The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has issued a Circular setting out the arrangements for APS staff to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
In its Circular 2021/01 COVID-19 vaccinations the APSC said the COVID-19 National Roll-out Strategy applied to the entire APS and explained the process by which vaccinations would be made available to different population groups.
“COVID-19 vaccinations to Commonwealth employees based in Australia will be determined by the Roll-out Strategy,” the APSC said.
“The APS will be vaccinated in line with the criteria for the Australian population,” it said.
“Employees will receive access to the COVID-19 vaccination during the appropriate phase of the Roll-out Strategy.”
The Circular says each phase of the Roll-out prioritised population groups based on individual’s demographics or the characteristics of their work.
It said decisions to require vaccination within particular workplaces or job roles was a matter for individual Agency Heads.
“Agencies should be mindful of their obligations under work health and safety laws to ensure the health and safety of workers and others while at work, so far as it is reasonably practicable,” the APSC said.
“Agencies should also remain mindful of their obligations under the Privacy Act 1988, noting that employers would not typically be able to require an employee to declare their vaccination status without consent.”
The Commission said that where the Roll-out Strategy provided vaccination for a particular workforce, it was up to individual Agencies to identify and support its relevant workforce to receive the vaccination.
It said appropriate support measures may include providing certification that particular employees fit a priority group for vaccination because of their work; paid time to receive vaccinations, including reasonable travel time; and reasonable travel expenses, where significant travel is required to access a vaccination site.
The APSC’s two-page Circular 2021/01 can be accessed at this PS News link.
