Amid the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Government has maintained its support for National Cabinet’s framework to enable students to return to school, face-to-face, on the first day of term one.

The government has been assessing details of the latest virus surge and expects to announce updated details this month.

Education Minister James Merlino said the government had provided more than $190-million for projects in schools across Victoria to keep students and staff safe and prevent any more learning disruption in 2022.

“Our school workforce and students aged 12 and older have done an amazing job getting vaccinated quickly to protect their school communities – and we expect families will be just as keen to protect their younger children ahead of term one,” he said.

Education department plans to address any staff shortages due to COVID-19 include drawing on ‘a wide range of’ teaching staff, including casual-relief teachers.

Department advice is that the best thing families can do is get their children vaccinated with a first dose as soon as possible at a state site, GP or pharmacy. 

Mr Merlino said the government acknowledged demand for vaccine appointments was high and urged people to be patient.

He confirmed in the biggest investment in education ventilation in Australian history, 51,000 air purifiers would be in all government and low-fee non-government schools by the start of term one. 

This would remove potentially infectious particles – such as coronavirus – from high-risk areas in schools including staff rooms, sick bays, music rooms and other high-traffic areas.
Mr Merlino said these schools were also entitled to grants of up to $25,000 to buy shade sails, with $60-million invested to create more outdoor learning spaces and make it easier for outdoor learning to occur.

“We’re also stepping up to help local doctors and community pharmacies to deliver more doses for the five-to-11-year-old cohort on school grounds as part of the Commonwealth’s coronavirus vaccination program,” he said.

“Through a new $4-million grants program, the government is encouraging GPs and community pharmacists to establish additional mini-vaccination clinics at schools in areas that need more uptake, due to identified access challenges or increased risk of transmission.”

The government also plans to roll out 30 pop-up vaccination clinics at primary schools across the state. The pop-ups will be open to all children aged five to 11, not just students attending the school hosting the clinic.

Mr Merlino said the pop-up school vaccination sites would roll out during the coming weeks, with bookings available soon. 

“Families are encouraged to make a booking now at one of the many state-run sites open for children aged  five to 11, or at one of the many local GPs and pharmacists delivering kids vaccines across the state,” he said.

The entire January 19, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!