This page provides up to date information and ongoing updates regarding COVID-19. Information has been collated from the relevant government agencies including ACT and NSW Health.
Each section was reviewed on Thursday, 11 November 2021.
Current status: as of 26 November 2021.
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Current Advice For Schools
All CECG NSW schools are open to students.
The Roadmap for ACT schools is outlined in the document, CECG ACT Schools Roadmap – Term 4 2021.
The current requirements for NSW schools are outlined in the document, NSW School Roadmap.
Upon the return to face to face learning, all Archdiocesan Catholic schools and Early Learning Centres will follow these requirements to keep COVID safe when attending classes onsite.
All ACT and NSW Catholic Education schools have returned to face to face learning. Where there are individual student circumstances that prevent onsite learning for cohorts of students, schools will provide learning activities to students in a manner consistent with previous practices (prior to the lockdowns).
Whilst there are still a very small number of students learning remotely, CECG have developed guidelines to support our students. We continue to be proactive in caring for and protecting the students, staff, and members of our wider school and Catholic Education communities.
As always we ask you to please follow appropriate ACT and NSW Health advice:
Useful resources can be found on the NSW Education and ACT Education websites. These pages are updated regularly.
ACT: The First Eucharist sacrament attended by some members of the Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo community has been identified as an exposure site. The school remains open to all students. St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Kambah, has been identified as an exposure site. Affected families have been contacted and the school remains open to all students.
NSW: There are currently no schools affected by COVID-19 and no temporary closures.
If we remain diligent and follow the public health advice, we can continue to keep our schools, students and staff safe.
School Closure Advice
If a school is temporarily closed we will follow this process:
Protocol for temporary school closure due to COVID-19
A key objective of any school closure is to re-open the school when it is safe to do so. During this process Catholic Education works closely with health agencies to ensure the health and safety of staff, students and the community whilst re-opening the school as soon as possible. It is likely the school would be closed for a brief period during this time, depending on how many staff and students are identified as close or casual contacts. Our Schools will communicate with you continually during this period.
Transition to Remote Learning in the Event of a Lockdown
During a lockdown, our Catholic schools will remain open (subject to ACT/NSW Health advice) to support vulnerable students and parents and carers, particularly those providing essential services, and who are unable to provide care for their children. Students will be supervised at school and participate in a remote learning program. Similarly, students who are not in attendance at school will engage in remote learning.
When to Stay Home From School
Please keep your child at home if they are showing any symptoms of sickness. If they have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms, they should be tested just in case and self-isolate until they receive their results. Please notify the school.
If your child develops any symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath:
- Call your GP in the first instance. By calling your GP before arriving they can take appropriate infection control measures.
- Notify the school.
- In the event of an emergency please dial 000.
Where students and staff are absent or sent home due to flu-like symptoms, they should be tested for COVID-19.
You can find information about testing locations below:
NSW COVID-19 testing locations
ACT COVID-19 testing locations
Hygiene and Social Distancing
Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, is focused on maintaining the highest standards of hygiene possible for staff and students. All of our Catholic schools have been asked to ensure school-wide hygiene practices are in place, encouraged and maintained. Signage promoting good hand hygiene, prevention of the spread of germs and correct procedures for coughing and sneezing are displayed.
Physical distancing of children in schools in not required under the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee Guidelines (AHPPCH).
All adults must maintain physical distance from each other (1.5m) including teachers, support staff and parents.
We are conducting additional cleaning of schools in accordance with the AHPPCH Guidelines and the advice of ACT and NSW Health.
End of Year Functions
ACT Requirements
The requirements for ACT are outlined in the ACT Roadmap and the document, End of Year Events Guidelines for Schools.
NSW Requirements
NSW Government has recently release the restrictions for School end of year functions (Year 6, 10 and 12 only). Additional guidelines will be provided to schools in the coming weeks to support end-of-year assemblies and award ceremonies.
The following advice, developed with NSW Health, will apply for school formal and graduation/farewell events from Wednesday 1 December 2021, or after all HSC students have completed their exams. This is subject to change depending on the NSW Health advice of the day. Event organisers should plan for the possibility of event cancellations.
In addition to current COVID-safe advice for schools, staff, students and visitors attending a formal or graduation/farewell event must adhere to the following where applicable:
- The event organiser, whether it is the school or students and/or parents, must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan/risk assessment and comply with the venue requirements specific for the event. Requirements may include limits to the number of attendees, vaccination requirements, catering and any restrictions on dancing.
- All attendees must be well and free of any flu-like symptoms and have not been directed to self-isolate by NSW Health.
- All external visitors if the event is held on the school site, including parents and invited guests, must show evidence of full vaccination.
- All staff, students and visitors must wear a mask (exemptions apply).
- External visitors attending should be limited to ensure compliance with the current square metre rule within the COVID-19 Safety Plan.
- Attendees must remain seated as much as possible to minimise mingling outside of non-household groups or close friend groups.
- Staff and visitors attending the graduation are required to sign in using the venue or school’s QR code check-in process.
- Singing and chanting during the event is not allowed.
- Avoid playing woodwind instruments where possible, particularly in groups and in indoor or confined spaces.
- If students are likely to want yearbooks or similar signed by their classmates, they should bring their own pen.
- Visitors should not be allowed access to areas outside of the designated event venue and should leave promptly at the conclusion of the event.
- End of year events held outside the school in NSW are subject to NSW public health vaccination requirements. Anyone over 16 years of age will have to demonstrate full vaccination status upon entry.
Resources
ACT Government COVID-19 Education Videos
2020 Parents’ Guide to Google Classroom
Important Links
More information is available from various agencies following the links below:
Australian Government Department of Health
Australian Government Services Australia
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment
COVID-19 Hotlines
If you need advice or have questions concerning COVID-19 please contact:
ACT COVID-19 Hotline – (02) 6207 7244 between 8am and 8pm daily.
For NSW please refer to:
National Coronavirus Health Information Line – 1800 020 080
In the event of a medical emergency, please call 000.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
As COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives, we believe it is vital to address any concerns for the mental and emotional health of our school communities. Catholic Education has highly effective student support structures and resources in place to help build students’ resilience. These may also assist to alleviate any anxiety or concerns related to COVID-19 and its impact. They include:
- Counsellors who provide skilled, student and family centred support in all primary and secondary schools. CatholicCare and Marymead counsellors offer much of this support.
- Highly-trained student wellbeing personnel who continue to provide support to our schools.
Talking to Your Child About COVID-19
Children and young people, while not considered to be in a high risk category, may be exposed to news reports, social media and general discussions about unfolding events. Parent resources are available to help guide the conversation around coronavirus.
Catholic Education has prepared a general information sheet on Looking after Yourself During Lockdown.
School.tv has released a helpful short video that contains helpful details on how to talk to your child about the pandemic. Other resources to guide the conversation include:
- Child Mind Institute: ‘Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus’
- UNICEF Australia: ‘How to talk to your children about coronavirus (COVID-19)’
- Australian Psychology Society: Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
- Psychology Today: ‘How to talk to kids and teens’
For advice on maintaining positive mental health, Beyond Blue, Headspace and Reachout are all reliable sources.
The Smiling Mind app is a free tool to promote mindfulness and also includes information on how to support children in times of crisis.
Support is also available through the following phone counselling services:
CatholicCare – (02) 6162 6100
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Mensline – 1300 789 978
Visit the Headspace website
The information on this page is current as of 1 June 2021.