Regional Victoria to return to lockdown from 21 August
Following the Victorian government announcement today, regional Victoria joined metropolitan Melbourne in lockdown, commencing from 1pm Saturday 21 August, to halt the recent regional COVID-19 outbreak.
From this time, Geelong and Warrnambool campuses are closed to students and staff, excluding essential staff and those students living on campus. Exemptions also apply for health, biomedical science, and some final year students attending experiential learning. Read more about the latest lockdown restrictions.
What you need to know
During there are only five reasons you can leave your home:
- Shopping for necessary goods and services.
- Authorised work or permitted education.
- Caregiving, compassionate, and medical reasons.
- Exercise a two-hour limit with one other person, no more than 5km from your home.
- To get COVID-19 vaccinated – it is strongly recommended all eligible people get their vaccination.
Face masks are to be worn at all times – both indoors and outdoors – except if at home or if an exemption applies.
A travel limit of five 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.
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. To get information on booking your vaccination if you are eligible, Find out how to get a vaccination if you’re eligible.
Read the full breakdown of restrictions.
Learning and other uni activities
Scheduled on-campus experiential learning (practicals and workshops), events and other activities in Warrnambool and Geelong will be paused until 2 September.
Last week we announced the decision to keep all classes and seminars online for the remainder of the current study period (Trimester 2/Semester 2). This decision was made to provide some level of certainty for staff and students. There may be exceptions for seminars in some health courses. Affected students will be notified in their unit or course sites.
Permits and permitted clinical placements, experiential learning and work-integrated learning
As per previous advice, experiential learning is permitted for some healthcare and final-year students as specified by the Victorian Government.
Permitted student health and medical placements will continue where partner institutions remain open, including those beyond the five-kilometre limit. Check your unit sites and Deakin email for information.
From 11:59pm Monday 23 August, you must carry a permit when travelling to undertake all such permitted learning activities. Students undertaking permitted learning activities will have permits emailed to their Deakin email address before the scheduled activity begins.
If you have not 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.
Work-integrated learning will shift to online or be postponed. If you are affected, you’ll be directly contacted.
Please continue to check your unit sites and Deakin email for updated information.
The restrictions are in place until 11:59pm Thursday 2 September. If at this time government restrictions ease, there may be opportunities to increase practice-based learning activities on campus. Information of any changes will be communicated in your unit sites and the Deakin Life blog.
Supporting you to succeed
We continue to offer all services online to enable you to continue with your study. We are also developing a holistic support and engagement program to assist you to stay motivated, focussed and connected to your study, your peers, and to Deakin.
Join us for several online sessions to help support your studies and physical and mental wellbeing:
- Yoga: Monday 23 & 30 August, 12.15–1pm REGISTER NOW
- Meditation: Tuesday 24 & Thursday 26 August, 10.15–10.30am REGISTER NOW
- Pilates: Wednesday 25 August, 12.15–1pm REGISTER NOW
Workshops
- Learning and motivation for study success: Tuesday 24 August, 1–3pm REGISTER NOW
- Strategies for managing stress and anxiety: Tuesday 14 September, 1–3pm REGISTER NOW
Reaching out to get help.
The ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause significant disruption to our entire community. The constantly evolving and uncertain situation may leave you feeling overwhelmed by the constant news and amount of information about the pandemic. Managing your mental health during this time of change and uncertainty can be an ongoing challenge.
If you are feeling impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in any way, please reach out to one of our free support services:
- Make a free and confidential telehealth appointment with a Deakin Counselling and Psychological Support (CAPS) counsellor or see one of our doctors at a Deakin Medical Centre.
- Visit our Ask Counselling blog, which contains questions asked by students and answered by Deakin counsellors. All questions and responses are anonymous.
- Access a range of mental health resources in the eWellbeing Hub.
- Contact Safer Community to report or disclose sexual harm (recent or historical, and either on- or off-campus); to report domestic family violence or problem behaviour, or to access support. All assistance is confidential.
- Talk to one of Deakin’s Multifaith Chaplains, who offer compassionate support to everyone, whether religious or not.
- Still not sure where to go? Just contact Student Central, who can direct you to services right across the University.
Remember: for an emergency, 24-hour support, contact LifeLine or SuicideLine.
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.
More information will be provided as soon as possible
- You’ll receive regular communications from the University and your Unit Chairs about the evolving COVID-19 situation and any changes that affect you.
- Check your unit sites via DeakinSync and monitor your student emails for course updates, information and tips.
- Bookmark our FAQs for the latest information about what services are available and how to access them.