Victoria University (VU) has developed detailed FAQs around the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on staff and students. We are taking decisive action to help keep the VU community safe, including following government recommendations, postponing events, and changing course delivery to enable remote learning.

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VU's response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Victoria University (VU) has been taking decisive action to help keep the VU community safe since the escalation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Our key focus is always the safety, health and wellbeing of our students, staff and families.

VU’s Incident Management Team, supported by a number of coordinated groups, continue to respond quickly as the situation evolves.

As with other tertiary providers, VU is adhering to directions and advice from Australian and State Governments. As Government directions change, VU will continue to provide students and staff with support to meet their individual circumstances.

What we are doing:

  • Responding quickly to Government advice and directions.
  • Keeping the VU community informed of important developments through these FAQs and other forms of communication.
  • Implementing measures to mitigate an outbreak, including measures around health, hygiene, and general wellbeing of the VU community.
  • Continuing to plan for potential scenarios and impacts to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
  • Providing support where possible to any students or staff that are impacted by coronavirus. To assist us, students and staff can voluntarily complete the coronavirus voluntary reporting webform if they have been tested for coronavirus or have had direct contact with someone who has a confirmed case of coronavirus.

 

What we have done:

  • Moved to digitally supported remote course delivery where practical and possible.
  • Launched the COVID-19 Student Support Fund to provide emergency financial assistance to students in need.
  • Suspended or cancelled all on-campus events, gatherings and activities.
  • Closed onsite library services and limited access to campus buildings.
  • Ceased all international and domestic work-related travel until further notice.
  • Increased onsite cleaning, hand sanitisers and promotion of good hygiene.
  • Adhered to and promoted social distancing principles.
  • Continued VU services and functions by supporting staff to work remotely, as well as other options that best suit individual staff circumstances.

If you do not have symptoms and would like to speak to someone, please get in touch via the contacts listed here.

If you do have symptoms, please contact your general practitioner before attending. When booking your appointment with your doctor, explain that you're coming for with COVID-19 symptoms. This will allow you to share your full travel history or contact risk and assist the practice to advise you of what you need to do.

Students

You can access the student counselling services.

All of our regular channels of support remain open for students who need assistance:

Staff & immediate family members

You can access free confidential counselling support through VU’s Employee Assistance Program Provider Access EAP:

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Safety on campus

There have been some changes to the access to Library on-site collections and spaces.

However, students can still access the internet, PCs and printing facilities via a limited number of student spaces at these campus locations:

Strict social distancing is expected in these areas and will be monitored by Security.

During this time, please respect the need for social distancing and the job of Security as they ensure the health and safety of you and other students in our community.

There are currently no confirmed cases among VU students and staff.

VU has implemented a number of prevention strategies, which include:

  • suspension of on-campus teaching for a week 23–27 March
  • moving to remote course delivery where possible
  • suspension of on-campus events 
  • increased cleaning in public spaces
  • distribution of hand sanitiser
  • displaying correct hand-hygiene posters throughout all campuses
  • encouraging social distancing and working from home where possible
  • promoting the guidelines announced by the Federal Government (where it is appropriate or practical to do so).

We have established a campus-wide response plan in the event that anyone presents with symptoms of the condition.

If anyone, student or staff, has concerns about the health status of another person at the University, they should contact Security at the number below, who will arrange first aid assistance and follow appropriate protocols.

To report concerns on campus, call +61 3 9919 6666.

In order to mitigate risk, all high-contact VU Sport programs will cease from the close of standard operating hours on Friday 20 March until further notice.

This includes all activities apart from University teaching and research activities and specifically refers to:

  • social sport programs
  • group exercise classes
  • swim school
  • community engagement and sports academies
  • inter-university sport.

Memberships and payments will be suspended until exercise classes and facilities resume operations.

Read more about the suspension of sport facilities and programs at VU.

Join an online class

VU Thrive has gone online, offering a range of remote sport and fitness programs for adults and kids.

 

If anyone, student or staff, has concerns about the health status of another person at the University, they should contact Security at the number below, who will arrange first aid assistance and follow appropriate protocols.

Security can also help with queries about unsafe facilities or on-campus environments.

To report concerns on campus, call +61 3 9919 6666.

VU will provide support where possible to any students or staff that are impacted by coronavirus.

To assist us, students and staff are able to voluntarily provide details of situations where they have had:

  • direct contact with a person who has a confirmed case of coronavirus; or
  • have had a test for coronavirus (positive, negative or no result back yet)

Reporting is voluntary. There is no obligation for students or staff to notify VU. This information will be used to assist VU to provide support to students and staff and assist VU working with the Department of Health and Human Services, if contact tracing is required.

Assist VU by voluntarily completing the coronavirus voluntary reporting webform, providing details of situations where you have had direct contact with a person who has a confirmed case of coronavirus, or have been tested for coronavirus (positive, negative or no result back yet).

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Staff FAQ list

A full list of FAQ for staff are available on the People and Culture intranet page (login may be required if offsite). Staff are encouraged to monitor their VU email accounts for further updates.

Official government information

Victoria University is continuing to closely follow advice from the Australian and State Governments in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19). We encourage individuals to view these government sources for the latest and most up-to-date official information about coronavirus:

Health advice

Education advice

International student advice

A dedicated Victorian Government email and hotline has been set up for international students.

Official coronavirus (COVID-19) info & advice

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline

1800 675 398

Coronavirus information in languages other than English

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