29 July 2021
Perth and Peel will enter a minimum 4-day lockdown from 12:01am, Tuesday 29 June 2021 until 12.01am, Saturday 3 July 2021. Schools remain open with masks mandatory for all except primary school students and those who are exempt. Full details can be found here.
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Updated WA public school operating guidelines have been released and can be found here.
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Please note that a new circular - Circular 07 of 2021 - detailing public sector workforce arrangements between 29 June and 2 July 2021, has been published on the Government Sector Labour Relations website.
If you have any questions regarding the Circular, please email them to gslr@dmirs.wa.gov.au
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Members are advised that the SSTUWA is reiterating its call for teachers to be given priority access to COVID-19 vaccines amidst confusion about schools and TAFE being open during the latest Perth and Peel lockdown.
The SSTUWA supported the AEU when it warned on 7 June that the education workforce needed to be a priority for vaccination.
President Pat Byrne said teachers are stressed and confused as they are told they are essential workers yet have no priority access to vaccination.
Research has suggested the new strains of COVID are prevalent among children. Teachers want to be assured they will be safe and will not be taking a highly-contagious variant back to their families.
The union is also in contact with the department around a number of issues including the continuation of extra cleaning in schools, support for vulnerable employees, enforcement of mask-wearing among students and access to school sites by parents and other visitors.
The union is also liaising with the department where individual schools are affected.
The union is also seeking clarification on the situation regarding TAFEs during the current lockdown. The state government advice says:
Schools, boarding schools and childcare centres
- Open
- Mask-wearing mandatory except for primary school students
- Universities, TAFE and training colleges will be closed unless for critical activities
However, there is no definition of what a “critical activity” actually is.
Whilst the SSTUWA recognises the incredibly difficult task faced in managing the situation, it calls for clear advice to avoid confusion and distress to people who feel exposed.
Member Assist is running a skeleton staff to deal with urgent member issues. You can contact Member Assist here.
27 June 2021
New COVID measures for Perth and Peel regions. Schools open, masks mandatory for all except primary school students.
6 May 2021
Restrictions will ease in Perth and Peel as planned from 12.01am, Saturday 8 May, subject to no further outbreaks. These restrictions remain in place until 12.01am, Saturday 15 May.
View the amended restrictions here.
2 May 2021
Additional measures have been put in place for Perth and Peel, including a requirement to wear masks indoors and outdoors, unless exempt.
This advice has been issued following new cases of COVID-19 detected in Perth on 1 May 2021.
A list of the potential exposure locations are available on the WA.gov website. People are encouraged to check this page regularly, as the list will be updated as more locations are identified.
Anyone who has been to an exposure site should get tested for COVID-19 immediately.
Masks must be worn at all times outside the home, unless an exemption applies, and people must also continue checking-in through contact registers at relevant businesses and venues.
More information is available about current restrictions.
Source: "New Measures For Perth And Peel Based On Latest Public Health Advice". 2 May 2021. WA.gov.au. https://www.wa.gov.au/
30th April 2021
From 12.01am, Saturday 1 May, most restrictions in Perth and Peel will return to pre-lockdown conditions.
Some minor transitional restrictions, including the wearing of masks, will remain in place until 12.01am, Saturday 8 May.
For more information, visit https://www.mediastatements.
| 27/04/21: Post lockdown WA Public Schools Operating Guidelines: Perth & Peel regions |
The Perth and Peel lockdown will end as planned from 12.01am, Tuesday 27 April.
A post-lockdown transition will be in place until 12.01am, Saturday 1 May.
The following measures will be in place:
- Continue wearing a mask in public, while at work and on public transport unless exemptions apply e.g. vigorous outdoor exercise
- 20-person limit for private indoor and outdoor gatherings
- 20-patron capacity limit and 4sqm rule for:
- cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs for seated food and drink service only
- beauty salons, hairdressers and barbers
- public venues such as recreation centres, outdoor playgrounds, museums and swimming pools
- places of worship
- entertainment venues
- No visitors to aged and disability care facilities and hospitals, except for compassionate reasons and advocacy
- Weddings and funerals can proceed with up to 100 guests, but require an exemption.
- Professional and community sports, including training, permitted but without spectators
- Elective surgery can proceed for category 1 and urgent category 2 surgeries only
- Schools, childcare centres and TAFEs open - mask-wearing requirements apply for all school staff and secondary students, but not primary school students or staff when teaching
- Universities open for online learning only
- Fitness clubs, gyms, casinos and nightclubs remain closed
Regional travel restrictions will be removed, but restrictions on travel to remote Aboriginal communities remain in place.
Anyone in an unaffected region who has been in Perth or Peel since 17 April must comply with mask-wearing requirements.