’Small fraction’ of SA educators expected to refuse Covid jabs

Education leaders say they expect only a few of the state’s 30,000 teachers will refuse Covid jabs after their official deadline was revealed.

School teachers and staff have been told to get vaccinated or risk losing their job.

In a ruling to all government and private schools and early childhood providers, staff and volunteers must prove they have had at least their first dose by the last day of term on December 10 and had or booked a second jab.

“This will ensure that we will be able to keep our children safe,” Education Minister John Gardner said on Tuesday

He also announced a special squad of Education Department staff would work with SA Health when Covid-19 cases are detected at schools to trace and test contacts.

Each incident would be treated individually to minimise disruption, with usually only parts of a school forced to close.

Education Department chief executive Rick Persse expected only a “tiny fraction” of staff would refuse to get a jab.

“Our vaccine take up has been higher than the community,” he said.

“We have taken this decision based on the expert health advice of our chief public health officer which indicates this is the best approach for our students, staff and education system.

“I appreciate that this decision will be difficult for some but it is the right call for our state as our borders reopen.”

Charles Campbell College Principal, Kevin O’Neil with nurse Monica Jeong. Picture: Matt Loxton

Of its 30,000 total staff, the Education Department estimates about 600 were yet to get a jab.

However, it does not have firm data as, until now, teachers and school staff have been encouraged to record their vaccination status on their employment file, but it has not been compulsory.

Teachers and staff and volunteers who do not meet the vaccination deadline will be sent on leave unless thy have a medical exemption.

Parents dropping off or picking up their children and incidental visitors such as delivery or rubbish collection services will not need to prove they are vaccinated.

But anyone working – whether full-time, part-time, contract, casual or volunteering – must show proof.

“There’ll be a series of industrial relations issues we need to work through,” Mr Persse said of staff who exhaust their leave.

Staff were warned failure to comply may result in the department being “unable to continue to remunerate you” and/or it may “affect your continuing employment”.

Australian Education Union SA president Lara Golding said the union supported professional health advice and had been encouraging members to be vaccinated.

“We are analysing the industrial implications and other impacts on the workforce,“ she said of the new rulings.

Union delegates would meet on Saturday to discuss the issue, including availability of relief staff.

Association of Independent Schools SA chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said schools would follow the rules which aimed to keep children and staff “as safe as we can”.

“We expect a small number of staff will refuse to comply,” she said.

“This is regrettable but schools will not be able to continue to employ unvaccinated staff.”

Catholic Education SA director Neil McGoran said the rules were “in the best interests of children and young people”.

“While I understand there are different views in our community about vaccination, we rely on the evidence-based advice of SA Health and the SA Government,” Dr McGoran said.

The government has about 80 pop-up vaccination clinics operating at schools throughout the metropolitan area and in regional centres.

Teachers and students have been able to attend these, as well as the broader school community after hours.

Charles Campbell College principal Kevin O’Neil, who has been fully vaccinated, said he did not have a tally of his staff but generally they had been supportive.

“But the chief executive’s message was quite confronting, it really emphasised the seriousness,” Mr O’Neil said.

Some staff had concerns because of personal health issues but he had not met any teachers philosophically or politically opposed to vaccination.

“Teachers are pretty conservative,” he said.

Mandatory vaccination rules have not been imposed on universities, TAFE SA or registered training organisations.

State co-ordinator and SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said including tertiary education had not been raised in the Covid-19 transition committee by SA Health.

An SA Health spokeswoman said any “individual businesses, organisations and venues may choose to mandate the vaccine for their staff”.

In Victoria, vaccinations are mandatory in all education settings – schools, early childhood centres, TAFE, universities – for all adults employed at or visiting the sites, including university and TAFE students.

NSW also has mandatory vaccinations for staff at schools but it remains voluntary in Queensland.