The Western Australian Government has mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for the majority of occupations and workforces in WA. Included in this are timelines for university-related placements, research, professional registration activities or internships in high-risk roles, occupations and work sites.

If you are undertaking a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement and you are required to be vaccinated, your vaccination evidence must be uploaded to the Sonia system prior to the deadlines stated by the WA Government and you must be prepared to show this evidence to your placement, registration activity or internship provider upon request. All other students who are required to be vaccinated according to the Government mandates must be prepared to provide evidence to the activity host / facility provider or relevant Murdoch staff supervisor upon request.  

The following evidence of vaccination is approved by the WA Chief Health Officer:

• An Australian Government COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate or an Immunisation History Statement recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register; or
• Written confirmation issued by the WA Department of Health declaring that the COVID-19 vaccination has been given to the relevant person.

Instructions on how you can access proof of your vaccination is provided online. Evidence for delivery of the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is provided on an individual’s Immunisation History Statement. Evidence of full vaccination (both doses) is provided on this statement and an Australian Government COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate.

Student vaccination records uploaded to the Sonia system shall be securely stored by Murdoch in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Murdoch University shall only disclose such information to relevant government authorities to the extent required by lawful direction.

Exceptions

The only exceptions to mandated vaccination requirements are approved medical exemptions (that meet specified immunisation medical exemption criteria) granted by an approved health professional and assessed by the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), or a special exemption granted by the WA Chief Health Officer.

If you are medically exempted from being vaccinated, you must provide the required evidence to Murdoch by uploading it to the Sonia system (for WIL students).

An exemption will not apply until it has been assessed by the AIR or WA Chief Health Officer. If your exemption has not been assessed by the date that you would have been required to be vaccinated, you will be unable to attend the relevant site until it is approved, or alternative advice is provided by the WA Government. You must advise the relevant Unit Coordinator, Murdoch supervisor, activity host and / or Work Integrated Learning team as soon as possible if it appears that your exemption will not be approved in time.

Getting vaccinated

As always, we encourage all staff and students to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccinations will be critical to keeping our community safe and preserving our way of life amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Further information on the COVID-19 vaccine and how to book your appointment is provided on the Healthy WA Website.

In addition to external vaccination providers, COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available at the Murdoch University Medical Service for Medicare card holders. For more general information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the Department of Health website.