Update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

On 1 June 2022, the Premier announced a phasing out of WA’s COVID-19 public health measures including changes to the mandatory vaccination policy for workers.

The changes mean that from Friday 10 June 2022 the majority of Western Australian workers will no longer need to be vaccinated to attend previously mandated workplaces.

However, workers in the following sectors must still be triple dose vaccinated to be able to enter their workplace:

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

Prior to work placement with an employer, students in these industry areas will need to be triple dose vaccinated.

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.

Update on COVID-19: easing public health measures

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 (1800 001 001).

Important information on COVID-19

On 23 December 2021, the Premier announced that WA workers who come under an existing COVID-19 vaccine mandate will now be required to have a third dose as part of the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy 

The mandatory vaccination policy applies to workers in high risk-industries, those interacting with people at an increased risk of being infected with COVID-19, or people who are vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, or other critical workers. 

To participate in live works training areas and work placements in industries covered by the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy, TAFE students are required to be double vaccinated. If eligible, students are also required to have a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, within a month of becoming eligible. 

Students will be required to provide evidence to TAFE of their vaccination status before attending work placement or participating in live works training area.  The evidence will be collected in class and stored securely.  

To better protect your health, your family and your community, everyone is strongly urged to receive their third dose, when eligible, even if not covered by this policy. 

Please use the ServiceWA app to check-in on campus and practice good hygiene, use hand sanitiser and follow the latest State Government advice on mask wearing. 

Campuses are being cleaned on a regular basis, and hand sanitiser is available across campuses in key locations. 

Please do not come to TAFE if you are feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms. If you do have symptoms get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.

If you need to take time off TAFE because you are self-isolating or have been contacted by WA Health, please advise your lecturer. 

We encourage you to keep up to date with the latest information and health advice by visiting the WA Government website(opens in a new tab) .

If you require any assistance, please contact our Client Services team by telephone 1800 001 001, email info@smtafe.wa.edu.au(opens in a new tab)  or Facebook messenger(opens in a new tab) .