, Clayton Ph: 9013 9795. Open 7 days a week including public holidays. You will need an appointment with a GP to arrange uploading your vaccination status to AIR.
Local vaccination clinics
In addition to the above medical centres, the Federal government’s Vaccine Clinic Finder can help you find a clinic delivering COVID-19 vaccinations.
COVID-19 testing
Find your nearest PCR COVID testing site using the search tool on the Victorian government’s coronavirus website.
Face masks
- Face masks are required to be worn in certain settings (unless an exemption applies), including while on public transport and in taxis and rideshare vehicles, in healthcare settings, and for workers in hospitality, healthcare, retail and early childhood centres.
- Face masks are strongly recommended indoors and outdoors if you can’t physically distance. In particular, staff are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask if they’re in a public-facing role (for example, in an office reception).
- A face mask is not required to be worn by a person while they are broadcasting, lecturing or teaching, nor while eating or drinking or completing strenuous exercise. Teachers and education support staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching, but can if they wish to do so.
- Staff are able to access surgical masks (or N95 masks for use in particular applications) through their Faculty/Department.
- Students are able to access surgical masks at University libraries, Security, Monash Connect, or from Monash COVID Marshalls.
- See this video for instructions on how to properly wear a face mask.
What to do if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
- In line with the Department of Health’s requirements, if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 you must get a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test if a RAT is not available, and self-isolate until a negative test result is received.
- Symptoms include fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, and loss of sense of smell or taste, however mild. To get further advice, call the 24-hour coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398, or your general practitioner. In certain circumstances, headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered.
- It’s important that we continue to keep our University community safe, and we all play a role in ensuring we can continue to deliver excellence in education and research. It’s important that any staff or students who are presenting with any potential symptoms of COVID-19 – including mild symptoms like a scratchy throat or runny nose – get tested and refrain from coming to the University until their test results are known.
- For general information on COVID-19, you can also contact the Department of Health national hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 020 080.
- On campus, the University Health Service, Clayton is open for PCR testing each day by appointment only. Call 9905 3175 to either book a time, or speak to the triage nurse for more information.. If you need advice on COVID-19, please call the Triage nurse using the number above. For after-hours advice, call the coronavirus hotline 24/7 on 1800 675 398.
- See a list of RATs that are TGA-approved for use in Australia.
Where to get tested - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test
- You can find your nearest PCR COVID testing site using the search tool on the Victorian government’s coronavirus website. Drive through testing sites close to our campuses include:
- Caulfield campus: Glen Eira Respiratory Clinic, 89-91 Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena
- Clayton campus: 4Cyte Pathology, 533 Blackburn Road, Mount Waverley
- Parkville campus: 4Cyte Pathology, 20C Leinster Grove, Brunswick East
- Peninsula campus: Bruce Park Hall, Frankston (enter off Margate Avenue).
Where to get tested - Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)
- You are encouraged to source a RAT when you are required to get tested.
- We encourage the Monash community to continue to access RATs via state-run testing centres. RATs are now available from COVID-19 testing sites.
What to do if you suspect you have been in close contact with a confirmed case
- Depending on whether you are considered a household (or household like) contact or have had other contact with a positive case (including at the workplace or in a social settings), the actions you need to take will differ. Visit this website to determine what type of COVID contact you are, and what you are required to do.
- If you are a household contact, you can only attend Monash’s Australian campuses or facilities in exceptional circumstances (i.e. staff shortages in a specialised work area or to progress on-campus research or teaching activities to ensure academic advancement) provided you:
- have no COVID-19 symptoms
- wear a mask at all times
- undertake daily Rapid Antigen Tests and only attend work or class following a negative result
- avoid sensitive settings as per the Department of Health guidelines.
What to do if you are tested for COVID-19
If the test is positive:
- If you are a Monash staff member or HDR student and you test positive to COVID-19, or are identified as a household contact to a person who has tested positive to COVID-19, you are advised to complete this form to notify the Monash University Contact Tracing Team and your supervisor.
- If you are a Monash student, you are advised to complete this form to notify Monash University.
- If you test positive on a RAT, you must report the result to the Department of Health through an online form or by phone – to make sure you can access the care and information needed, including monitoring for worsening symptoms and financial support for isolation.
- If you have taken a PCR test, your doctor or the clinic where you were tested will contact you by phone or SMS to advise you of your results, regardless if it is positive or negative.
- If you test positive, whether or not you have symptoms, you will need to immediately self-isolate – you may already be isolating at home after a PCR test. You may be contacted by a public health worker from the Department of Health for advice on next steps.
- If you have tested positive to COVID-19, you must follow the recommendations of your medical professional and the Department of Health, including the required self-isolation period and to notify your workplace and social contacts. For more information, see What to do if you test positive to COVID-19 on the Victorian government website.
If the test is negative:
- If you test negative using a rapid antigen test (RAT), there is no need to isolate, unless you are a household or household-like contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Please note that if the result is inconclusive or results in an error, you must complete a second RAT. If this is still inconclusive, seek a PCR test.
- If you have undertaken a PCR test for COVID-19, it may take a couple of days for the test results to be returned to you. During this time, you must isolate yourself in your home until your test results are received. If your test result is negative, you will no longer need to remain in isolation and can return to your normal activities once you are well again. For more advice on getting tested, visit the Victorian Government’s Coronavirus website.
- For more information on self-isolating, see here. Other members of your household are not required to isolate while you are waiting for a test result as long as they are well.
Campus safety measures
The health, safety and wellbeing of our community is our top priority, and we continue to be guided by the health advice of the Victorian Government, and the University’s Chief Medical Officer.
The following nine strategies in the University’s COVID Safe Plan all work in conjunction with each other to manage COVID-19. Monash constantly monitors the latest Government requirements, including Pandemic Orders and information from the Department of Health and Department of Education to keep these requirements up to date.
1. Come to campus well
- No staff, student or member of our community can visit any of our campuses if they’re feeling unwell and/or displaying the mildest of symptoms associated with COVID-19. They MUST get tested immediately and stay home until they have received a negative test result, and are fully recovered.
2. Physical distancing
- Where possible, 1.5 metres physical distancing is implemented. Staff workstations are designed to achieve 1.5 metres separation where possible. Floor markings have been installed in areas where staff and students may congregate including queues for service desks, retail outlets, lifts and kitchens.
3. Face masks
- Monash monitors the latest Government requirements for face masks, including the Pandemic Orders and Department of Health requirements. The current requirements are communicated to staff and students. You can find more information about face masks here.
4. Practise good personal hygiene
- Health alert posters have been installed across our campuses and on digital screens in all central teaching facilities to reinforce basic hygiene measures (e.g. washing your hands regularly; cough and sneeze etiquette etc.) to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
- Hand sanitiser stations have been installed across all buildings to allow staff and students to sanitise their hands as they enter and exit. In addition, all faculties and divisions are asked to provide hand sanitiser in their local offices/areas to allow staff and students to regularly sanitise their hands during the day.
5. Increased cleaning
- Increased cleaning in all of our buildings by staff wearing Hi-Vis pink jackets, following Monash's COVID-19 Cleaning Specifications Plan which meets the DH guidelines. This includes:
- Wiping down high-touch surfaces in all areas across campus at the start of each day, such as faculty/division and common areas.
- Continued cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the common areas throughout the day, which includes wiping down of light switches, doors handles, lift buttons, stair balustrades, flat table surfaces in the retail and public spaces.
- Additional cleaning of restroom facilities, including wiping down of the doors, sinks and hand dryers.
- To support the University’s increased cleaning regime:
- All facilities and divisions are asked to provide alcohol wipes in their offices and areas to allow staff and students to regularly wipe down their work station and equipment - particularly shared-use equipment and spaces.
- Laboratory areas are asked to provide appropriate cleaning materials to allow staff and students to clean their work areas and shared equipment and infrastructure.
- BPD provides all central teaching spaces with cleaning materials for the academics to clean the lectern, computer and audio-visual equipment. The cleaning materials are also provided to allow students to clean down the desks/tables, chairs and any shared equipment.
- All faculties are to provide cleaning materials in their teaching and collaboration spaces for academics and students to use.
- All staff, students and visitors must carry a face mask at all times. Face masks are only mandatory indoors in some high-risk settings.
- The University has a detailed management plan in place for a positive or suspected case of COVID-19 within the community, and has established a Crisis Management Team (CMT) who meet regularly to manage the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the University and its community.
6. Ensuring our buildings and spaces are well ventilated
- The University has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of all of its buildings to ensure the ventilation systems are effectively providing sufficient outside air and do not represent an increased COVID transmission risk. We are ensuring our ventilation systems are meeting or exceeding the Australian standard and we are monitoring and maintaining the systems.
- We have highly effective ventilation in the majority of our teaching, research, event and office buildings.
- All our central teaching, administrative, technical and laboratory buildings are supported by central air-conditioning systems that supply outside air and therefore represent a very low risk for COVID transmission.
- For those spaces with only local or no ventilation systems (less than 20 per cent of total spaces), we have assessed each one, and additional COVID safe measures are being applied to these buildings and spaces. This includes measures such as controlling room occupancy and opening windows and doors to provide outside air into the room. Activities involving large groups in small spaces with no or local ventilations systems are being scheduled to other well ventilated spaces.
- Working or studying outside is encouraged, where possible. Meetings, discussion groups etc. which do not require technology should ideally be undertaken outside if the weather permits.
- See this short video about the ventilation systems at Monash and their role in controlling the risk of COVID-19 transmission here.
- If you would like further information about the ventilation system in your building, see the COVID ventilation summary.
7. Positive case management
- Where a person who is positive to COVID-19 has attended a Monash location during their infectious period, this information is reported to the Monash University Contact Tracing Team.
- Exposure locations are noted on the Monash University Exposure Location webpage.
- Cleaning is arranged in accordance with the Department of Health requirements.
- The University records who has been present at Monash locations by using the security swipe system.
8. Work arrangements
- Monash has implemented a “hybrid” work strategy.
- Where events are planned, they are undertaken in accordance with Government requirements and the COVID Safe Plan.
9. Vaccination
- Effective from Monday 18 July, staff, contractors and other workers do not have to register their vaccination status or show proof of vaccination in order to attend Australian Monash campuses and other locations.
- Noting existing vaccination requirements remain in place for certain categories of workers including healthcare, residential aged care, emergency services and disability workers under the Pandemic Orders, and may be asked to provide their vaccination information to the University to support these activities.
- Students and visitors do not have to register their vaccination status or show proof of vaccination in order to attend Australian Monash campuses and other locations
- Students who have placements in healthcare and education facilities may be asked to provide their vaccination information to the University to support these activities
- Though not a requirement, the University will continue to encourage our community to be vaccinated to protect their health and the health of the broader Monash community, and provide access to vaccinations through the University Health Services.