A vaccine mandate has been introduced for South Australian schools and childcare centres, with staff and teachers required to have their first jab by 11 December.
In a statement, the Department for Education said the mandate, which came into effect last week (16 November), applied to anyone who attended an education or early childhood setting in a work or volunteer capacity, including parents on canteen duty.
The Department said everyone who attended an education or early childhood setting on a full-time, part-time, contract, casual or voluntary basis, even if their attendance was incidental or occasional, were required to have received at least one dose of a TGA-approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine by 11 December.
It said the mandate only applied to parents or guardians attending one of the settings if they were performing work or duties including volunteering, for example members of a committee or governing council, or canteen duties.
Minister for Education, John Gardner said only those who had a medical exemption endorsed by the Chief Public Health Officer would be permitted to work or volunteer at a school or early childhood setting without getting vaccinated.
Mr Gardner said the Direction didn’t include students; parents who didn’t work or volunteer at the school, preschool or childcare centre; playgroups or play centres off site; delivery drivers; and people responding to urgent maintenance tasks or an emergency situation.
He said the mandate covered all Government and non-Government schools including primary education and secondary education; kindergarten; early learning centres; preschools; boarding houses; long day care services; family day care services; outside school hours services; preschool programs; and locations where the Department carried out any business or undertaking.
Chief Executive at the Department, Rick Persse said the decision to make vaccination mandatory had not been taken lightly.
“I appreciate that this decision will be difficult for some but it is the right call for our state as our borders reopen,” Mr Persse said.
The five-page Direction can be accessed at this PS News link and further information from the Department at this link.
