Coronavirus updates

We strongly encourage everyone to remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations but no longer require our coursework students, online Higher Degree by Research candidates or students living in university accommodation to be vaccinated to come to our university campuses, facilities or events.

The requirement to be vaccinated remains in place for our staff and on-campus Higher Degree by Research candidates.

Students undertaking Professional Experience Placements (PEP) must comply with the vaccination requirements of the workplaces they are entering.

Our staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors and on-campus Higher Degree by Research candidates are required to:

• be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have a vaccination certificate;
• have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and have made a booking to receive all other required doses as soon as reasonably possible;
• have made a booking to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and will receive all required doses as soon as reasonably possible; or
• be otherwise exempt from the Direction and wear an appropriate face mask where required.

Our staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors and on-campus Higher Degree by Research candidates.

Those with a medical exemption or who are not eligible to be vaccinated, (for example children under 5), will not need to be vaccinated. People with a medical exemption will be required to adopt additional precautions such as wearing a mask.

If you have not yet been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

If you are a staff, volunteer, consultant, contractor or on-campus Higher Degree by Research candidate you won't be able to enter any University of Tasmania buildings or facilities unless you are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

• If you are fully vaccinated, you will need to upload a PDF copy of your COVID-19 digital certificate or MyGov vaccination record.
  • See here for a step-by-step guide to access this
• If you are exempt, you will need to upload a copy of a certificate from a medical practitioner confirming this status:
  • UTAS medical exemption form

You can provide this evidence through ServiceNow. Simply go to this form and follow the instructions.

If the Direction applies to you and you have not provided evidence that you meet the requirements, you will not be able to access the relevant buildings and spaces on campus.

The University will only collect and disclose information about your vaccination status as required to comply with the Direction. All information will be kept confidential in accordance with the University Privacy Policy.

If you have any of the following symptoms (even mild ones) get tested for COVID-19, whether or not you have been fully vaccinated: fever, runny nose, cough, sore/itchy throat, or shortness of breath.

If you are feeling unwell with any of these symptoms, you should:

1. Stay home and self-isolate.

   If you are on campus, leave immediately. If you must use public transport, be sure to practice excellent hand hygiene and cough/sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Wear a mask on your way home, if available.

2. Seek medical advice and get tested.

   As soon as possible phone your GP or the Public Health Hotline (TAS 1800 671 738, NSW testing clinics) and get tested. Other than to get tested or for urgent medical care, stay at home or in your place of isolation until you get your test results.

3. Notify the University if you receive a positive result from your test.

If you've tested positive for COVID-19 we ask that you complete this online form. It will support our management of COVID-19 and, as a result, the health and safety of our community.

You should also let your Course Coordinator or Supervisor know and, if you are a Residential Student, also notify Student Living Staff.

For further information about getting tested in Tasmania go to testing for COVID-19.

For further information about getting tested for COVID-19 in NSW go to COVID-19 testing clinics.

If your test result is negative, you do not need to self-isolate any longer unless Public Health has told you otherwise. If you are still sick do not come to campus until you are well. You still should protect others from whatever germ is causing your illness.

If your test result is positive, we advise you stay away from campus for seven days from onset of symptoms or until symptoms have cleared (if returning before seven days please wear a mask indoors)

If someone in your household is unwell with COVID-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath) they should self-isolate and get tested.

If you are well and do not have COVID-like symptoms, you can come on campus unless directed otherwise by Public Health. We do not require close contacts to stay off campus.

If you become a close contact follow all Public Health guidance:

• Stay at home and test immediately if you have any symptoms, even mild
• Stay at home while you have symptoms
• Do not visit people at risk of severe illness (people aged over 70), anyone in hospital or an aged or disability care facility.
• Wear a face mask in any indoor space and on public transport for seven days after your last contact with the case, unless you have a mask exemption
• Avoid large gatherings and social events where physical distancing is not possible

Close contacts are not to attend high-risk settings (such as a health facility) unless a critical worker with an exemption or a patient. Our University high-risk settings include:

• Clinical Schools in Hobart and Launceston
• Rural Clinical School sites in Burnie and Latrobe
• University Psychology Clinic
• MSP Research and Health Clinics

Take steps to protect yourself by practising good hand and cough hygiene and physical distancing. If you develop COVID-like symptoms, stay away from campus, self-isolate and get tested.

There are face-to-face classes for all students studying on campus.

COVID-safe plans are in place for all activities and we have a extensively tested outbreak management plan in place.

Below is a guide for on-campus learning and teaching activity for 2022:

How do I know if my class is on campus?

Your timetable will indicate whether your class is on campus or online.

You will also be updated by your unit coordinators and in MyLO about any changes specific to your course.

Will my timetable change?

Check your timetables regularly and follow any instructions provided by your unit coordinator.

Check your University email regularly and stay in touch with your unit coordinators on MyLO.

I am new to the University. Where do I go?

Head to Starting at the university and UniStart for Orientation information and support in transitioning to university life.

What if there is another outbreak?

We have factored the chance of a COVID outbreak into our planning and procedures. COVID-safe plans are in place for all activities and we have a well-developed and extensively tested outbreak management plan in place.

View more details about our safety measures are available on our COVID Safe page.

Yes, all our campus facilities are open but please stay at home if you're feeling unwell.

Check out:

• Our library opening hours and group study rooms that you can book.
• Café and retail locations for your campus location. When you enter a café, you need to check in. This ensures contact tracing can be carried out in the case of a COVID outbreak.
• Sports fields and indoor sports facilities – bookable on the Sport website or in person at one of our Unigyms.
• Unigym in Launceston, Cradle Coast and Hobart – view the fitness timetable on the Unigym website.

Student accommodation is open across the state. Please ensure you are familiar with vaccination requirements across all University of Tasmania facilities.

If you are living in University accommodation you can request a flexible payment plan for your accommodation costs by speaking with your accommodation team.

Applications are now open for accommodation. New residents and current residents can apply (or re-apply) in the Resident Portal found on the student living website.

• Phone us toll-free within Australia on 1300 138 497 or internationally +61 3 6324 3440.
• Email: enquiries@accommodation.utas.edu.au

We know many jobs have been impacted by COVID-19 and we want to ensure our students have options. Below is a list of grants open to apply for students:

• We have streamlined our Student Financial Hardship Scheme in collaboration with the Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA), to ensure we can be as responsive as possible to student needs. See 'Financial Support' under the Community Safety page in the Student Portal for more information and to apply.
• The Tasmanian community is providing a range of offerings. A list of these can be found on the TUSA community support page.
• International students who are studying and working in Australia may be able to access financial assistance when they are:
  • Required to self-isolate or are caring for someone with COVID-19 (Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment); or
  • Adversely affected by a state public health order and are required to be in lockdown for more than seven days (COVID-19 Disaster Payment).

For more information on the financial support payments, including eligibility criteria, refer to Centrelink.

If you find yourself struggling financially, remember you can also talk through your options with a financial counsellor.

We strongly recommend that you never deal with any unofficial finance or loan providers.

The following support is available:

• IT Service Desk support is available online or call +61 3 6226 2600
• Zoom
• Web conferencing in MyLO
• Installed VPN (install guides for PC, Mac) to access the University network and some web-based systems.

• 24/7 study help is an online 24-hour support service to give you feedback on your writing or help with a study question. Connect on MyLO via your subject units.
• For PASS-supported units, your PASS Leader has set up a discussion board in your MyLO unit.
• Join in Student Learning webinars
• Career Connect is continuing to offer services online including: job application reviews, resume building, mock interviews, information sessions and workshops.
• The Learning Lounge connects you with support staff in real-time.
• Online support services are available via Appointment Hub. You can talk on the phone or online with:
  • Career counselling
  • Accessibility Advisers
  • International Student Advisers
  • Personal Counsellors
  • Student Advisers
  • Student Learning Advisers
  • Student Learning Librarians

We understand that this might be a troubling time for you and may impact your health and general wellbeing. Confidential and free counselling is available through our counselling services. You can make an appointment through:

1. AppointmentHub
2. call 1800 817 675 between 8:45am and 5pm Mon-Fri
3. Outside of business hours, please contact our University Help Line on 1300 511 709 or text on +61 488 884 168.

Check out all the wellbeing resources on your Student Portal.

COVID and contact tracing apps

• Check in Tas - for contact tracing in public venues in Tasmania
• Service NSW - for contact tracing in public venues in NSW
• MyAusCOVID-19 - multi-lingual app with information on COVID-19 in Australia

The University has supported a number of students to isolate while in residence since the beginning of the pandemic.

We are in regular contact with public health and have strong policies and procedures in place to ensure students can isolate safely and as comfortably as possible.

Our residential staff are trained in and experienced with quarantine support, including the safe usage of personal protective equipment. We maintain regular contact with students throughout their quarantine period.

There are a variety of restrictions depending on your location of origin. For the latest information, please check the Tasmanian Government's Coronavirus website.

When people apply to return to Tasmania, Public Health will determine whether you need to isolate and whether you can isolate at your home address or need to enter government quarantine.

Where your home address is University student accommodation, we can support you during your period of isolation. For people asked to enter government quarantine, we do not have alternative approved accommodation that can be used.

The costs of government quarantine are the individual’s responsibility. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, you can apply for support.

Orientation is available online from December and can be accessed as soon as you would like to get started.

There are a variety of restrictions depending on your point of origin before travelling. For the latest information, please check the Tasmanian Government's Coronavirus website.

When people apply to return to Tasmania, Public Health will determine whether you need to isolate and whether you can isolate at your home address or need to enter government quarantine.

Due to confidentiality requirements associated with COVID-19 cases, Public Health are unable to share information relating to cases and contacts.

We have regularly and consistently communicated with our students regarding COVID safe practices and procedures.

Masks are required in vehicles with passengers when the cumulative travel time is greater than four hours in a 24 hour period.

While masks are highly recommended for drivers, they are not required if they pose a risk for driving (e.g., fogging glasses, fatigue).

Masks are required in a meeting room or learning space when the total number of the people in the room is greater than the COVID safe number displayed on the room poster (which means 1.5m physical distancing cannot be maintained).

Masks are also required when the occupation levels are lower than the COVID safe number but the activities mean 1.5m physical distancing cannot be maintained.

We recommend you wear a mask (or at least carry it) when walking around indoors in case you stop to talk with someone or are passing close by to people who are not masked and will be unable to maintain 1.5m physical distancing.

​​​People who have a medical exemption and are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must continue to wear a mask to maintain their safety as per their agreed conditions for University access.

Staff must provide their medical evidence to their Leader and People and Wellbeing Business Partner.

Students must email their medical evidence through to safcu@utas.edu.au.

Until the division or college medical exemption review panels have considered the evidence staff and students must continue to wear masks in accordance with University requirements.

If you are unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, you will be required to wear a face shield as an alternative measure (if medically acceptable).