Monique Marroquin loses job at Emmanuel College after declining to get the Covid-19 vaccine
A long-serving teacher says she is “seriously considering” legal action after being let go from a top private Gold Coast school after almost two decades.
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A longstanding teacher at a top Gold Coast school says she is “seriously considering” legal action after being dismissed for refusing to take a Covid-19 jab.
Monique Marroquin was with Emmanuel College in Carrara for 20 years. She was a visual arts and design technology teacher working with prep to Year 6 classes.
She is one of a number of Gold Coast teachers who are believed to have lost their jobs as a result of vaccine mandates.
“I was terminated almost immediately because I wouldn’t take the jab,” Ms Marroquin said.
“I have taught thousands of students over the years.
“It’s just so sad that we didn’t get to say goodbye to our students and colleagues.
“It’s like we have just disappeared and have been forgotten about.”
The state government required teachers to receive a first dose by December 17 and be fully vaccinated by January 23 ahead of the start of the new school term.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the measure was “about protecting our most vulnerable”.
“To keep our children safe, we must ensure our teachers and frontline education workers are vaccinated,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Since the introduction of the mandate one Gold Coast school, Livingstone Christian College in Ormeau, has retained unvaccinated staff by giving them alternative roles outside high-risk settings.
Ms Marroquin, who says she has since been granted a six-month exemption from vaccination, said she was disappointed Emmanuel College had not taken similar steps.
“There are some schools that are doing what they can to help their non-vaxxed colleagues,” Ms Marroquin said. “Not Emmanuel though.”
In a statement, Emmanuel College said the school regretted staff had left as a result of the vaccination mandate, but that the matter was outside their control.
“Emmanuel College meets all its legal obligations, including the public health order announced by the Queensland Government in December requiring all staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19,” the statement said.
“At the time of the announcement, the College consulted widely with staff and with the Queensland independent Education Union (QIEU) to ensure staff were provided with clarity and support regarding the impact of the vaccination mandate on their employment.
“While we regret that staff have left employment at the college as a result of the mandate, this is beyond our control and is a matter for the state government.”
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