In November 2021, the Police Workers Vaccination Direction was issued under the Emergency Management Act 2004 for all police workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Direction was issued to ensure COVID-19 did not significantly impact the ability of South Australia Police to serve the community. Workers who chose not to be vaccinated were not permitted to engage in Police work or attend Police workplace settings.
The Commissioner of Police is now confident that the risks to South Australia Police employees and members of the community can be effectively managed through alternative controls rather than unvaccinated staff being furloughed from the workplace.
Therefore, as at 7.00am on Monday 7 March 2022, the Police Workers Vaccination Direction will be revoked and replaced with a Managerial Direction which will see SAPOL employees return to the workplace.
This Managerial Direction requires that SAPOL employees must:
- Have received a first and second dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine by the commencement date; or
Those employees who have not received a first and second dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine by the commencement date must:
- upon presenting at a South Australia Police Setting at the commencement of their shift, immediately undertake a Rapid Antigen Test and provide results to their immediate supervisor;
- Wear a properly fitted PFR mask for the duration of their shift.
Commissioner of Police, Grant Stevens said "SAPOL has been constantly monitoring this dynamic and fast changing situation and as with other directions issued pursuant to the Major Emergency declaration, the Police Workers Vaccination Direction has continued to be reviewed as circumstances change."
"At this time, I am happy to report that over 98.5 percent of the South Australia Police workforce have been vaccinated and which is above the over 92 percent of the South Australian population who are vaccinated."
"Whilst the Managerial Direction enables unvaccinated employees to return to their substantive duties, there will be some limitations regarding their ability to attend some settings such as Residential Aged Care Facilities, Disability Facilities and the Forensic Science building."
"The ongoing requirement for vaccination mandates are particular for the sectors to which they apply. As the State Coordinator, I am engaging with, and seeking advice from, agencies and sectors which have a mandatory vaccination direction. That advice will be taken into consideration with regard to the ongoing application of the Emergency Management Act Directions which impact those agencies."
