NSW Government Weekly Update 28 August

For the latest COVID-19 advice & information please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

NEW FREEDOMS FOR VACCINATED FIRST STEP ON STATE ROADMAP OUT OF COVID

• People across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedoms next month after NSW hit the target of six million jabs.
• This is the first step in the roadmap and further freedoms will follow for those who have had the jab when the state hits new vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.
• From 12.01am, Monday, 13 September:
  • For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, outdoor gatherings of up to five people (including children, all adults must be vaccinated) will be allowed in a person's LGA or within 5km of home.
  • For those who live in the LGAs of concern, households with all adults vaccinated will be able to gather outdoors for recreation (including picnics) within the existing rules (for one hour only, outside curfew hours and within 5km of home). This is in addition to the one hour allowed for exercise.
• As part of the roadmap when the following targets are hit, freedoms will be as follows:
  • 70 per cent full vaccination: a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions to be lifted for those who are vaccinated.
  • 80 per cent full vaccination: further easing of restrictions on industry, community and the economy.
• The government is also investigating trials of certain industries in coming months, as a proof-of-concept measure to prepare the businesses to open up and operate in a COVID-safe way.

NSW FIRST TO MANDATE COVID JABS FOR ALL HEALTH STAFF

• Healthcare workers in NSW will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help ensure the safety of colleagues and patients in all public and private hospitals.
• Under the Public Health Order, health staff must have a first dose of vaccine by 30 September 2021 and be fully vaccinated by 30 November 2021, or at least have their second appointment booked to continue working.
• Frontline health staff and their families have had priority access to COVID-19 vaccines since the commencement of the Federal Government's vaccination rollout in February.
• Already in NSW, mandatory vaccinations for frontline health staff are required for contagious diseases including influenza, chicken pox, measles and whooping cough.
• Those who have a medical contraindication will be exempt if a medical practitioner confirms the medical contraindication.

HSC IN NOVEMBER AND ALL STUDENTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL IN TERM 4

• There will be a staggered return to face-to-face learning from October, HSC exams will be delayed until November and vaccinations for school staff will be mandatory based on the return to school plan released by the NSW Government.
• Students will return to face-to-face learning with NSW Health approved COVID safe settings on school sites in the following order:
  • From 25 October – Kindergarten and Year 1
  • From 1 November – Year 2, 6 and 11
  • From 8 November – Year 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10
• HSC exams will be delayed until 9 November with a revised timetable and guidelines for a COVID-safe HSC to be released by NESA in early September. Importantly, the delay of the HSC exams will not disadvantage NSW students when applying to university.
• Vaccinations for all school staff across all sectors will be mandatory from 8 November. NSW Health will be providing priority vaccinations at Qudos Bank Arena for school staff the week beginning 6 September.
• Early childcare staff will also be able to participate in the priority vaccinations from 6 September. All school and early childcare staff are also encouraged to make use of the GP network to be vaccinated with whatever vaccine is available as soon as possible.

MORE FREE TRAINING OPTIONS DURING LOCKDOWN

• The NSW Government has announced an additional 3000 training places for people across NSW to skill up at home during lockdown.
• An extra 60 short courses are now on offer to study for free including business skills, mental health, marketing, finance and IT skillsets.
• The courses are an expansion of the 10 free skillsets recently announced by TAFE NSW and are targeted at LGAs and suburbs in lockdown.
• Training will be funded through the JobTrainer program, which has already seen more than 120,000 people in NSW skill up since it was announced in October 2020.