Stop the press. The Q&As in my last update were current as of this morning until the latest Government announcement on mandatory vaccination requirements for all authorised providers and authorised workers (APAW) who are not working from home.

All workers – in Melbourne and regional Victoria – on the authorised worker list who cannot work at home will require their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October. From 26 November 2021, the requirement will increase to having had two doses or a medical exemption.

Authorised providers are businesses and organisations that can open in Restricted Areas (i.e., metropolitan Melbourne and Restricted Area LGAs in regional Victoria) when there are only five reasons to leave your home, with an authorised worker being those individuals required to perform the essential tasks delivered by these businesses and organisations. I suggest you check out the authorised worker list but broadly, this now includes staff working in accommodation, cafés/restaurants, retail, manufacturing and farming activities.

Anyone on this list – even if not in a locked-down area, must comply with this requirement.

The 15 October deadline will not apply to workers who already have existing requirements under the Victorian Chief Health Officer directions – such as construction, freight, healthcare, aged care and education, who will still have to comply with previous advice.

I’m sure there will be more updates next week. It’s a fast-moving environment. I’II do my best to keep you all up to speed with the latest news as it comes to hand.

All the best for the weekend

Kind regards

Paul

Acting CEO
DMT