Victorian lockdown update

From 11.59pm on Thursday 15 July Victoria went into lockdown for five days, until 11.59pm on Tuesday 20 July. This is in response to the growing community outbreak of COVID-19 across Greater Metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas.

This means that you are only permitted to leave home for five reasons:

  • shopping for essential goods and services (within 5kms)
  • caregiving or compassionate grounds
  • attending essential work or permitted education
  • exercising (two-hours per day within 5kms)
  • getting COVID tested or vaccinated.

Please make sure you check the exposure sites and if you have been to any of these locations or have any symptoms, ensure that you are tested and isolate in accordance with instructions.

We encourage you to get vaccinated if you are eligible. Please see COVID-19 Vaccination and Patient resources for the latest government information and news.

Please check your VU email account, MyVU and VU Collaborate regularly for further advice, particularly for further information regarding potential changes to any scheduled on-campus activity planned during the lockdown period.

If you are attending campus for any reason

We need your help in keeping the VU community safe. When on campus you will need to:

  • wear a face mask in all indoor settings (unless a lawful exemption applies) and outdoors where physical distancing isn’t possible
  • check into all buildings when you enter using the Victorian Government’s QR Code Service
  • complete daily health screenings for anyone coming on to campus which are undertaken via the VU Safe App
  • log into VU’s WiFi network
  • do not attend campus if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms. Please get tested immediately, no matter how mild your symptoms are.

Help is available

The lockdown announcement may be causing you to feel anxious. We encourage you to reach out and connect with your friends, family and peers at this time. Victoria University also offers support services that can help you should you wish to speak with a counsellor or seek other assistance.

Where home environment or carer responsibilities make remote learning too difficult, please discuss with your teacher or unit convenor to ensure you are not disadvantaged in your study program.

We will continue to update you with information on our response to COVID-19. Please make sure you regularly check your student email accounts, VU social media, MyVU and the FAQs for information as it becomes available.

Please contact the COVID Safe team if you have any concerns about keeping COVID-Safe or if you have any questions, you can access ASKVU, email us, speak to us via live chat or call us on +61 3 9919 6100.

Victoria University's (VU's) priority is always the safety, health and wellbeing of our students, staff and community.

To help keep the VU community safe, we have made changes to how we deliver our courses. Find out more about changes to course delivery and what this means for your studies.

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Classes & study

VU is continuing to plan for a gradual and staged return to campus across 2021. This is in line with COVIDSafe Summer and Government advice about the importance of physical distancing measures to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

VU will update students directly through their student email regarding any requirement for essential on-campus learning, practical placements or research activities. If you have any concerns regarding how the current restrictions affect your study, contact your course coordinator for further advice.

Face coverings on campus

Face masks will not be required in classroom settings; however, you will be required to carry a mask with you at all times (unless a lawful exemption applies). It is recommended that you use a face mask when physical distancing is not possible.

Contact tracing

All students who come onto campus must log into VU’s WiFi network, allowing VU to undertake contact tracing if required. This is a very simple process and your device will remember you after the first log in.

You can connect to eduroam WiFi with these three easy steps:

  1. Choose eduroam from the list of networks
  2. Enter your username in the following format: [email protected]
  3. Enter your password (same as MYVU) and accept the certificate if requested.

Daily health checks

All students attending campus must complete daily health checks through the VU Safe app on your smartphone. The VU Safe App will also be the communication tool of choice during serious emergencies. 

Please enable the push notifications component of the app to ensure we can notify you of any on-campus emergency or any situation occurring off-campus you should be aware of.

If you need to show evidence that you are undertaking essential and approved face-to-face learning activities (essential study), you can produce your digital identification which is available on the VU app.

Download VU App

Steps to access Digital ID on VU App

  1. Download and install VU App
  2. Open the VU App
  3. Click on the Profile tab on the bottom right-hand side of the app
  4. See your digital ID card which will look similar to this. It will include your name, Student ID number, photo and a barcode.

Remote learning enables students to not have to be physically present at a school, college or university in order to attain an education. VU’s remote learning incorporates a digital study component and includes access to online learning materials.

Digital and remote delivery at VU commenced for many classes on 30 March and will continue until further advice is provided.

Victoria University will continue to monitor developing news and departmental advice regarding COVID-19.

The University continues to make considered decisions on its class delivery model and will be in communication with all students as circumstances change over time.

Digital and remote delivery will continue for the majority of classes until further advice is provided. We will continue to update you directly through your student email regarding any changes to teaching and learning arrangements as decisions are made.

Changes to COVID-19 restrictions will continue to affect students with essential on-campus learning, practical placements or research activities. If you have any concerns regarding how the current restrictions affect your study, contact your course coordinator.

Yes, you can access Zoom in VU Collaborate and work together with your classmates on group assignments. Please check the Zoom student guide for step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

Students already studying remotely, via VU Online, will not be affected by the change.

VU Polytechnic students will receive further communication from teaching staff regarding on-campus learning and any changes as they occur.

Read our information for VU Polytechnic students for more details.

Along with our undergraduate courses, our postgraduate coursework units will also be taught remotely. Please see FAQ above: 'Which units & courses will be taught by remote learning' for a few exceptions. Students already studying their postgraduate degree remotely via VU Online will not be affected by the change.

Face masks must be carried at all times and should be worn whenever physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained. Face masks have proven to be effective at reducing transmission of COVID-19 and people are strongly encouraged to wear face masks, particularly indoors.

If you travel to and from the University using public transport or in a taxi/ride share then you will also need to wear a mask in these settings.

Yes, you must connect to VU’s WiFi and conduct daily health checks via the VU Safe app. Please see the ‘Are VU classes running?’ section above for details.

In extreme cases, you can make an application via the special consideration process for a Fail grade (N, WN) to be converted to Withdrawn Without Academic Penalty (WD), if you can demonstrate you were adversely impacted by COVID-19. In these cases, you will not have a WD grade count towards your Grade Point Average (GPA) or Weighted Average Mark (WAM). You must make your application within 10 working days of the results release date for the relevant teaching period.

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Today's chat hours:
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Local time: Tuesday 27 July 9:00am AEST AEST

Placements

Please check your VU email account to check for communication about how your college is managing block sequencing or alternative arrangements for placements.

You can also send a query to Work-integrated Learning, and the staff will direct your question to the appropriate college-based staff.

Email: [email protected]

If you are undertaking Work-Integrated Learning (placement) with one of our industry partners and are having difficulty sourcing face masks, please contact us and we will be able to assist you.

University facilities & services

VU Library’s onsite library collection areas and study spaces have opened at all campus libraries. During opening hours, books can be returned to any campus library. Books can also be returned to campus libraries with an external return chute (Footscray Park, St Albans and Werribee) any time. See Library opening hours.

Remember to undertake daily health screening via the VU Safe App, log into VU's WiFi network, and carry a face mask at all times when coming on campus.

Library Services will continue to support students via chat services and face-to-face assistance via Zoom on request. The Library’s online resources continue to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There are many options to access library resources, participate in workshops and stay connected with our support staff:

Most core services will remain open.

Continuing services include:

If you require study and academic support outside of working hours contact:

VU Employ will now operate online. Students can email [email protected] (staffed hours are Monday–Friday, 11am–4pm) for career support.

We strongly require that social distancing occurs across the University. Please do not attend campus if you are feeling unwell.

IT & technical support

There are three ways of accessing your zoom virtual classroom, with both common steps and differences for each. Accessing the Zoom virtual classroom varies depending on how your educator has set up your classroom.

The VU Collaborate Help Guide has information and step-by-step guides.

To fully participate in a virtual classroom, we recommend that you work from a computer enabled with a webcam, speakers, and a microphone. You may also like to use a headset or a headphone with an attached speaker.

A step-by-step guide can be found on the VU Collaborate Help Guide.

Our Student Contact Centre will remain open and can assist you with all matters.

The Library have laptops available that they can make available to students for an extended borrowing period. Please contact the Library to check laptop availability.

In addition, students can still access the internet, PCs and printing facilities via a number of student spaces on campus including:

Health advice & support

Nurse on call 24-hour phone line

For over-the-phone advice, use this Victorian Government service:

Emergency

If it is an emergency, call 000 emergency and advise the ambulance service about your concerns regarding coronavirus.

Phone: 000

Victorian Government

The Victorian Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline.
Phone: 1800 675 398.

On-campus

If you are on campus and need first aid assistance contact security.

  • Phone: +61 3 9919 6666
  • Contact through the VUSAFE app.

'Doctors on demand' for Allianz members

International students who have taken out the Allianz Care Essential Covers health insurance policy through Victoria University’s application process have access to specialised support services.

These include ‘Allianz Telehealth services’ powered by Doctors on Demand, a service which allows students to speak to a qualified Australian-based doctor 24 hours a day, seven days per week via phone or video call.

This service enables you to select a doctor based on gender or language spoken.

Sydney campus

Students studying at our Sydney campus who are feeling anxious or distressed about the current situation can get in contact by email or phone.

Victorian campuses

If you are studying at our Victorian campuses and feeling anxious or distressed about the current situation, please get in touch.

National resources

  • The Australian Government Payment and Service Finder is a good resource to find someone to talk to in your area.
  • Lifeline is a national charity open to all Australians in personal crisis. They have 24-hour crisis support and suicide-prevention services.
  • Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation. They can help young people who are going through a difficult time.

Financial support

Students who are experiencing financial difficulties and stress can access a range of support services. To discuss your options, please book an appointment with a Senior Advisor.

Appointments are currently being conducted by phone only.

Email your enquiry to [email protected]. One of the team will get back to you as quickly as possible.

The Federal Government also recently announced additional support that some students may be eligible for. For more information about the latest Government financial supports, visit the Australian Government Treasury website.

The Australian Government has announced that those students eligible for Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy will receive an increase in their payments up to $550 per fortnight.

An additional $750 stimulus payment on top of the previous stimulus payment that was announced on 13 March will also be paid. This will also be paid to those students who are not eligible for Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy but hold a valid Low Income Health Care Card.

For more information on Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy please visit www.dhs.gov.au.

The Australian federal government has announced that anyone over 17 years old, who loses work in a Commonwealth-defined hotspot area due to a lockdown lasting for longer than seven days may be for a temporary COVID disaster payment.