Geelong teachers axed for refusing Covid-19 vaccine

A union for teachers has revealed how many educators across the Barwon South West region have lost their jobs for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine.

Teachers in the Barwon South West region have lost their jobs for refusing to adhere to the state’s vaccine mandate.

As of April 28, all staff working across Victorian schools must have had three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine unless they are eligible for a medical exemption.

A spokesman for the Teachers Professional Association of Victoria, which represents teachers, claimed 150 teachers, employed in schools across the Barwon South West region, had their contracts terminated since the introduction of the mandate.

The region includes Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, the Borough of Queenscliffe, Warrnambool, Corangamite, Colac-Otway, the Grampians, Moyne and Glenelg.

A spokesman said the union had been working with teachers who had lost their positions.

The Australian Education Union, which is the nation’s largest teachers union, could not confirm this number.

A Geelong Christian College spokesman said two teachers had left their positions since the introduction of the mandate.

Covenant College principal Sue Cox said: “We haven’t had any staff leave due to the latest mandate”.

She did not say if staff had left due to the previous mandate.

Sacred Heart College refused to say if any teachers had left due to the mandate, citing privacy reasons.

Kardinia International College also refused to comment.

A Geelong College spokeswoman said no teachers had left the school due to the mandate.

It’s understood Geelong Grammar has not stood down any staff due the vaccine mandate, however that requirement may have contributed to a very small number of resignations.

The Department of Education has confirmed that 99.2 per cent of the state’s government teachers have had three doses of a Covid vaccine.

The Department could not provide a regional breakdown.

Andrew Dalgleish, president of the Victorian Principals’ Association, recently said schools “had no option but to move on sadly without these teachers”.

“Most people can’t afford not to be employed or believe it is important to be vaccinated,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong teachers axed for refusing Covid-19 vaccine