Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice

Updated 30 January 2024

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

  • Latest new for staff & students – January 2024

    COVID-19 Protocols on campus

    COVID is remains a risk to all of us as an infectious disease, especially vulnerable groups.

    As with any illness the university asks you to stay at home if you are not well.

    A focus remains on vaccination, prevention, reducing transmission and management of serious illness, hospitalisations and death.

    For the safety of all, the University strongly encourages 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;
    • Continue to follow local health advice and COVID-19 protocols, especially those in hospital and aged care settings;
    • Use sanitiser and practice good hand hygiene;
    • Maintain distancing where possible
    • Mask wearing when in close contact with others, particularly in high volume, mixed population settings; and
    • Maintain where possible and practical 1.5m physical distancing on Campus.

  • Vaccination

    The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is currently recommending that people aged 18 and over receive a booster dose of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, which is specifically targeted to the Omicron variant.

  • 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.

  • 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: safety@nd.edu.au or to your line or School manager.