SEDA news and events
Current restrictions in Victoria
Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for more information on current Victoria restrictions.
Business Victoria- Quick Update
From 11.59pm on Thursday 21 October, new settings for businesses across metropolitan and regional Victoria were introduced. The Phase B settings under the Roadmap mean some businesses and venues can accommodate more customers and patrons, if all workers and customers are fully vaccinated. Preparation work may include cleaning, organising, arranging, ordering, setting up and implementing COVIDSafe measures ahead of attendance by customers. For more information on industry restrictions or to book a vaccination, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15. Click here to read the Business Victoria Quick Update newsletter.
Covid-19 Victoria: Isolation for fully vaccinated close contacts reduced to 7 days
Brett Sutton has made a major change to Victoria’s close contact isolation rules – but only for those fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated primary close contacts will only need to isolate for seven days once lockdown lifts in Victoria. Health Minister Martin Foley unveiled changes to the state’s isolation policy on Monday morning as Melbourne gets ready to reopen on Thursday night. The new rules mean those exposed to a positive Covid case will only need to quarantine for seven days if they return negative test results on both day one and six of their isolation. Read more of this news.com.au article here...
Read the Media Release from Health Minister Martin Foley regarding the changes to isolation.
Confirmed case in the workplace? Information and advice for businesses who have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace
What employers need to do if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace: As an employer, when you become aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace, you must respond quickly to limit further exposure and contain potential outbreaks. Visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for information on what steps need to be followed and when.
New CovidSafe Template available
Please visit the Coronavirus Victoria website to view and download the latest version (7/10/2021) of the CovidSafe Template.
Restrictions in regional Victoria
Visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for information on current restrictions for Regional Victoria
Authorised Workers Vaccination Mandate
The information regarding the requirement for employers to ensure all Authorised Workers are vaccinated is being updated daily. Visit Information for industry and workers required to be vaccinated | Coronavirus Victoria for updates. The Victorian Government has also released a document to help employers record the information about their workers vaccination status. It can be found here COVID-19 Vaccination Status Register for the Authorised worker vaccine requirement template.pdf
Restrictions set to ease on 29th October
With so many Victorians between the ages of 12 and 15 having raced to get the jab, our 80 per cent double vaccination milestone will come early. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has determined that on Friday 29 October at 6:00pm, Victoria will move forward in opening up and more restrictions will fall away. Read the Media Release from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews regarding the easing of restrictions..
Download the Victorian Roadmap here...
Covid-19 Victoria: Isolation for fully vaccinated close contacts reduced to 7 days
Brett Sutton has made a major change to Victoria’s close contact isolation rules – but only for those fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated primary close contacts will only need to isolate for seven days once lockdown lifts in Victoria. Health Minister Martin Foley unveiled changes to the state’s isolation policy on Monday morning as Melbourne gets ready to reopen on Thursday night. The new rules mean those exposed to a positive Covid case will only need to quarantine for seven days if they return negative test results on both day one and six of their isolation. Read more of this news.com.au article here...
Read the Media Release from Health Minister Martin Foley regarding the changes to isolation.
Confirmed case in the workplace? Information and advice for businesses who have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace
What employers need to do if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace: As an employer, when you become aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace, you must respond quickly to limit further exposure and contain potential outbreaks. Visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for information on what steps need to be followed and when.
Horticulture businesses across Victoria are preparing for the upcoming harvest and, for many, managing the workforce will be crucial as they find new ways to attract and retain workers. To support business to manage this challenge, Agriculture Victoria is providing free, one-on-one Horticulture Workforce Planning sessions with workforce recruitment and HR specialists Meridian Agriculture.
To take part in an individual session, managers or business owners need to register their interest online at https://forms.office.com/r/S1ajNegkFi The individual business will have a two-hour session with a Meridian Agriculture HR consultant, with a one-hour follow-up session to check progress and gain additional support.
Expressions of interest for mentees for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program are now open. The Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program provides an opportunity for young farmers to be a paired with an experienced farmer to assist them with developing skills to better manage their farm businesses. Download the information brochure here..
Current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and Mildura Rural City Council
Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for more information on current Metro Melbourne & Mildura Rural City Council restrictions
Restrictions in regional Victoria (excluding Mildura Rural City Council)
Visit the Coronavirus.vic.gov.au website for more information on current Regional Victoria restrictions.
Victorian restrictions to ease from Thursday 21st October at 11:59pm
Victorian restrictions are set to ease from Thursday 21st October at 11:59pm. The Media Release from The Premier Dan Andrews, can be viewed here. Please download the recently updated Roadmap to view upcoming changes to both Metro Melbourne and Regional Victoria restrictions. Download here...
Authorised Workers Vaccination Mandate
The information regarding the requirement for employers to ensure all Authorised Workers are vaccinated is being updated daily. Visit Information for industry and workers required to be vaccinated | Coronavirus Victoria for updates. The Victorian Government has also released a document to help employers record the information about their workers vaccination status. It can be found here COVID-19 Vaccination Status Register for the Authorised worker vaccine requirement template.pdf
Covid-19 Victoria: Isolation for fully vaccinated close contacts reduced to 7 days
Brett Sutton has made a major change to Victoria’s close contact isolation rules – but only for those fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated primary close contacts will only need to isolate for seven days once lockdown lifts in Victoria. Health Minister Martin Foley unveiled changes to the state’s isolation policy on Monday morning as Melbourne gets ready to reopen on Thursday night. The new rules mean those exposed to a positive Covid case will only need to quarantine for seven days if they return negative test results on both day one and six of their isolation. Read more of this news.com.au article here...
Read the Media Release from Health Minister Martin Foley regarding the changes to isolation.
As of Friday 15th October, employers of Authorised Workers are obliged to know their workers’ vaccination status if the worker is unable to work from their usual place of residence, and act accordingly. Below is the information provided by AgVic. Not all questions are answered as AgVic is seeking clarification on many issues raised by industry around the Directions. The Frequently Asked Questions links below will be updated regularly.
Employer must collect, record, and hold vaccination information about their workers on or before 15/10/2021.
COVID-19 Vaccines - Your Questions Answered - Prof Ben Cowie on Vimeo
- Vaccine Requirements for Industry and Workers
From 15 October 2021, to work onsite at a work premises, workers must be able to provide evidence to their employer that they have either:
- received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
- have a booking to receive a first dose by 22 October 2021, or
- have a medical exemption from an authorised medical practitioner.
The new Directions apply to employers of select workers, including contractors, volunteers and students on placement. A full list of workers can be found here.
More information:
Please visit the Coronavirus website for more information for industry and workers regarding vaccination requirements. The website includes Frequently Asked Question for workers and Frequently Asked Questions for business and industry. This webpage will be updated as further information becomes available.
To book an appointment visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. Victorians can also book a vaccine appointment through their doctor or pharmacist.
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