Direction

Under clause 3 of Schedule 25 to the Education and Training Act 2020 I direct the governing bodies of all registered schools who enrol students over the age of 12 years to comply with the following requirements from 1 November 2021:

1. Each governing body must request from every enrolled student over the age of 12 years their COVID-19 vaccination status.
2. The governing body must maintain a secure and up-to-date register of students’ vaccination status. Vaccination status should be recorded as one of:
   1. Fully vaccinated if the student has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine; or
   2. Partially vaccinated if the student has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; or
   3. Medically exempt from vaccination; or
   4. Unvaccinated if the student has disclosed that they have not received any doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or if the student does not disclose their vaccination status; or
   5. Unknown if the student has not yet been asked for their vaccination status.
3. When a student’s vaccination status changes the governing body must update the register as soon as practicable.
4. Every governing body must ensure that its keeping of the register complies with the Privacy Act 2020 in all relevant respects, including the requirements for collecting, security, storing and disclosing information.
5. Every governing body of a registered school must also ensure that their school complies with all applicable COVID-19 Public Health Response Orders in all other respects

I am satisfied that the making of this direction is reasonably necessary to mitigate the actual or potential adverse effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 and will facilitate coordinated processes and planning.

Interpretation

In this direction:

Terms in this direction that are defined in the Education and Training Act 2020 have the same meanings defined in that Act.

COVID-19 Vaccine means a vaccine specified in Schedule 3 to the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021.

Dated this 28th day of October 2021.

IONA HOLSTED, Secretary for Education.