COVID-19 updates
COVID-19 updates
It is the University’s expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with respiratory or COVID-19 symptoms attend a Monash campus or location.
Fact sheet
Campus operations under COVIDSafe settings
View fact sheet
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Before you come to campus, please be aware of the arrangements below.
Come to campus well
It is the University’s expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with any symptoms attend a Monash campus or location. Find out more on campus safety measures here.
Vaccination
All staff and students are encouraged to be vaccinated for vaccine-preventable infections according to their age and risk profile as per the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule.
NIP vaccinations are available at the University Health Service and usually through GP clinics.
All staff and students are encouraged to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination according to their age and risks. Find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on the Healthdirect website. COVID-19 Boosters are also available at the University Health Services for eligible groups.
All staff and students are encouraged to have an annual seasonal influenza vaccine.
Monash University Health Safety & Wellbeing coordinates a free annual influenza vaccination service for eligible staff members and for eligible students at Monash Residential Services.
Influenza vaccine is also available through University Health Services. The vaccine is free for students and staff eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule, with private vaccines available for those not eligible under the NIP.
Staff and students working or on placement in healthcare settings must comply with the infectious diseases testing, vaccination and immunisation direction of their Faculty and the host organisation. They may be asked to provide their vaccination information to the University to support these activities.
For staff or students working in health care or other sensitive settings, COVID-19 and other vaccination and isolation requirements may be required in prescribed settings under Secretary Directions.
Find out more about vaccination arrangements.
Face masks
Face masks are required to be worn in certain settings (unless an exemption applies), such as in healthcare settings. Face masks are recommended indoors and outdoors if you can’t physically distance.
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Camps, excursions
View our camps and excursions event information sheet for health and safety requirements when managing COVID-19-related issues during a student-managed camp or excursion.
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Respiratory/COVID-induced absence – educators
- If an educator is unable to attend campus (due to isolation requirements), the unit’s Chief Examiner (CE) will initially try to identify an alternate educator who will continue the activity on-campus at the scheduled time and location.
- If an alternate educator isn’t available, the learning activity may proceed with one of the following options with the approval of the Associate/Deputy Dean (Education):
- take place online at the same time as scheduled
- take place online at a later date
- take place in person at a later date.
- Fixed-term/ongoing staff who are isolating but are fit to work from home should contact their manager/supervisor to discuss Sick and Carers Leave Procedure, Working from Home Procedure, and Flexible Work Procedure.
Respiratory/COVID-induced absence – students
- If you are unable to attend your on campus scheduled classes, you can access class resources including recordings that are available, in Moodle.
- If you are unable to attempt or submit your assessments due to illness, you can apply for a short extension of two calendar days without the need for supporting documentation. For longer extensions you can apply for special consideration and provide a medical certificate.
- If you are unable to sit your scheduled final assessment, (either on campus or online) due to an illness, you can apply to defer your exam.
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Malaysia
- Please visit Monash University Malaysia's COVID-19 website for the latest information.
Prato
- Please visit the Monash Prato Centre's COVID-19 website for the latest information
Suzhou
- Our campus at Suzhou, China, in partnership with Southeast University, is open as normal.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Our campus in Mumbai, India, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, is open as normal.
Health advice and safety measures
View fact sheet
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- All students and staff are encouraged to follow the health advice of the Department of Health and that of the Monash Chief Medical Officer.
- It is the University’s expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with any symptoms attend a Monash campus or location. If you test positive to COVID-19 (even if you are asymptomatic) or you have COVID-19 symptoms, it is recommended that you do not return to onsite work until you are no longer symptomatic.
- 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.
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- All staff and students are encouraged to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination according to their age and risks.
- Find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on the Healthdirect website.
- COVID-19 boosters are available on campus at the University Health Services for eligible groups.
- International students currently in Australia have access to the COVID-19 vaccine for free
- Non-Medicare card holders can receive free vaccinations at selected pharmacies or GPs that administer COVID-19 vaccines. See: Pharmacies and GPs offering vaccinations can be located using the Vaccine Clinic Finder
- Staff and students working or on placement in healthcare settings or other sensitive settings must comply with the infectious diseases testing, vaccination and immunisation and isolation direction of their Faculty and the host organisation. They may be asked to provide their COVID-19 and other vaccination information to the University to support these activities.
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, or are not eligible for Medicare, you can get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination uploaded to your immunisation statement on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Do this by following the guidelines on the Services Australia website. However, you will first need an Individual Health Identifier (IHI).
How to get an IHI:
- Apply here for an IHI or 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. - All staff and students are encouraged to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination according to their age and risks.
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- Face coverings may continue to be required in specific settings including health and aged care and environments where people may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Staff and students engaged in these environments should follow the direction of the host organisation.
- Face coverings are not compulsory on campus. Face coverings may be worn if an individual chooses to do so.
- Face coverings are recommended to be worn by persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 for at least seven days after a positive test, or if they feel unwell, when they attend a Monash work location. (Noting it is the University's expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with COVID-19 symptoms attend a Monash campus or location.)
- As an infection control measure outlined in a local risk assessment, face masks may be required to be worn for specific University activities.
- Monash University may require the use of face masks in certain settings where this is endorsed by the Monash University Chief Medical Officer or their Deputy.
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- It is the University’s expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with any symptoms attend a Monash campus or location. View the campus safety measures tab below for more information.
- If you are at a Monash site and have any symptoms of COVID-19 it is recommended you put on a mask, go home and take a RAT test.
- Monash University does not routinely provide face-masks. However, if a staff or student becomes unwell with respiratory symptoms and requires a face-mask, masks should be available in local areas.
- Testing positive to COVID-19 or unwell with a Respiratory illness
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COVID-19 can take time to develop, so you should monitor for symptoms for at least 7 days after your last contact with the person who has COVID-19.
A close contact should regularly test for at least 7 days following their last contact with the person who has COVID-19 or if any symptoms develop.
You may attend a Monash location, but it is the University’s expectation that you do not attend if unwell, including having any respiratory or COVID-19 symptoms.
Even if you test negative, follow these recommended steps to protect those around you:
- avoid visiting sensitive settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities for at least 7 days:
- consider wearing particularly when you are not able to physically distance for 7 days
- let fresh air into your home or other indoor spaces by opening windows, where possible
- monitor for symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, cough, or fever/chills, and stay home and test if they present
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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 strategies in the University’s Respiratory Infections (including COVID) Safe Plan all work in conjunction with each other to manage COVID-19. Monash follows advice and information from the Victorian Government and the Department of Health, periodically reviewing the COVID Safe Plan and updating operations where deemed relevant.
The key strategies within the University's COVID Safe Plan include:
- Come to campus well
- Face coverings
- Practise good personal hygiene
- Cleaning
- Ensuring our buildings are well-ventilated
- Vaccination
Travel advice
View fact sheet
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The University has implemented a new travel approval system for staff who need to undertake business-related travel. More information is available on the Monash Travel Page.
From the Sunday 1 January 2023 all travel must be in accordance with the following:
- Staff and Student Travel Policy
- Staff Travel Procedure
- Student Travel Procedure
- Leading Student Group Travel Procedure
COVID-19 vaccination
- Travellers are responsible for ensuring they have obtained all required and recommended vaccinations at least four weeks prior to travel (including your return to the Monash campus location). Travellers should refer to the Immunisation Procedure for further information.
Travel insurance
- All travellers must ensure they have access to and are covered under the University’s travel insurance policy.
- Only travel that is formally approved (through the University’s travel approval system) will be covered by the University’s travel insurance policy.
- To understand what is and isn’t covered, please refer to Insurance Services.
Insurance coverage for COVID events (need to confirm on policy prior to booking, as the below may change)
Circumstance
Covered by insurance?
Notes
Traveller becomes sick with COVID-19 during journey (vaccinated or unvaccinated)
Yes
Covered for medical, isolation costs and cancellations.
Travellers should note that access to medical care in some locations may be difficult where health systems are under pressure.
Traveller becomes sick with COVID-19 prior to travel (vaccinated or unvaccinated)
Yes
Covered for cancellation costs
Any other related outbreak disruption to travel plans
No
As most COVID outbreaks or ‘fear’ of outbreaks will not enable reimbursement of travel related expenses (flights and accommodation) it is recommended that travel bookings (flights / accommodation) are made no more than three months in advance, and flexible fares are recommended.
Criteria for approved travel
- Staff must obtain approval to travel on University-related business before booking any of the associated flights or accommodation.
- Faculties and portfolios must only support travel requests that meet all three of the following criteria:
- Essential to the business of the University – aligning to the advancement of strategic and operational goals (including essential research as part of HDR undertakings and fellowships that have relocation conditional to funding outcomes)
- Have no alternative means to engage other than to travel, which will achieve the required outcomes
- Additionally, Deans and Portfolio Heads must ensure that the proposed travel is within revised travel budgets.
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Staff must obtain approval to travel by submitting their request via the new travel approval system.
The system will workflow a staff member’s request to their Travel Approver in the first instance. If the travel is deemed high-risk (DFAT level 3 or 4) it will automatically workflow to the Director, Global Security and Crisis Response, for review and consideration. All international travel will continue to require approval by the Dean or Portfolio Head.
Once staff receive approval to undertake travel they may proceed to book associated travel. Further information is available on the Monash Travel Page
Support for students
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- Monash Residential Services must adhere to all Victorian Government Department of Health restrictions in relation to COVID-19 in order to support the health, safety and wellbeing of the residential community.
- A range of support services are available to residents, including free confidential counselling for non- urgent counselling. To make a booking, call (03) 9905 3020 or request counselling help online. An email response is usually provided within 3 business days.
- Residents are reminded to clean all surfaces they come into contact with, practise good hygiene when using the shared kitchens within halls, avoid sharing personal household items with others; including dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils and tea towels. These items should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after use.
- Residents who are unwell are reminded to notify MRS staff so appropriate support can be provided
- Residents who return a positive COVID-19 result must notify a MRS staff member.
Support for staff
View fact sheet
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Flexible 3:2 ‘hybrid working’
- Academic staff flexibility continues unchanged.
- See the Flex at Monash website to find out more about the 3:2 hybrid model and how to apply.
- Professional staff can access flexible work arrangements in accordance with the Working from Home procedure, where their supervisor determines this can be accommodated within the requirements of their role.
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- We have a range of leave options available to staff in response to the potential impacts of COVID-19. Please refer to the COVID-19 Staff Guidelines for further information, or the staff intranet for other HR COVID-19 resources.
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- Key messaging to staff and students includes remaining vigilant and to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, no matter where we visit in the community.
- Monash University does not routinely provide face-masks. However, if a staff or student becomes unwell with respiratory or COVID symptoms and requires a face-mask, masks should be available in local areas.
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- Our fact sheet provides information for staff about work arrangements, leave provisions, changes to campus operations, health advice and more. Please discuss your personal circumstances with your supervisor or contact Access HR on (03) 9902 0400. The Employee Assistance Program is available 24/7 to all Monash staff on 1300 360 364.