COVID-19 vaccination mandate

Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers are required to sign and return a Declaration on behalf of their company to contractorvax@curtin.edu.au

Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers will not be required to provide to Curtin University individual proof of vaccination or exemption for each of their employees or subcontractors, but may be required to provide such evidence to Curtin University upon request.

Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers, their employees and any subcontractors may be required to show evidence of vaccination status on entry into some Curtin University buildings or premises, or on request while on Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds or facilities.

From 22 February 2022, Curtin University will be engaging COVID Marshals who will be spot checking the vaccination status of people at our Western Australian campuses and facilities. Please ensure that you always have proof of your vaccination status on you. Accepted forms of evidence are your:

1. COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate;
2. Immunisation History Statement;
3. International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Commonwealth Government to the person showing the COVID-19 vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register;
4. Foreign vaccination certificate that meets the criteria set out by the Australian Passport Office in its guidance on foreign vaccination certificates; or
5. Other evidence approved by the Chief Operating Officer or Provost (or their delegate).

All Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers and their employees and subcontractors will be required to comply with Curtin University’s COVID-19 Vaccination requirements and any applicable Government direction if attending a Curtin University Western Australian campus or facility, including tenanted areas.

Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers and their employees and subcontractors who do not comply risk having their access to Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds and facilities, including tenanted areas, restricted or revoked, and may risk their ongoing engagement or future provision of services at Curtin University.

Tenants are required to sign and return a Declaration on behalf of their company to tenantvax@curtin.edu.au

Tenants will not be required to provide to Curtin University individual proof of vaccination or exemption for each of its employees or subcontractors, but may be required to provide such evidence to Curtin University upon request.

Tenants, their employees and any subcontractors may be required to show evidence of vaccination status on entry into some Curtin University buildings or facilities, or on request while on Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds or facilities.

From 22 February 2022, Curtin University will be engaging COVID Marshals who will be spot checking the vaccination status of people at our Western Australian campuses and facilities. Please ensure that you always have proof of your vaccination status on you. Accepted forms of evidence are your:

1. COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate;
2. Immunisation History Statement;
3. International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Commonwealth Government to the person showing the COVID-19 vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register;
4. Foreign vaccination certificate that meets the criteria set out by the Australian Passport Office in its guidance on foreign vaccination certificates; or
5. Other evidence approved by the Chief Operating Officer or Provost (or their delegate).

All tenants and tenant employees and subcontractors will be required to comply with Curtin University’s COVID-19 Vaccination requirements and any applicable Government direction when attending a Curtin University Western Australian campus or facility, including tenanted areas.

Tenants or tenant employees or subcontractors who do not comply risk having their access to Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds and facilities, including tenanted areas, restricted or revoked.

Tenants who are non-compliant may be in breach of their lease or licence, and may risk their lease/licence tenure.

Visitors will be required to show evidence of vaccination status upon entry to some Curtin University buildings and events and may be required to produce this evidence while on Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds or facilities when asked.

From 22 February 2022, Curtin University will be engaging COVID Marshals who will be spot checking the vaccination status of people at our Western Australian campuses and facilities. Please ensure that you always have proof of your vaccination status on you. Accepted forms of evidence are your:

a) COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate;

b) Immunisation History Statement;

c) International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Commonwealth Government to the person showing the COVID-19 vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register;

d) Foreign vaccination certificate that meets the criteria set out by the Australian Passport Office in its guidance on foreign vaccination certificates; or

e) Other evidence approved by the Chief Operating Officer or Provost (or their delegate).

All visitors will be required to comply with Curtin University’s COVID-19 Vaccination requirements and any applicable Government direction when attending a Curtin University Western Australian campus or facility, including tenanted areas.

Visitors who do not comply will not be allowed access to Curtin University’s Western Australian campus grounds and facilities, including tenanted areas.

State Government modelling and experience interstate and internationally illustrates that even with a high vaccination rate of 90% of persons aged 16 or older, COVID-19 will still be transmitted in the community and there is still the potential for individuals to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19.

Curtin University has a duty to, as far as reasonably practicable, provide and maintain a working environment in which employees are not exposed to hazards and to provide a safe environment for students, tenants, contractors and visitors to our campuses.

Vaccinations are considered to reduce transmission of COVID-19, and importantly, reduce the likelihood of severe illness and death. We consider that mandating vaccinations is the control which will be most effective in minimising the risks from COVID-19 to Curtin University’s community.

From 21 February 2022 – At least one dose of an approved vaccine, or have a Curtin University exemption.

From 21 March 2022 – Two doses of an approved vaccine, or have a Curtin University exemption, with a third or booster dose required within one month of eligibility.

Provided they are eligible and can be vaccinated, Curtin University requires all employees, as well as anyone attending our campuses, facilities or activities in Western Australia who are 16 years or older to be vaccinated. This includes:

• All employees
• Students
• Tenants
• Contractors
• Visitors (including those attending events held on our Western Australian campuses or facilities.)

Curtin University has made vaccination a requirement for anyone attending our Western Australian campuses and facilities and any activities we organise or facilitate in third-party or public settings that involve physical interaction with other people.

Curtin University has a duty to, as far as reasonably practicable, provide and maintain a safe environment for students, tenants, contractors and visitors to our Western Australian campuses and facilities – which includes reducing the risk of transmission of and adverse health outcomes from COVID-19 as far as reasonably practicable.

Curtin University has been monitoring and evaluating our safety controls throughout the pandemic and has added the vaccination requirement as a control measure to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and the severity of illness from COVID-19 on Curtin University’s Western Australian campuses and facilities.

All Curtin University policies and procedures are usually reviewed every three years, however given how rapidly the COVID situation is evolving, Curtin University has provided 1 April 2023 as the current date of review.

All COVID-19 vaccinations provided will be reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).  Find the best way to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination here.

Vaccines approved or recognised by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Current approved and recognised vaccines and dosages are:

• Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
  • AstraZeneca Vaxzevria
  • AstraZeneca COVISHIELD
  • Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty
  • Moderna (Spikevax or Takeda)
  • Sinovac Coronavac
  • Bharat Covaxin
  • Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia)
  • Gamaleya Research Institute Sputnik V
  • Novavax/Biocelect Nuvaxovid
• Or one dose of:
  • Johnson & Johnson/Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

Mixed doses count towards being fully vaccinated as long as all vaccines are approved or recognised by the TGA. Doses of Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV only count towards being fully vaccinated if the traveller is under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia.

Yes, if you have been vaccinated with an Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved vaccine.

Curtin University exemptions will be available in limited circumstances. These include where a person:

• has an exemption approved by the State Government (including a medical exemption);
• is ineligible to be vaccinated in Western Australia at the time they attend our Western Australian campus or facilities;
• attends our Western Australian campus or facilities with the sole purpose of seeking health care from an accredited health care provider;
• is required to attend our Western Australian campus or facilities to respond to an emergency;
• is required to perform urgent and essential work on our Western Australian campus or facilities to protect the health and safety of people or to protect assets and infrastructure;
• is required to attend our Western Australian campus or facilities to perform a law enforcement function, or to perform a statutory duty or function.
• is attending on our Western Australian campus or facilities for the sole purpose of community sport played outdoors, or is participating in a Curtin University activity held off campus that is community sport; or
• is a parent, carer or family member who is attending the Curtin University Early Childhood Centre to drop off or pick up a child enrolled at the Centre.

A person can apply to the Provost or Chief Operating Officer for an exemption for themselves or for an activity in exceptional circumstances. The Chief Operating Officer or Provost (or their delegate) may grant a University exemption if they are satisfied there would be no adverse effect on other members of our community, the student experience or other aspects of Curtin University’s operations, and no increased risk to health and safety.

Tenants should send their exemption request to tenantvax@curtin.edu.au

Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers should send their exemption requests to contractorvax@curtin.edu.au

Evidence satisfactory to Curtin University to demonstrate the eligibility for the relevant exemption is required on request. In the case of a medical exemption, the evidence required is a relevant medical exemption recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register.

No. There are no exemptions other than those contained in the COVID-19 Vaccination Procedures. Negative PCR or rapid antigen test results, and the wearing of N95 masks are not valid exemptions to the vaccination requirement.

Yes. You are permitted to attend Curtin University’s Western Australian campus or facilities if you have provided valid medical exemption information.

Curtin University’s Policy does not apply to people under 16.

You should talk to your GP or other qualified health professional to discuss your personal circumstances. However, updated ATAGI guidelines state that it is safe to get vaccinated as soon as you recover and you no longer need to wait 6 months.

Studies have shown that having COVID-19 may not be as protective as being vaccinated against COVID-19. And people who have had COVID-19 and get vaccinated are better protected than everyone else.

Yes, even if you have had COVID-19, it is important to be vaccinated for extra protection, and to meet our vaccination requirement.

After recovering from the acute illness a vaccination or booster can be administered. Your medical practitioner can provide specific advice.

To help you make an informed decision, you should contact a trusted medical practitioner.

We understand that some members of our community may be hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. We recommend speaking with your GP or treating medical practitioner.

Where people choose not to vaccinate for other reasons, they will not be permitted to attend Curtin University’s Western Australian campuses or facilities. We will work through the implications of this with affected individuals, who may apply to the Provost or the Chief Operating Officer for a University exemption.

The Federal Government has introduced a ‘no-fault’ indemnity scheme for COVID-19 vaccinations. This scheme will provide Australians with access to compensation for claims related to the administration of approved vaccination for anyone who experiences moderate to severe side effects.

We recognise that, like many of the things we have been asked to do during the pandemic, making vaccination a requirement may raise concerns.

Curtin University takes its legal obligations very seriously.  Curtin University considers that this approach is lawful and reasonable and will enable us to ensure our Western Australian campuses and facilities are safe for work and study.  For some individuals, exemptions will apply.

Yes. Curtin University respects the privacy of individuals and will collect and manage personal information in accordance with its Disclosure of Personal Information Procedures and covered by our Curtin Privacy Statement. which explains how we will collect and handle this information.  Tenants, Contractors, Suppliers, and Service Providers have been requested to provide us with a Declaration on behalf of their employees and subcontractors, rather than providing individual personal information for each employee and subcontractor.

Curtin University continues to invest in risk mitigation strategies, as we have since the beginning of the pandemic, and when required by government.

These measures include staff and students staying home if you are ill, adopting good hygiene practices and thorough cleaning processes, wearing masks as required, following occupant density requirements, testing, improving building ventilation where required and use of the ServiceWA and SafeWA check-in app.

Individuals who have not met the vaccination requirement will not be able to access Curtin University’s Western Australian campuses or facility buildings. This will be managed via access control permissions, and COVID Check-in Marshals stationed at buildings that are accessed by visitors. COVID Check-in Marshals will also be stationed at on-campus events and ad hoc in other buildings where necessary.

Any person on Curtin University’s Western Australian campuses or facilities may be required to provide valid vaccination information to confirm their eligibility to be on site if asked.