Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice

Updated 20 October 2022

Protocols on Campus Vaccination Plus Approach

The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to supporting our students and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to follow public health advice to ensure the wellbeing of our community. You can find up to date information at the following links:

Department of Health NSW Health WA Health VIC Health Smartraveller Transport NSW Transperth

General enquiries, notifications and advice related to the COVID-19 may be directed to coronavirusadvice@nd.edu.au. Your enquiries will be referred appropriately and answered as promptly as possible.

  • Latest news for staff

    24 January 2023

    As our staff and students start returning to campus for the new year, we are continuing to transition back to pre-pandemic modes of work and study.

    We look forward to having all students on campus in 2023 and bringing vibrancy to our community.

    If you are unwell, please stay home until you are feeling better. To make individual arrangements contact your School and Offices.

    Please review the COVID Protocols on Campus for the current measures in place.

    We ask all staff and students to be mindful of those in the community who are vulnerable.

    We strongly encourage people to carry a mask at all times and remind everyone to be respectful of those who choose to use them.

    If you have questions or need advice related to COVID-19, please email coronavirusadvice@nd.edu.au.

    Your questions will be answered as quickly as possible.

    Full news archive

  • Latest news for students

    5 October 2022

    Last week major changes were announced to the national COVID-19 isolation requirements.

    National Cabinet, which comprises the Prime Minister and the State and Territory leaders, decided that rules forcing people to isolate for five days if they test positive to COVID-19 will end from October 14.

    Although the isolation requirements will be eased, it still remains important for staff and students to continue to do the right thing to help us keep our campuses safe and open. Guided by the University’s Vaccination Plus: Seven Points of Defence approach, we continue to encourage everyone to take appropriate and sensible steps to ensure their health and safety, along with others around them.

    For the safety of all, the University strongly recommends that you continue take the following steps:

    - Get vaccinated including all available boosters;

    - Stay home if you are feeling unwell with COVID-19 like symptoms and get tested; and

    - Continue to follow local health advice and COVID-19 protocols, especially those in hospital and aged care settings.

    We would like to once again thank you for playing your part to minimise the spread of COVID-19 across the University and our communities. It has been a remarkable effort to keep each other safe and well.

    Jane Street

    Pro Vice Chancellor, People and Culture

    Full news archive

  • Resources and Guides

  • Student Hardship Assistance Fund

    This Student Hardship Assistance Fund has been set up in direct response to the challenges many of our students are currently facing due to the global COVID-19 health crisis. The purpose of the Fund is to offer support to those who need urgent assistance while continuing their studies at The University of Notre Dame Australia.

    Find out if you’re eligible and apply for financial assistance.

  • Working and studying online

    For information about learning online and off-campus, visit learning online.
    For information about teaching or working online and off-campus, visit working online.

  • Mental health and wellbeing

    If you are feeling anxious or distressed, there are professional counselling services available to Notre Dame staff and students:

    Please remember you should not attend an in-person counselling appointment if you are experiencing flu, viral or respiratory symptoms.

    You can also access general mental health support through the following national services:

  • COVID-19 Protocols on Campus

    For Semester 2 2022, there are no conditions of entry for accessing our campuses; however, staff and students in health care and certain education settings must continue to comply with vaccination requirements provided by jurisdictional Public Health Orders or Directions. However, the following COVID-19 infection control measures are in place:

    Vaccination

    The University strongly encourages you to be at least fully vaccinated for COVID (two doses) when accessing our Broadway, Fremantle and Broome campuses.

    Students attending our clinical sites must comply with the relevant health directives in their State. If you are unsure whether you are impacted by jurisdictional requirements, students should contact their school, and staff members should contact their line manager.
    The University also strongly encourages you to have received an annual influenza shot.

    Respiratory Illness / Isolation/Exclusion

    The University continues with the precautionary approach of asking staff and students showing any COVID-19 symptoms not to attend Campus or site.

    If you are unwell for any reason, you should stay home, rest and recuperate.

    Please inform the University by following the usual absence reporting procedure and contacting your line manager or School Manager, as applicable.

    Close Contacts and persons who have been in a high-risk exposure situations should contact their line manager or School Manager, who will support you by:

    • assessing the need for you to come on campus
    • putting in place any temporary reasonable adjustments (i.e., work or study from home during absence)

    Preventing respiratory illness through good hygiene practices

    • Use sanitizer to maintain excellent hand hygiene at all times.
    • To reduce the general risk of acute respiratory infections, wash your hands frequently (including before and after eating) using soap and water, practice cough etiquette - if you need to cough or sneeze cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow and dispose of tissues immediately - and avoid contact with people suffering from an acute respiratory infection.
    • Please do not attend campus when unwell even if a RAT or PCR test is negative as all infections on Campus are a problem to those around you. Please keep others safe during these challenging times, it’s a team effort!.

    Masks

    The University recommends mask wearing when in close contact with others, particularly in high volume, mixed population settings.

    The University strongly encourages the voluntary use of masks. Amongst other things, those students and staff who wear masks in classrooms will reduce their exposure risks.

    Some sites, such as the University’s Clinical campuses, may have a greater requirement for mask wearing due to the nature of the activities on those sites and may be required at all times. The type of masks recommended may vary from time to time, depending on the prevailing risks.

    Physical Distancing

    Maintain where possible and practical 1.5m physical distancing on Campus.

    Maintaining appropriate physical distancing and minimising unnecessary interactions have been key controls the University has implemented throughout the pandemic. Physical distancing has significantly reduced the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.

    It is the University’s intention to maintain where possible and practical 1.5m physical distancing on Campus, however, due to the nature of our operations, it is accepted this is not always possible.

    Close contact between individuals, including handshaking and personal intimate contact with colleagues, is discouraged by the University.
    Physical distancing should be maintained in lifts and waiting areas where it is practical to do so. Priority should be given to people who are less mobile.

    People Vulnerable to COVID Infection

    Staff and students who identify as “vulnerable” to adverse consequences if infected with COVID-19, regardless of the reasons impacting that vulnerability, are asked to notify their School if a student or P&C if a staff member. Then, should it be deemed appropriate, a personal plan may be developed to mitigate the risks associated with the person’s vulnerability to COVID-19, and to keep them healthy and safe if (a) physically attending campus and (b) in the event a positive COVID-19 case is identified on campus.

    Further Information

    Requests for specific advice regarding COVID related matters may be made via email to: coronavirusadvice@nd.edu.au or to your line or School manager.