Teachers to protest against vax mandate

A group of Melbourne teachers is set to protest jab mandates with the rally location a secret, despite schools being “breeding grounds for Covid”.

Teachers are preparing to protest against vaccine mandates. Picture: Scott Powick

An overwhelming proportion of Victorian school staff are getting vaccinated, but a group of teachers are planning protests at what they claim are “unlawful” jab mandates.

A Department of Education survey of 37,000 staff revealed 98 per cent had received their first Covid-19 vaccine shot. All staff in schools and early childhood centres must have had at least one jab by October 18.

They must be fully vaccinated by November 29, unless a medical exemption applies.

But dozens of teachers across Melbourne and regional Victoria plan to “peacefully protest” against the mandate on Friday, with the locations to be released just hours before.

A complaint letter sent to department secretary Jenny Atta said the mandates were “clearly not supportive of all school staff as some staff will be clearly disadvantaged”.

AEU Victorian Branch deputy president Justin Mullaly.

A Facebook group with more than 15,000 members, which says it supports “teachers, staff, parents and children” against jab mandates, has also been encouraging teachers to join local Telegram groups for support and protest locations.

One woman, 32, who teaches in Melbourne’s southeast, told the Herald Sun she had been “fully vaxxed” but was angered by the mandate.

“It should be a choice and I don’t agree with how long-serving teachers are going to lose their jobs over this, it’s not right,” she said.

But Euan Morton, who teaches at an inner-city school in Melbourne, said he supported the vaccine mandates for education staff.

“I’ve got a nine-year-old and she can’t be vaccinated. She’s going to be back at school soon and I want her to be in the safest environment,” he said.

“I like to think that I am pro-choice, but in this case I support the mandates as it’s for the greater good.

“I’m quite scared about my daughter going back to school as she could catch Covid as it’s all throughout the community.

“Schools are breeding grounds for Covid, it’s happening there and in childcare centres across the state.”

Australian Education Union Victorian branch deputy president Justin Mullaly said: “Staff in schools, kindergartens and TAFEs have overwhelmingly indicated their willingness to be vaccinated as soon as they have been able to. We continue to urge all teachers and support staff to follow the public health advice in order to safeguard themselves and the broader community.”

An education department spokesman said: “The vast ­majority of education staff know that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect school communities and make sure that once Victorian schools ­reopen, they stay open.

“Protests don’t work against this virus.”