Unvaxxed parents banned from Victorian school events and entering buildings

Six students from a regional private school have been banned from their graduation ceremony after attending a social gathering rather than isolating as ordered.

Six Catholic students from Shepparton have been banned from attending their graduation ceremony after they went to a social gathering instead of isolating.

The students from Notre Dame College in Shepparton were told to isolate and get tested on October 18 after two students in years 11 and 12 from their school tested positive.

The six students did not follow strict instructions from the school, and did not isolate as directed. Around 120 other students were also told to isolate and everyone else did so.

As a consequence, a spokesman for the college, Anthony Brophy, said the six students were barred from attending their graduation ceremony and a rites of passage event with school staff and other students.

“It’s an unfortunate end to six years of schooling at the college but they will still graduate and get their certificates,” he said.

Mr Brophy said it was a matter of “looking after the rest of the community”.

“They knew their obligations – they were made very clear. What they did meant they came into contact with others and this jeopardised the safety of others.

“Everyone else did the right thing.”

The six students are among 230 year 12 students from the school who are graduating.

The students claim after receiving negative tests the following day, they contacted health authorities who told them they didn’t have to isolate. Mr Brophy said the graduation service would be only attended by staff and students and would be live-streamed for parents.

School captains Connor Fleming and Macy Marzen told the Herald Sun a few weeks ago that they rated their school highly for their handling of the Covid crisis. Connor gave it a 9 out of ten and Macy “definitely a ten”.

Shepparton schools continue to battle multiple outbreaks. School with more than ten cases include Sirius College (22 cases), St Georges Rd Primary School (15 cases) and St Brendan’s Primary School (10 cases).

Unvaccinated parents cannot enter school buildings and are banned from attending graduations, valedictory dinners, parent functions and tours.

Under new Department of Education guidelines, parents don’t need to be vaccinated to pick up or drop off kids, but they must to be vaccinated or have a medical exemption to enter buildings or attend school events.

One unvaccinated parent of primary-school children said the rules made her feel like a “leper”.

“It has been very upsetting not to be able to able to attend the end of year function,” she said.

“I feel shunned and a second-class citizen. It would have been great to have been able to celebrate the end of the year together, rather than being excluded and feeling like a leper,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesman said parents “must be vaccinated to attend school events, consistent with the settings for community facilities in Phase C of the Road map for Reopening”.

“We encourage all parents and carers who haven’t yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible to protect themselves, their families and the broader community — especially if their children are not yet able to be vaccinated,” the spokesman said.

Under the rules, parents need one vaccination dose now and must have the second dose by November 29. There are limited exemptions.

Parents must be vaccinated to attend school events in Victoria. Picture: Getty Images

Gail McHardy, CEO of Parents Victoria, said state schools were “doing their best to adapt school celebrations and activities as best they can, with what they can”.

“They’re doing all this in keeping with the rules - of course there will be disappointment for some (unvaxxed) who may need to view an event remotely. But we need safety above all else while the virus is still present, particularly in primary school settings,” she said.

Meredith Peace, Australian Education Union Victorian branch president, said “education staff will continue to implement all safety guidelines including vaccination requirements for anyone visiting the school campus consistent with the health advice”.

It comes as nine out of ten major covid outbreaks are now based in schools and 10,000 rapid antigen tests have been trailed in 15 schools ahead of the rollout next Monday.

The biggest outbreak in the state is at Morwell Park Primary School in Morwell which has 55 cases.

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL RULES?

Vaccination requirements for parents and carers attending schools

• All parents and carers attending schools, including for drop off and pick up must also adhere to physical distancing, density limits, face mask requirements and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.

• Parents and carers who enter school buildings must check in using the QR code.

• Parents and carers who enter school buildings must also have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and must have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine by November 29, 2021 or have a valid medical exception with the following limited exceptions:

• When attending to administer medical treatment to their own child when the treatment cannot be administered by the school

• When attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school building unaccompanied by their parent/carer.

• When attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project or similar.

• Parents and carers attending any event or activity inside a school building including, but not limited to tours, graduations, kindergarten transition, whole of school events are required to show evidence of vaccination.

• Meetings and other discussions (such as student support group meetings) with parents and carers who do not meet vaccination requirements should be held virtually.

• Parents and carers attending school sites for drop off and pick up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.

• Any parent/carer who needs to access an early childhood education and care service (including OSHC) via the main entrance of a government school building is required to check in using the Victorian Government QR code Service but do not need to show their vaccination status.

• External providers who use or hire school facilities outside of school hours must ensure that use aligns with the Open Premises Directions including vaccination requirements.

Vaccination requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work in schools

• Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) must have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and must have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine by November 29, 2021 or have a valid medication exception.

• Visitors and volunteers must be advised to adhere to COVIDSafety requirements set out in the School Operations Guide.