Changes to COVID-Safe Settings in Victoria

Over the weekend, the state government made several changes to the COVID-Safe settings in Victoria and we have received advice from Catholic Education Sandhurst (CES) Ltd.

Please continue to check the COVID Updates page on the CMC website, where we endeavour to provide updated COVID information and requirements to keep our community safe.

 Vaccination Requirements

From 11.59 pm on Friday 24 June (in effect the start of Term 3), staff in Catholic schools and Early Childhood services will no longer need to meet vaccination requirements to attend work.

• Catherine McAuley College (CMC), along with all schools and kindergartens, will continue to have strong mitigation measures in place, including enhanced ventilation such as air purifiers, ongoing use of rapid antigen testing and ensuring those who are unwell stay home.
• This will continue to help keep our College as safe as possible.

 Transport of children to school by positive cases

A further change to the pandemic orders is that from 11.59pm on Friday 24 June, parents/carers who are COVID-19 positive can leave self-isolation to transport children to or from school or an early childhood service via private vehicle.

• The parent/carer must travel directly to and from the school/early childhood service only. They must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to walk the child to and from the entrance of the school/early childhood service safely.
• They must wear a face mask at all times.

 Special provision for senior secondary classroom learning and school-based assessment

CMC, along with a number of schools, have indicated concern regarding how absences due to COVID-19 and influenza have impacted on the learning at senior secondary level. The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is not intending at this stage to reinstate Consideration of Disadvantage (CED) as it did during 2020−21.

• However, the VCAA has indicated that schools may approve special provisions and arrangements for both classroom learning and school-based assessments to enable students with a disability, impairment or illness to demonstrate what they know, and to participate in classroom learning. In some cases, alternative assessment strategies may be needed.
• CMC is considering strategies that are appropriate for our College, where students have been impacted by periods of illness, either their own or their teachers. This information will be communicated to students, parents and carers.