31 January 2020

Deakin’s COVIDSafe FAQs

Updated Sunday 13 October

With the Premier’s announcement of Victoria’s Roadmap: Delivering The National Plan, there will be continuous changes to the COVIDSafe settings.

Despite these changes to restrictions, our campuses remain closed currently, with access limited to essential staff and those students living on campus. Current exemptions still apply for health and biomedical science students, some final-year students attending experiential learning and vulnerable students.

Read Our plans to re-open the campus and the Premier’s announcement on the Vaccination required to protect worksers and Victoria.

Essential FAQ’s
Current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne
Current settings in regional Victoria
Playing your part
Learning and other uni activities
Vulnerable students
Staying safe
COVID-19 Vaccination Digital Certificate
Accessing support and assistance
Important links

Essential FAQ’s

Current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, Mitchell Shire, and Mildura Rural City Council

During this lockdown there are only six reasons you can leave your home:

shopping for necessary goods and services (once per day, one person per household)
caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test
authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education
exercise (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent outdoors socialising in limited groups)
outdoor social interaction in limited groups (once a day for up to 4 hours, and that 4 hours includes any time spent on exercise)
to get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)

A stay-at-home curfew is in place for metropolitan Melbourne, between 9 pm and 5 am, you cannot leave your home (or the home of your intimate partner or bubble buddy) other than for limited reasons, including:

authorised work
health and medical purposes
care and support of a child or someone with special needs
in an emergency or to escape harm.
The curfew does not apply to regional Victoria (including Mitchell Shire and Mildura Rural City Council).

Face masks are to be worn at all times – both indoors and outdoors – except if you’re at home or an exemption applies.

A travel limit of 15 kilometres from your primary place of residence applies. Travel is allowed for authorised work or permitted education. Permits are required, and more detail is provided below.

Current settings in regional Victoria (excl. the above named LGA)

There are no stay-at-home requirements, but if you can study from home, you should.
Travel is permitted in regional Victoria, with no limit on the distance you can travel.
You cannot travel to metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell Shire, except for permitted reasons.
Face masks are to be worn at all times – both indoors and outdoors – except if you’re at home or an exemption applies.
Private gatherings in the home are not permitted.
Outdoor gatherings in public spaces can occur with up to 10 people.
Food and hospitality venues are open for seated service only with density limits.
Childcare centres are open.

Playing your part

If you’re concerned you have been at an exposure site, you must visit the Victorian Government exposure site listing and follow the instructions carefully.

If you feel unwell, it is essential you get tested promptly at a COVID-19 testing site and follow the instructions.

Information about Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program is being updated based on this latest outbreak. We strongly encourage eligible students to take up the opportunity for vaccination as soon as they are eligible. Regardless of any current restrictions, you’re allowed to leave home and travel to get vaccinated.

Learning and other uni activities

From Friday October 15

All students undertaking permitted learning activities will need to have evidence of having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is a public health order and as such is mandatory.
We’ll reissue all student permits confirming that proof of vaccination has been sighted. We’ll make these available once we have access to the relevant government form and will contact you directly.

From the start of Trimester 3, Friday 5 November

All Deakin campuses will be open to fully vaccinated people.
Some areas of campus – for example, cafes and some other public spaces – will not be accessible to those who are not fully vaccinated and do not hold a valid medical exemption. This will be determined by regulations in the Victorian Government Roadmap.
You’ll continue to study online for the remainder of 2021.
Experiential learning activities will be scheduled on campus from 22 November for fully vaccinated students.

From Monday 31 January 2022

In T1/S1 2022, we’re getting back to campus: many classes, seminars and hands-on learning activities will be delivered in person. This will continue to be underpinned by Deakin’s digital learning environment, with students and teachers actively collaborating to bring learning to life.
All on-campus students will be expected to be fully vaccinated.
Cloud students may continue their studies online without vaccination, but we strongly encourage vaccination for the entire Deakin community.

Permits and permitted clinical placements, experiential learning and work-integrated learning

Experiential learning is still permitted for some healthcare and final-year students.

Permits are required when travelling to undertake permitted learning activities. Your permit will be emailed to your Deakin email address before the scheduled activity begins. If you haven’t received your permit by 4pm on the day before your scheduled activity, check your unit site for confirmation you need a permit, and then contact Student Central.

Permitted student health and medical placements will continue where partner institutions remain open, including those beyond the five-kilometre limit. Work-integrated learning will continue online or be postponed. We’ll contact you if you’re affected.

Please continue to check your unit sites and Deakin email for updated information.

Vulnerable students

If you feel unsafe or threatened while studying or working from home, Safer Community can provide support and advice, including access to campus if deemed necessary.

call us on 03 9244 3734 (9am–4pm, Monday to Friday)
email [email protected]
For emergencies, please call Triple Zero 000

If you have significant financial, technology, internet, or health and wellbeing issues, please contact Student Central. They will refer you to appropriate support, including access to campus if deemed necessary. Please note: any approved access to campus will require an authorised permit arranged on your behalf through Student Central.

Staying safe

To ensure your safety and the safety of our entire Deakin community, please:

Carry a face mask at all times and wear indoors and outdoors where 1.5 metres of physical distancing cannot be maintained. 
Adhere to all COVIDSafe practices, including check-in via the COVIDSafe QR codes.
Self-check and stay home if you’re unwell – use the Symptom Checker testing and quarantine guidance.
Complete Deakin’s COVIDSafe module before attending a campus for the first time.
Maintain good hand hygiene and use the hand sanitiser available.

COVID-19 Vaccination Digital Certificate

Victorians can add their COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app through MyGov or the Express Medicare Plus App. As we progress through Victoria’s Roadmap and the National Roadmap you will be required to show proof of vaccination you can use the vaccination card you received when you got your second dose of vaccine.

Anyone aged 14 and above can get their immunisation history statement or digital certificate using either:

your Medicare online account through  myGov
the Express Plus Medicare mobile app.

If you do not have a smart phone visit Services Australia for information on how to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination.

It important to note that your immunisation history may take up to 10 days to update. It is recommended you keep your booking confirmation or card received at the time of vaccination for this time.

Accessing support and assistance

You can continue to access a range of Deakin support services online:

Student Central: Student Central Hubs on our campuses remain temporarily closed. If you have a question about your enrolment or course, finances or other issues, contact Student Central.
Deakin Library: All campus libraries will be temporarily closed. Contact the Library via Library Chat, email or phone. While the library is closed, essential study spaces are available for vulnerable students and staff. For further information visit, Deakin’s COVIDSafe FAQ.
Study Support: Access a range of academic and study support online, including help from Language and Learning Advisers, Writing and Maths Mentors, and Smarthinking.
IT Help: Access IT Help online or over the phone, Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm, and weekends, 11am–5pm.
Deakin Medical Centres: Remain open for free and confidential face-to-face or telehealth consultations. By appointment only – book online or by phone. You must always wear a face mask.
Counselling and Psychological Support (CAPS): Students located in Australia can talk to one of our highly skilled social workers and psychologists. Telehealth appointments only – book online or by phone.
Safer Community: If you feel unsafe or need to report sexual harm or family violence, contact the Safer Community team online, by phone or by email.
Disability Resource Centre (DRC): The DRC is available Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm via phone or email.
Financial assistance: If you’re in financial difficulty, visit our Financial Assistance website for more information and to contact a Financial Assistance Officer for personalised support. Financial support during COVID-19 is also available from the Victorian Government.
Multifaith Chaplains: Contact your preferred Multifaith Chaplain via phone or email for a confidential chat.
Prayer rooms: Temporarily closed.
Learning Centres: Temporarily closed.
DeakinACTIVE: Temporarily closed.