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COVID-19 update

Please read all the latest information and updates on COVID-19.

National Cabinet agreed on 30 September 2022 to implement a nationally consistent approach to easing Australia’s COVID-19 response measures.

From 14 October 2022, the COVID Transition (Testing and Isolation) Directions are revoked. This removes mandatory requirements for isolation, testing and mask wearing for cases and contacts.

COVID-19 remains a risk to our health and wellbeing, particularly those vulnerable to respiratory illness, so it is very important for all of us to take personal responsibility to keep ourselves, our families and our colleagues safe.

Taking personal responsibility

First and foremost, stay home if you have cold or flu symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever). 

If you have these symptoms, get tested as soon as possible. WA.gov.au has detailed information on how to access tests.

If you test positive to COVID-19, you are strongly encouraged to continue to:

  • Not attend work until the symptoms have resolved (unless advised otherwise by your employer)
  • Register your RAT result
  • Tell your household members and intimate partners that you have tested positive for COVID-19
  • Advise work that you have tested positive for COVID-19.

Please also continue to practise healthy hygiene habits including:

  • Washing/sanitising hands regularly
  • Wearing masks if required, if unwell or if in indoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible
  • Testing for COVID-19 if experiencing symptoms
  • Staying up to date with vaccinations.

Public health and social measures (PHSMs), and isolation requirements have changed.

The requirements for COVID-19 cases and close contacts are changing as of Friday 9 September 2022. Find a summary of changes below:

  • Masks are no longer required on public transport, domestic airplanes and taxi and ride share services. See the WA Government and HealthyWA websites for information.

    • Masks are strongly encouraged when physical distancing isn’t possible, including on public transport and when indoors.
    • Masks must be worn in high-risk settings including healthcare settings, hospitals, aged care facilities, residential care facilities (including disability care and mental health residential facilities), and correctional facilities) to protect those at risk of severe illness.
  • People who test positive for COVID-19 may leave isolation after five (5) days, if their acute symptoms have resolved. Those who continue to have symptoms after 5 days must remain isolated until symptoms have resolved. The close contact isolation period has also reduced to 5 days.
    • Find information for COVID-19 cases and close contacts on the WA Government website.
    • Find information on face masks on the WA Government website.
  • People who are a case or close contact at the time of the changes come into effect (12:01am 9 September 2022) should follow the updated requirements. Cases and close contacts who meet the new criteria to leave isolation as of 9 September may do so.
  • Everyone is still encouraged to remain vigilant as WA continues the transition to ‘Living with COVID’. PHSMs that are recommended to protect from COVID-19 and other illnesses include:
    • performing hand hygiene
    • practising physical distancing
    • wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings, and when visiting those most vulnerable to severe COVID-19 illness
    • staying up-to-date with vaccination doses
    • staying home when you’re unwell
    • taking a COVID-19 test if symptoms develop.

Students enrolled in courses that require them to undertake mandatory work placement with an employer in the following industry must be triple dose vaccinated prior to their work placement.

  • Healthcare and health support workers in hospitals and primary health care settings
  • Workers in residential aged care
  • Workers in residential disability settings.

These students will be asked to provide evidence ahead of their work placement. The evidence will be collected and stored securely.

If students do not supply evidence, they will not be able to undertake the work placement component of the course, which may prevent them from completing the course. 

Please note, this evidence may also need to be shown to an employer during work placement, if applicable.

Based on the latest health advice, effective 12:01am Friday 29 April, WA’s public health measures will ease back to baseline settings. For TAFE students, lecturers and staff it means:  

  • Masks are no longer required at indoor venues including classrooms. Students and staff undertaking work placements in identified settings, including hospitals, aged care and disability care facilities, prisons and correctional facilities and airports, will need to continue to wear masks while at those facilities.
  • While masks are no longer mandatory, masks are encouraged where physical distancing isn’t possible and you may still wear a mask if you wish.
  • Students and staff using public transport or rideshares to get to campus must wear a mask while travelling.
  • The proof of vaccination requirement has been removed for entry to all TAFE venues including our training restaurants and beauty therapy clinics.
  • Vaccination requirements for employment and work placements remain.
  • Travel to some remote Aboriginal communities will remain restricted to protect these more vulnerable communities.

WA has removed quarantine requirements for asymptomatic close contacts. Students, lecturers, staff and visitors are reminded that for the seven days following their designation as a close contact, they are allowed to leave the house provided they have no symptoms and they:

  • undertake daily Rapid Antigen Testing;
  • wear a mask outside the home;
  • avoid high-risk settings, including hospitals, health care settings, disability and aged care facilities and correctional facilities;
  • work from home, where possible; and
  • notify the college and their employer of their close contact status.

Campuses continue to be cleaned regularly, with particular attention to high contact surfaces. Hand sanitiser is available across campuses in key locations. As always, please practise good personal hygiene – wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

We encourage you to continue to follow WA Government advice. If you require any assistance, please contact our Client Services team by telephone 1300 300 822.

Further information and assistance

  • The Western Australian Government website – WA.gov.au  
  • The Australian Government Department of Health website has up-to-date healthcare and medical information. 
  • The Health Direct website has frequently asked questions, and a symptom checker. 
  • For details regarding travel restrictions and international travel, visit the Home Affairs website. There is also information available on the Smart Traveller website.
  • COVID Clinics are now open — visit the HealthyWA website for details.
  • For free advice and assistance, call the Australian Government’s Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.