What do the new State of Disaster restrictions mean for T2/S2 teaching and campus access?
It’s been another tough few weeks, with the COVID-19 pandemic escalating further. On Sunday 2 August, Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Disaster for Victoria. For at least the next six weeks, metropolitan Melbourne will be under Stage 4 restrictions, while from 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August, Stage 3 restrictions will apply throughout regional Victoria.
This situation continues to be challenging for all students and staff. We want you to know that you have our full support – remember that you’re part of a caring community that is here to help you through this tough period.
Did you get to check out Mind Matters week, our yearly spotlight on student health and wellbeing? Held from 3 to 7 August, we ran a range of online activities to help you prioritise your mental health and nurture yourself. View the full range of Mind Matters mental health advice and information, including links to external resources and tools.
How Deakin is responding to the new restrictions
These changes significantly impact our Burwood Campus operations, and those staff and students required to travel to/from Stage 3 and 4 restricted areas. We continue to review and adjust our plans for on-campus activity based on evolving government advice. Any changes to previous arrangements are effective immediately.
Teaching arrangements
- All classes and seminars will continue to be delivered online.
- On-campus teaching at Burwood Campus will now be restricted to exempt units in nursing and midwifery. If you’re enrolled in another unit that was being delivered on-campus at Burwood, further information for students enrolled in impacted units will be provided in the week commencing 10 August, with alterations communicated via your unit sites.
- Prioritised practicals and labs will continue as timetabled at Waurn Ponds, Waterfront and Warrnambool campuses.
- Students who live in Stage 4 restriction areas who are studying nursing, midwifery, optometry, medicine and medical imaging, at Geelong campuses may travel to attend practical and labs with a letter of confirmation of the need to travel. (See details for travel and permits below.)
- For our HDR students, approved critical research activity will continue at Burwood Campus under strict protocols and monitoring and Local Area Management Plans. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure or have questions. In regional areas, Geelong and Warrnambool, on-campus and fieldwork research activity that has already been prioritised and approved will continue unchanged, under strict protocols and monitoring and Local Area Management Plans.
Burwood Campus access is by exemption only
The only students eligible to attend Burwood Campus are those scheduled for nursing and midwifery practice and labs, and HDR students involved in critical research activity that has been exempt and approved are also eligible to attend. HDR students with questions should contact their supervisor.
Students eligible and approved to attend campus will need to:
- Carry a letter of confirmation of the need to travel (see travel and permits below)
- Sign in and sign out with Security in Building C each time you attend campus
- Wear a face covering and adhere to all COVIDSafe practices outlined in your learning module
- Even with permission to be on campus, you must not attend campus if you are unwell. Please read Your Health and Wellbeing.
Travel and permits
Anyone who is travelling within or across the Stage 4 restricted area of Melbourne for their studies must carry a letter of confirmation of the need to travel.
Allowable travel includes:
- Where a student is travelling from Melbourne to a regional campus for study allowed under Stage 4 restrictions.
- Clinical students travelling to a regional campus who are undertaking a placement in registered health professional programs.
- A regional-based researcher undertaking approved fieldwork in another regional area that requires travel through the Stage 4 restricted area.
Those students identified as eligible under the Stage 4 restrictions to attend Burwood Campus or travel as outlined above will receive an email with details of confirmation of the need to travel.
If you have not received an email within the next 24 hours and believe you meet eligibility requirements to attend Burwood Campus or travel, please check your unit site for information or contact Student Central.
Other on-campus activity and facilities
- Library – Burwood Library is now closed. Other campus libraries will remain open under the current library COVID-19 arrangements for Deakin students and staff only.
- Health and Wellbeing – Deakin Medical Centres are offering telehealth consultations. You can book an appointment online or via phone.
- All DeakinACTIVE fitness centres are now closed until further notice.
- Student Central – campus hubs are currently closed for face-to-face enquiries but you can submit an online enquiry, select a self-service option or call us.
- Deakin Residential Services remain operational under the relevant restrictions.
Further information and support
We’ll continue to give you the latest information as needed, so make sure you:
- read all emails from Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin and Chief Operating Officer Kean Selway
- bookmark our COVID-19 FAQs, which are updated regularly
- visit the Department of Health and Human Services Coronavirus website.
And remember that support is available – from health and wellbeing services to advice and resources for succeeding at online study.