We are looking look forward to welcoming you to Murdoch University. 

Our goal is to ensure all timetabled learning and teaching happens as planned, but we are also making sure we are prepared if COVID-19 disrupts our plans. We have been preparing for various scenarios to ensure we can continue teaching and that you can continue with your learning experience at Murdoch University. 

The health and safety of everyone in our Murdoch University community is our number one priority. That’s why it is important you do your part to help minimise the spread. This includes: 

• Under State Government regulations, you must wear a mask indoors at all times, unless you have an exemption. If you are not wearing your mask, you won’t be able to enter venues and teaching spaces.
• Get vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated (including a third dose) is a requirement to undertake many work placements. Additionally, you will need to show evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination to enter the gym and dine at the food and beverage venues on campus.
• Continue to scan the QR codes at every building you enter. This will help the WA Health Department undertake contact tracing in the event a COVID-19 case is confirmed on campus.
• Maintain good hygiene standards. Regularly wash your hands and cough and sneeze into your elbow. Wipe down surfaces after you have used them – wipes will be provided.
• Maintain 1.5 metres of physical distance between others and leave space for people when entering and leaving buildings.
• Monitor the WA Health Department website for updates.

What to do if you are feeling unwell or have been told you are a close contact
If you’re unwell, please do not come to campus. Stay home and get tested. The closest testing clinic to the South Street campus is at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Should you test positive for COVID-19, it is important you let your Unit Coordinator know as soon as possible. They are here to help you and will develop an alternate plan to ensure you are able to complete your studies if you are unwell.

You should inform your Unit Coordinator directly, and we also ask that you complete the COVID-19 Case Report Form – you will need to enter your student ID and password to access this form online.

Checking in is especially important if you were on campus while you may have been infectious. The University is working with government reporting to establish the protocol for advising close contacts, so you do not need to advise classmates individually.

It’s also important you stay home if you are classed as a ‘close contact’. Under the new government guidelines, a close contact is defined as:

• A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period; or
• Someone who has had close personal interaction with a person with COVID-19 during their infectious period (i.e., 15 minutes face-to-face contact where your mask was not worn at any time, or two hours within a small room where masks were removed); or
• Someone who is informed by WA Health that they are a close contact.

Isolation protocols

If you contract COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact, you must self-isolate.

Under the current Government requirements, if you are confirmed to have COVID-19, you must self-isolate for a minimum of seven days. On Day 7, if your symptoms are still present you must continue self-isolating until your symptoms clear. If you do not have any symptoms on Day 7, you may leave self-isolation.

If you are a symptomatic close contact, you must self-isolate for seven days from the date of contact with the positive case and take a PCR or RAT as soon as possible (within 24 hours):

• If positive, follow confirmed case guidelines (as above).
• If negative, remain in isolation and take a follow up RAT within 24 hours.
• If this second test is positive, follow the confirmed case guidelines (above). If this second test is negative – and no new household members have tested positive – take a RAT on Day 7.

It is important you follow the health and safety advice the minimise the opportunity for COVID-19 to spread, and to follow the guidance for testing and isolation if you are feeling unwell, you are a close contact or you are confirmed as having COVID-19.

At all times, you must adhere to the advice and guidance of the Department of Health.

By following the advice and doing all you can to stay safe, we improve the chance for everyone to have an enjoyable and fulfilling 2022 at Murdoch University.

I wish you all the best with your studies and I look forward to welcoming you back to campus.

 

Kylie Readman

Deputy Vice Chancellor Education and Equity