From Friday 14 October 2022, it is no longer mandatory to isolate if you test positive to COVID-19.
The removal of mandatory isolation does not impact on the duties of an employer to do all that is reasonably practicable to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace, including asking workers to stay at home when unwell.
Information on these pages is currently being reviewed and will be updated shortly.
This page includes resources on work health and safety, workers’ compensation and COVID-19 for tertiary education, including:
- Universities
- TAFEs
- Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), and
- English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
It primarily covers on-campus teaching activities and student accommodation.
We also have information for the Education and training industry.
Universities, TAFE, RTOs and ELICOS provide tertiary, technical and vocational education and training. Services are delivered by lecturers, tutors, teachers or instructors who explain, tell or demonstrate a wide variety of specialised subjects.
Services can be provided in a range of settings, such as institutes, TAFE colleges, university campuses and training centres. Generally, instruction is delivered through face-to-face interaction between teachers/lectures/tutors/instructors and students/trainees; although other means and mediums of delivery, such as via correspondence or the internet, may be used.
If your teaching environment more closely fits with another industry, for example Agriculture, Health care, or Office work you should also consult the guidance for that industry.
Note: The information in this section relates primarily to on-campus teaching activities, as well as student accommodation. For other services provided on campuses such as retail, fitness, hospitality etc., refer to the guidance specific to those sectors.
There may be restrictions in place relating to gatherings that may restrict the ability to undertake on-campus teaching. These restrictions may be relaxed in different jurisdictions at different times. While restrictions remain in place, the information on measures below is provided only for the purpose of informing planning for when restrictions are reduced in the relevant state or territory that would allow for the recommencement of on-campus teaching. Tertiary education providers must only operate to the extent permissible in the state or territory they operate in.
To ensure this information is as accessible and easy to understand as possible, we refer to ‘employers’ and their responsibilities.
However, under the model WHS laws, duties apply to any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) which includes employers, but also others who engage workers. For more information about who is a PCBU see our Interpretive Guideline – model Work Health and Safety Act – the meaning of ‘person conducting a business or undertaking'.
The model WHS laws have been implemented in all jurisdictions except Victoria.
Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or the recently introduced COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction. If you want to know what restrictions on business operations apply to you or your workplace, go to your relevant state and territory government website for information.