From October 15th 2021, any authorised worker not working from home will be required to have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination by 22 October 2021 and be fully vaccinated by November 26th 2021 (there appears to be no current exemption for junior staff).
In limited exceptional circumstances, an operator may approve unvaccinated workers to continue working if necessary, including:
- for a worker to provide for urgent specialist clinical or medical care at the work premises due to an emergency situation or a critical unforeseen circumstance; or
- for a worker to fill a vacancy to provide urgent care, to maintain quality of care and/or continue essential operations at the work premises due to an emergency situation or a critical unforeseen circumstance; or
- for a worker who is required to attend the premises to respond to an emergency at the work premises; or
- for a worker to sustain human or animal health, safety and wellbeing where a vaccinated worker cannot be sourced in a timely manner; or
- for a worker to make a premises safe and secure, or to perform urgent and essential work to protect assets and infrastructure where a vaccinated worker cannot be sourced in a timely manner.
Information for Industry and workers required to be vaccinated –
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/information-workers-required-be-vaccinated
Employee Records
Under the Victorian Public Health Order, there is a requirement for employers to collect, record and hold vaccination information about the worker. Also, if the employer collects information that a worker is partially vaccinated, the employer must also collect, record and hold information about whether that worker has a booking to receive, by the second dose deadline, a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that will cause the worker to become fully vaccinated. This will be considered implied consent as per the Privacy Act 1988.
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