2 August 2021
Dear colleagues
This situation report provides principals and managers with regular updates to support with their management of issues related to COVID-19. Please ensure you review our regular situation reports to stay up to date with COVID-safe practices in our schools and workplaces.
We’re continuing to update our advice for staff as we receive new information and guidance from NSW Health.
NSW-QLD border update
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Students and Staff from Queensland
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From 4pm Saturday 31 July 2021, 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in South East Queensland are subject to restrictions for lockdown.
Staff who are Queensland residents can continue to attend NSW schools in the border zone for work and education as a reasonable excuse.
Students who are Queensland residents can attend school if their parent/carer is undertaking essential work or volunteering or the student needs to attend because of vulnerable circumstances. It is recommended that families seek advice through QLD Health to confirm necessary arrangements. Students that cannot attend NSW schools for education due to interstate border disruptions will be supported to learn from home.
The New South Wales border zone continues to be in effect.
Queensland residents coming to NSW, including staff and students, will still need to complete the NSW declaration for entry form from Queensland every 72 hours. They will also need to complete a declaration form for NSW to re-enter Queensland from NSW. All staff and students will need to make sure they have all paperwork in order.
It is important to note that New South Wales border zone residents and Queensland residents cannot travel south outside the border zone in New South Wales and then enter Queensland until it has been 14 days since they were south of the border zone.
Students and staff who live in or around the NSW–Queensland border should seek further advice through the NSW interstate travellers and Queensland Government COVID-19 website.
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Students and Staff who have visited South East Queensland
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From 6pm Saturday 31 July, anyone in NSW who has been in any of the 11 affected LGAs in Queensland since Wednesday 21 July must stay at home and only leave their residence with a reasonable excuse. Everyone who is living in the same residence as a person who has been in one of the 11 LGAs is also required to follow the stay-at-home rules and to only leave home with a reasonable excuse.
Attending a NSW school for education or work is a reasonable excuse. Anyone arriving from Queensland, regardless of whether they've been in the 11 affected LGAs or not, must fill out a declaration form in the 24-hour period before entering NSW or on arrival.
Refer to Border Communities for information on border changes.
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HSC advice for families now available
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HSC advice is now available for families. This advice supports HSC students and their families. It aligns with the advice provided to staff.
Please refer HSC students, parents and carers to this page for more information from Monday.
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HSC update - Secondary College of Languages
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Alternative arrangements will be made for HSC students from the Secondary College of Languages (formerly Saturday School of Community Languages). The school will continue to support HSC students enrolled in Greater Sydney Campuses through their online program until the 28 August 2021, pending further advice from the Department of Education and NSW Health. HSC trial assessments for students will also be completed online. The Mereweather Campus will continue normal operations.
Students should continue to contact their Secondary College of Languages class teachers for specific information regarding the operation of the college during this time.
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Online seminar – learning packages for teachers by teachers
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The Learning from Home Team will focus its information session this week (Wednesday August 4 at 4:00 PM) on K-6 guided learning packages.
The packages are developed to support teachers in providing a guided learning from home experience for students from Early Stage 1 to Stage 3 and have been created by curriculum experts and learning designers. A full week of learning activities will be updated weekly and will include explicit teacher guidance, open-ended activities, and wellbeing checks.
All Principals, teachers and curriculum advisers are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
Zoom meeting
Pass code: term3
Or Telephone: 8015 6011
Webinar ID: 610 4678 6574
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Sources of truth
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Please continue to refer to the following pages for advice relevant to your school’s location:
Refer parents and carers to Advice for families for public-facing information.
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DOE case updates
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- There are 2 confirmed cases involving the Department of Education.
- Schools must report all information received regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 immediately to the Incident Report and Support Hotline on 1800 811 523. This includes any advice received by the school of any member of the school community who has tested positive to COVID-19. All reported received will be reviewed with NSW Health and advice provided to the school on any actions required.
- The NSW Government website continuously updates the identified COVID-19 case locations in NSW. Make sure you regularly visit the website and encourage your staff to do the same. Please follow the instructions if you have visited one of the locations.
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Your wellbeing
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- The department’s Employee Assistance Program – Supporting You is available on 1800 060 650 for confidential counselling services.
- For staff in Greater Sydney, our EAP provider, Converge, is providing virtual 1:1 support until at least the end of August, extending their scheduled support sessions outside of normal working hours.
- For staff in regional NSW, face-to-face sessions and virtual 1:1 support is available.
- EAP services are available to support our casual workforce until 31 December 2021.
- In addition to Being Well – check out Care and connect on the learning from home site.
Key links and resources
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School operations for DELs, principals and school staff
Educational continuity
Health and safety resources
Further information
For further information, please
ask your Director, Educational leadership or contact the Health and
Safety Directorate on 1800 811 523. You can also stay in touch with
colleagues and ask questions in our Principal and Deputy Principal yammer group. |
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