This chronology summarises state and territory government
schooling and early childhood education policy announcements in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It aims to provide an accessible reference resource
for those interested in understanding how each jurisdiction responded to the
unfolding pandemic with respect to schooling and early childhood education in
the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tracking the announcements across 2020 shows how state and
territory governments responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in their local
contexts and how they addressed pressures in terms of health, education and the
economy. Broadly, measures include those aimed at:
The chronology first provides a brief, high-level overview
to draw together and contextualise different aspects of states’ and
territories’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to schooling and
early childhood education. It then outlines the search strategy and provides
school term dates for 2020 as a reference. The main body of the document
comprises tables for each jurisdiction which set out media releases and
announcements relating to schools and early childhood education chronologically
for 2020.
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread
disruption to education. Most countries around the world temporarily closed
educational facilities as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.[1] From February 2020
to January 2021, roughly the timeframe covered by this chronology, schools
across the world were in country-wide closures for an average of 3.5 months.[2] This rose to 5.5
months—two-thirds of an academic year—when localised or partial school closures
were taken into account.[3]
At the beginning of the pandemic in Australia, school
closures were a controversial measure for managing the spread of COVID-19. National
advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was that schools were safe and should remain
open.[4]
At its meeting on 23 March 2020, when Australia marked its
1000th case of COVID-19, the AHPPC stated that it did not support pre-emptive
school closures at that time due to a lack of evidence of significant disease
in children and the lack of reported major disease spreading in schools.[5] The AHPPC outlined
the negative impacts of school closures, including on students’ mental health
and wellbeing, particularly for students from low socio-economic areas, as well
as impacts on critical industries.[6] The AHPPC had previously cited research that school closures could result in
around 15 per cent of the total workforce and 30 per cent of the health
workforce needing to take time off work to care for children.[7]
However, in the context of increasing social distancing
requirements, restrictions on gatherings, and high anxiety about the unfolding
pandemic, all states and territories announced changes to schooling
arrangements. Arrangements ranged from temporarily relaxing attendance
requirements, to all students being advised to stay home where possible, and
schools only remaining open for children who could not learn from home.
The different arrangements for schools across the states and
territories, differences between social distancing requirements in the
community compared with schools, uncertainty for parents about whether to send
children to school or keep them at home (for example, amid announcements that schools
remained ‘open’, sometimes parents were advised to keep children at home if
they could), and various timings and arrangements for the resumption of
face-to-face learning (for example, the staged return of year-levels) were
sources of confusion and debate.[8]
The process for returning students to classrooms varied
across Australia as states and territories responded to the COVID-19 case
numbers in their jurisdictions. In the eastern states which experienced higher
caseloads, students returned to classrooms in stages, often by year groups.
Other arrangements for returning to schools aimed at minimising the risk of
spreading COVID-19 included staggered timetables, changed classroom
arrangements, restrictions on activities, social distancing for adults on
campuses, and restrictions on parents coming onto school grounds. State and
territory governments also invested additional funding in hygiene measures such
as higher frequency cleaning and increasing the availability of cleaning
supplies, such as hand-sanitiser and soap. In 2020, Victoria was the only state
to implement mask requirements for students.
A major concern about school closures was their impact on
student learning. The move to home learning required teachers to quickly adapt
lesson plans for remote learning and state and territory education departments to
develop digital learning platforms and materials. Governments also supported
remote learning by providing devices and internet connections (for example, SIM
cards and dongles) to families needing them. Later in 2020, some states (NSW,
SA and Victoria) announced tutoring programs to support student learning
following pandemic disruptions.
States and territories also responded to the impact of the
pandemic on student wellbeing and mental health. Measures included funding for
mental health support for young people and school-based wellbeing and mental
health resources.
COVID-19 disruptions were particularly acute for students in
their final year of school. Adaptations aimed to ensure that Year 12 students
would not be disadvantaged upon completion of their schooling, and included
changes to assessment timing and processes, alternative arrangements for
subjects with practical components, early offers to university based on
schools’ recommendations or students’ previous results, and processes for
considering educational disadvantage. A number of jurisdictions also supported
school leavers to develop skills for employment through free training courses.
The pandemic also affected end-of-year school celebrations
such as formals and graduations. Depending on the COVID-19 restrictions and
case numbers experienced by states and territories towards the end of the year,
governments announced arrangements for social distancing, capacity requirements
and safety measures to enable ceremonies and events to proceed.
In addition to measures aimed at minimising the spread of
COVID-19 and supporting students’ learning and wellbeing, schools and early
learning facilities also functioned as vehicles for stimulus to assist
jurisdictions’ economic recovery from the pandemic. State and territory
governments implemented and/or brought forward school infrastructure and
capital works programs including new schools, new facilities and school
improvements. In some cases, changes were made to planning or approval
processes to ‘fast track’ the rollout of projects. School infrastructure
projects aimed to create job opportunities and support pipelines of skilled
jobs into the future.
A precedent for school infrastructure spending to stimulate
the economy can be seen in the Australian Government’s response to the global
financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. The Building the Education Revolution (BER)
program was the largest component of the Australian Government’s $42.1 billion
Nation Building and Jobs Plan.[9] The BER provided funding for new school facilities, upgrades, and
refurbishments. As noted in the Australian National Audit Office’s report on
the BER in 2010, one of the benefits of school-based infrastructure spending as
stimulus is the geographic spread of schools, enabling economic stimulus to be
provided in population areas across the country.[10]
Other stimulus measures states and territories introduced in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic aimed to support other sectors of the
economy. For example, some state and territory governments introduced stimulus
measures such as vouchers for sport, activities or excursions as well as
tourism campaigns around school holidays to support sport and tourism sectors.
Free preschool (also referred to as kindergarten or kinder) and child care
measures were introduced in some states to support the sector and provide
financial relief to families.
Announcements from 2020 were identified from searches of
media releases from state and territory governments—typically premiers/chief
ministers and education ministers—and media releases and news announcements
from education and related departments. The ‘details’ column provides a brief
description of the announcement, with further information available in the
source documents. Links included were correct at February 2022.
Media releases are organised by state and territory.
Announcements that relate to individual schools are generally not included,
such as announcements of individual school closures in response to confirmed
cases of COVID-19, or announcements relating to individual new schools, upgrades
or facilities.
Some included announcements, such as school upgrades, may
not have been initiated specifically in response to the pandemic; however,
their implementation was subsequently tied to the pandemic response, for
example through jobs growth. It is not always clear whether a funding
announcement represents new funding or is part of a previous announcement. While
every effort has been made to identify and include relevant announcements, the
chronology is not exhaustive. The search functions of government and education
departments’ websites differ which can make it difficult to locate past
announcements. Announcements made via press conferences without an accompanying
media release would not have been identified.
Many of the announcements relating to school closures and re-openings
are discussed in relation to school terms and school holidays. Table 1 provides
state and territory school term dates for 2020.
| Date |
Details |
Source
Documents |
6 March 2020 |
ACT Health released COVID-19
information for parents/carers of children in school or child care. It
outlined quarantine requirements for people who had travelled or transited
through mainland China or Iran, and South Korea after 5 March, or who
had been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. It explained that being
quarantined at home meant children could not attend school. |
ACT Health, COVID-19
– Information for parents of children in school or childcare,
information sheet, 6 March 2020. |
16 March 2020 |
The ACT Government announced
that Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith had declared a Public Health
Emergency for the ACT.
The ACT Government stated that
there was no need for schools to close at the time. However, it recommended
that schools suspend sports carnivals and large concerts, and consider
postponing school fetes and excursions. Planning was in process for the digital
delivery of learning in government schools in case it was required. |
R Stephen-Smith (Minister for
Health), Public
Health Emergency declared for ACT, media release, 16 March 2020. |
20 March 2020 |
Education Minister Yvette
Berry announced that Australian education minsters had agreed that the
National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing would not
proceed in 2020 due to the pandemic. Testing had been scheduled for 12–22 May. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), NAPLAN
2020 cancelled, media release, 20 March 2020. |
22 March 2020 |
Chief Minister Andrew Barr
announced he would be informing National Cabinet that the ACT would move to a
more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services over the following 48
hours. This followed similar announcements from NSW and Victorian Premiers.
In relation to schools, the
Chief Minister stated:
We will be transitioning to an
alternate distance education program for most students on Tuesday as well as
continuing to provide a face to face education program for those students who
need it. |
A Barr (Chief Minister), Statement:
ACT Chief Minister, media release, 22 March 2020. |
22 March 2020 |
Minister for Education Yvette
Berry announced all ACT schools would begin ‘pupil-free’ days from Tuesday 24
March until the school holidays on Friday 10 April, ‘despite statements from
the Prime Minister’. Pupil-free days would allow time for teachers and
schools to prepare for a range of learning options, including online learning.
Ms Berry stated that the Education
Directorate would provide options for some students to attend school in
person, such as students with parents/carers in essential services and vulnerable
children. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), Confirmation
of ACT schools response to COVID-19, media release, 22 March 2020.
|
28 March 2020 |
The ACT Government announced
it would provide Chromebooks to government school students in Years 4–6 to
ensure families could continue education from home. Primary schools would
work with families to arrange distribution.
Students could also access a
new Learning
Resource Library to support home learning. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), Chromebooks
rolled out to Years 4, 5 and 6, media release, 28 March 2020. |
7 April 2020 |
The ACT Government confirmed
Year 12 students would be able to receive the ACT Senior Secondary
Certificate and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) in 2020. Unlike
other states and territories, the ACT uses results from school-based
assessment across Years 11 and 12 in the calculation of the ATAR, enabling schools
to adjust assessment types and schedules to reflect circumstances created by
the COVID-19 response. Government colleges (Years 11 and 12) were working to
ensure no student was disadvantaged.
The ACT Government also
confirmed that all ACT government schools and colleges had access to a school
psychologist. The Government aimed to ensure all students had internet access
at home. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), Students
can receive an ATAR for 2020, media release, 7 April 2020. |
8 April 2020 |
Minister for Education Yvette
Berry announced that government schools would be moving to remote delivery of
learning at the start of Term 2 (Tuesday 28 April 2020), with supervision
available at a small number of school sites for students unable to stay at
home. Students without access to a device or computer at home would be
provided with one by their school, as well as internet access for families
without access.
All ACT government specialist
schools remained available as supervised school sites. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), ACT
students to learn from home in term 2, media release, 8 April 2020. |
22 April 2020 |
The Education Directorate
announced the nine government school sites selected to be available for
students in Term 2. Schools and teachers were prepared for remote learning
for the whole of Term 2, unless the situation changed.
Approximately 1,900 students
were expected at the nine school sites each day. Families were to register children;
however, students would not be turned away if they turned up unexpectedly. |
Y Berry (Minister for Education), Safe,
supervised school sites for term two, media release, 22 April
2020. |
1 May 2020 |
With no active cases, the ACT
Government eased restrictions, allowing Canberrans to leave home for
non-essential shopping, and allowing families to visit each other (two adults
plus children).
In relation to schools, the
Government stated it was working on how and when schools could return to
face-to-face learning. The Government reiterated that government schools in
the ACT could deliver remote learning for all of Term 2; however, it noted
‘we are preparing to move to face-to-face delivery during Term 2 if the
circumstances allow us to do that sensibly’. It was flagged that the return
would likely be staged, beginning with younger children and secondary
students at key points in their learning (for example, Year 7 and Year 12
students). |
A Barr (Chief Minister) and Y
Berry (Minister for Education), Joint
statement: Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, media release, 1
May 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
The ACT Government established
a new telehealth service for students as part of its wellbeing support during
remote learning in Term 2. The Student Wellbeing Telehealth Support Service
would be delivered by a team of psychologists and senior psychologists from
the Education Directorate. |
Education Directorate, New
telehealth support service for students, news, 1 May 2020. |
6 May 2020 |
The ACT Chief Health Officer (CHO)
wrote to parents/carers with advice for students’ return to face-to-face
learning. ACT Health had worked with the Education Directorate to develop
guidelines to help make schools safe for students and staff. |
K Coleman (CHO), ACT
Health advice for returning to face to face learning in ACT public schools, letter to parents/carers, 6 May 2020. |
7 May 2020 |
The ACT Government announced
plans for government schools in the ACT to return to on-campus learning over
the following four weeks. The return to on-site learning at school would occur
in stages by year group.
Students with chronic health
conditions or compromised immune systems could still learn remotely. |
Y Berry (Minister for
Education), Staged
return to on-campus learning in ACT public schools, media release, 7
May 2020. |
11 May 2020 |
The Education Directorate
announced that health and hygiene measures would be enforced as ACT
government schools returned to on-campus learning from 18 May 2020. Cleaning
services would be extended to deliver dedicated hygiene activities during
each school day and an updated cleaning plan would be in place prior to
resumption of face-to-face learning. |
Education Directorate, Health
and hygiene in schools, news, 11 May 2020. |
14 May 2020 |
The Education Directorate outlined
physical distancing measures that would be in place for adults when students
returned to on-campus learning. Adults would need to maintain physical
distance between themselves, including in the staffroom and during drop-off
and pick-up times. |
Education Directorate, Physical
distancing in schools, news, 14 May 2020. |
14 May 2020 |
As part of the the ACT Government’s economic stimulus package, the Education Directorate outlined school
upgrades and stated that work had begun on more than 80 projects worth
$5.15 million.
This was part of a $25 million
package to ‘fast track’ a range of infrastructure and maintenance projects to
support local businesses and employment. |
Education Directorate, Fast-tracked
projects set to upgrade ACT public schools, news, 14 May 2020. |
11 June 2020 |
The ACT Government expanded
the ‘Fast Track’ urban
infrastructure program with a $10 million second phase. New projects
would include upgrades to public buildings, maintenance works in schools and
urban renewal projects. |
A Barr (Chief Minister), More
jobs and local businesses supported through $10m extension of fast track
program, media release, 11 June 2020. |
15 June 2020 |
On International Cleaners Day,
the ACT Government acknowledged the importance of cleaners and their role in
keeping government schools clean and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the ACT Government’s
$6 million Jobs for Canberrans Fund, the Education Directorate was hiring an
additional 180 cleaners and support officers, with 90 having been hired to
date. |
Y Berry (Minister for
Education), Celebrating
public school cleaners, media release, 15 June 2020. |
18 June 2020 |
The CHO wrote to
parents/carers to provide ACT Health advice for schools as restrictions
eased.
As of 19 June 2020, parents
would be able to attend schools for scheduled events. Small assemblies,
religious services and performances could resume in line with the Public
Health Direction on gathering sizes. |
K Coleman (CHO), ACT
Health advice for schools as COVID-19 restrictions ease, letter to
parents/carers, 18 June 2020. |
23 June 2020 |
The ACT Government released a
‘roadmap’
for government schools as part of the COVID-19 recovery plan and outlined
school arrangements for Term 3. The roadmap set out the planned easing of
restrictions for school activities and parent/carer engagement, in line with
broader easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the ACT. |
Education Directorate, COVID-19
and school arrangements for Term 3 2020, news, 23 June 2020. |
2 July 2020 |
The Education Directorate issued
travel advice for Victoria before the school holidays, advising ACT residents
not to travel to specific suburbs in Melbourne identified as COVID-19
hotspots. |
Education Directorate, Travel
advice on Victoria, news, 2 July 2020. |
10 July 2020 |
The Education Directorate
reported on the Moments
in Time initiative, a journal writing project that had been running
for the previous 10 weeks. Government school students and community members
had been recording thoughts, feelings and experiences of COVID-19. |
Education Directorate, The
world during COVID-19: as told by our students, news, 10 July 2020. |
20 July 2020 |
The Education Directorate
provided updated advice to schools following a COVID-19 Public Health
Direction that morning requiring anyone who had been to locations identified
by NSW Health to self-quarantine for 14 days.
The ACT Government paused the
easing of restrictions (with schools to remain at Step 2.2 of the Roadmap)
until health advice changed. Restrictions would remain as per the last two
weeks of Term 2 with students across all years continuing with on-campus
learning and schools supporting remote learning for students vulnerable to
COVID-19. |
Education Directorate, Updated
information on COVID-19 health directions and restrictions for ACT public
schools, news, 20 July 2020. |
8 August 2020 |
As part of a COVID-19 support
package for the sports sector, the ACT Government waived fees for hiring ACT
Government sportsgrounds and public education facilities for a further six
months. |
Y Berry (Minster for Education), Extending
support for sports sector through COVID-19, media release, 8 August
2020. |
4 September 2020 |
The CHO issued guidance to the
Education Directorate which set out considerations for schools in planning
end-of-year events such as formals and graduation ceremonies. |
Education Directorate, Advice
on end of year activities, news, 4 September 2020. |
12 October 2020 |
The Education Directorate
advised that COVID-related restrictions had been eased across ACT schools
before end-of-year events. |
Education Directorate, Changes
to COVID restrictions, news, 12 October 2020. |
13 November 2020 |
The Education Directorate
advised that the CHO had updated COVID-19 rules for formals, graduations and
other end-of-year events with the gathering limit increasing from 200 to 500. |
Education Directorate, Larger
end-of-year events, news, 13 November 2020. |
| Date |
Details |
Source
Documents |
28 January 2020 |
The NSW Government requested
that children who had visited China not attend school or child care services
for 14 days following their departure from China. |
B Hazzard (Minister for Health and Medical Research) and
S Mitchell (Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning), Updated advice ahead of school returning,
media release, 28 January 2020. |
15 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
announced proactive measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 in schools. Schools
were required to adopt social distancing measures, including cancelling
assemblies, excursions, travel and events such as major or interschool arts and
sports activities from Monday 16 March.
The Department also stated that
it was ‘continuing to prepare for further closures if necessary with scaling
up of technology, additional training of staff and preparation of offsite
lessons’. |
Department of Education, Schools
to implement social distancing measures, media release,
15 March 2020. |
20 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
released a communique from the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
Education Council announcing NAPLAN testing would not proceed in 2020.
Cancelling NAPLAN in 2020 was
intended to assist school leaders, teachers and support staff to focus on the
wellbeing of students and continuity of education, including potential online
and remote learning. Responses to COVID-19 may have also disrupted the
delivery of NAPLAN testing, including operating centralised marking centres. |
Department of Education, NAPLAN
will not proceed in 2020, media release, 20 March 2020. |
22 March 2020 |
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
released a statement signalling her intention to inform the National Cabinet
that NSW would move to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential
services, to occur over the following 48 hours.
Ms Berejiklian stated that
‘[s]chools will be open tomorrow, though I will have more to say on this
issue in the morning’. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Statement
from the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, media release,
22 March 2020. |
23 March 2020 |
The NSW Government announced new
COVID-19 restrictions with schools beginning to move towards online learning.
Schools remained open, but as
of 24 March parents were encouraged to keep children at home ‘for practical
reasons’.
Ms Berejiklian noted that
nearly 30 per cent of children were already being kept out of school.
Although parents were encouraged to keep children at home, Ms Berejiklian
stated that ‘no child will be turned away from school’. |
G Berejiklian (Premier) New
COVID-19 restrictions begin as schools move towards online learning,
media release, 23 March 2020. |
24 March 2020 |
The NSW Education Standards
Authority (NESA) confirmed that the Higher School Certificate (HSC) 2020
would be going ahead. The NESA Board gave principals or system authorities
the power to make decisions about the number and weighting of HSC assessment
tasks for their school. |
NSW Education Standards
Authority (NESA), 2020
HSC is going ahead, media release, 24 March 2020. |
25 March 2020 |
The Department of Education reiterated
previous advice on schools:
The NSW Department of Education’s
advice regarding schools is very clear. No child in NSW will be turned away
from school. Schools remain open for parents who want their children to
attend irrespective of their profession or working arrangements.
Parents were encouraged to
keep their children at home if possible. The Department said it would provide
continuity of learning for students on and off campus. |
Department of Education, Latest
schools info, media release, 25 March 2020. |
2 April 2020 |
NESA’s COVID-19 Response
Committee announced decisions in relation to the 2020 HSC. The Committee
agreed to enable changes in assessment arrangements and lift requirements for
performance exams and vocational education and training (VET) work placements.
The Committee said it would
continue meeting weekly to provide advice and address issues. |
NESA, HSC
changes protect health and safety of students, media release, 2 April
2020. |
9 April 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that preschool in NSW would be free for up to six months following a funding
package of $51 million.
The Government also committed
$82 million to support council child care centres not eligible for JobKeeper
payments. The measures were to provide funding certainty and financial relief
to families during the pandemic. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Free
preschool in NSW for up to six months, media release,
9 April 2020. |
21 April 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that NSW school students would gradually transition back to classrooms in
Term 2.
The announcement outlined that from
week three of Term 2, every student would be attending school for one day a
week, with a view to having all children back at school full-time by Term 3.
The staged return of students would see about a quarter of a school’s
students on site at any one time. Hand sanitiser would be available in all
classrooms and at-risk teachers could work at home. Drop off and finishing
times and breaks would be staggered.
Teachers would have an
additional day to prepare for Term 2 on Tuesday 28 April, with students’
first day being Wednesday 29 April.
The NSW Government also
committed $95.7 million to help keep casual and temporary school staff
engaged during the pandemic. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), NSW
students to transition back to the classroom in Term 2, media
release, 21 April 2020.
Department of Education, ‘Advice
for families’, Department of Education website, updated on 21 April 2020. |
24 April 2020 |
The NSW Department of Education
published guidelines for families relating to the return to school-based
learning in Term 2. |
Department of Education, ‘Managed
return to school—a guide for families’, Department of Education website,
updated on 24 April 2020. |
24 April 2020 |
The NESA COVID-19 Response Committee confirmed that the Class
of 2020 would sit HSC written exams later in the year. The Committee said it was
working to ensure results issued to students in December would take into
account any disruption due to the pandemic. |
NESA, HSC
exams will go ahead in 2020, media release, 24 April 2020. |
26 April 2020 |
The NSW Government announced the release of COVID-19
in schools – the experience in NSW, a report by the National Centre
for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
The authors concluded that ‘[i]n contrast to influenza,
data from both virus and antibody testing to date suggest that children are
not the primary drivers of COVID-19 spread in schools or in the community’
(p. 4). However, they also noted that parents were advised to keep their
children home from schools from 23 March which decreased attendance and may
have impacted the results of the study (p. 5). |
NSW Government, Report:
COVID-19 in schools and the experience in NSW, news, 26 April 2020.
National Centre for Immunisation
Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), COVID-19
in schools – the experience in NSW, NCIRS, 2020. |
27 April 2020 |
The NSW Government waived lease
and licence fees for businesses that use school sites, such as canteens,
uniform shops, out of school hours care services and dance schools, until the
end of Term 2. |
NSW Government, Licence
fees frozen for school businesses, news, 27 April 2020. |
28 April 2020 |
The NSW Government provided an
update on COVID-19 restrictions and arrangements for schools and retail
outlets during May. One of the three key changes was that, following the staged
return to face-to-face teaching from 11 May as planned (see 21 April announcement),
consideration would be given to accelerating a full return to school as soon
as possible. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Update
on COVID-19 restrictions, media release, 28 April 2020. |
28 April 2020 |
The NSW Government announced the
‘fast tracking’ of planning projects to boost the economy and create job
opportunities. Projects included thousands of new homes, new industrial
complexes and six schools. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Accelerated
planning projects to deliver jobs and boost the economy, media
release, 28 April 2020. |
29 April 2020 |
The NSW Government announced a
$250 million stimulus package to support 550 new and redeployed cleaning
businesses to improve the cleaning of public facilities, including NSW
transport, schools and TAFE. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), $250
million cleaning stimulus package to help stop the spread of COVID-19,
media release, 29 April 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
The NSW Department of
Education and ABC Education collaborated to provide new study materials for
students learning from home with a daily schedule of free-to-air educational
programs.
The announcement stated that television
programs and work booklets would complement teachers’ work to support
learning at home. The activities could be completed without internet access,
were designed for students of all ages and stages of learning and addressed
topics in a range of subjects. |
Department of Education, Home
learning boost easy as ABC, media release, 1 May 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
Secretary of the NSW Department
of Education Mark Scott launched NSW
Education LIVE, a series of 15-minute wellbeing classes to be live
streamed at the start of each school day until 8 May. |
Department of Education, Heroes
help NSW school students stay connected, news, 1 May 2020. |
6 May 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
support for Creative Kids providers to adapt activities for online delivery
in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Creative Kids is a program which aims to
assist families with the costs of children participating in creative and
cultural activities. |
NSW Government, Creative
Kids expansion goes digital, news, 6 May 2020. |
11 May 2020 |
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell thanked
students, staff, principals, teachers and support staff as students across
NSW started to return to the classroom in a managed approach.
Ms Berejiklian urged parents to
follow their schools’ advice and only send their children on their allocated
days.
The media release stated that
the majority of high schools had provided additional time for Year 12 and
that HSC students would receive three days of allocated classroom time on
average.
Ms Mitchell also outlined measures
to provide schools with hygiene supplies and daily cleaning. Additionally,
each school in NSW would receive a first-aid room package containing personal
protective equipment and a non-contact temperature monitor.
Schools were expected to
remain in this stage for at least two weeks. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Students
start returning to the classroom, media release,
11 May 2020. |
15 May 2020 |
The 2020 HSC exam timetable
was released. The timetable started five days later than usual, giving
students extra time at school while keeping the original timeframe for
releasing results. |
NESA, 2020
HSC exam timetables now available, media release,
15 May 2020. |
19 May 2020 |
The NSW Government announced students
would be back in the classroom full-time from Monday 25 May. |
NESA, NSW
students return to the classroom full time, media release,
19 May 2020. |
20 May 2020 |
The Department of Education
updated information and guidelines for families relating to the return to face-to-face learning. |
Department of Education, ‘A
guide to NSW school students returning to face-to-face learning’,
Department of Education website, updated on 20 May 2020. |
22 May 2020 |
Three new schools were part of
24 priority projects announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian in the second
tranche of projects that would have their planning assessments ‘fast tracked’
through the Planning System Acceleration Program, part of the NSW
Government’s COVID-19 response to boost the economy. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), More
planning projects to propel future of NSW, media release,
22 May 2020. |
25 May 2020 |
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell marked students’ return to the
classroom and highlighted 15 major school upgrades during Term 2: ‘[t]he 15
upgraded schools have kept 10,000 people in jobs right across NSW.’ |
Department of Education, Thousands
of students returning to upgraded schools across NSW, media release,
25 May 2020. |
25 May 2020 |
The NSW Government announced that
hundreds of additional staff had been deployed across the transport network
to facilitate people returning to school and work, with staff to monitor
physical distancing and assist crowd management. Since March, additional
cleaners had increased cleaning. |
NSW Government, NSW
transport staff help the return to school, news, 25 May 2020. |
1 June 2020 |
The NSW Government added thousands
of extra services—more than 3,100 bus services and 250 train services each
week—to the Sydney public transport network to increase capacity for physical
distancing, including services targeting school students. |
NSW Government, Public
transport services boosted for physical distancing, news, 1 June
2020. |
11 June 2020 |
The NSW Department of
Education updated its Guide to NSW School Students Returning to Face-to-face Learning. |
Department of Education, Guide
to NSW school students returning to face-to-face learning, Department of
Education, June 2020. |
15 June 2020 |
Restrictions in NSW government
schools were eased further from 15 June, allowing assemblies, choirs, school
photographs and external providers such as music tutors to provide services
on school sites. |
NSW Government, COVID-19
restrictions ease at NSW public schools, media release, 15 June 2020. |
18 June 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
the approval of three new schools as part of the Planning System Acceleration
Program (see 22 May announcement). Combined, the schools in Blacktown, Wagga
Wagga and Camden would provide 2,500 primary places, with the Government to
invest $127 million into the communities. |
NSW Government, Three
more new schools get tick of approval, news, 18 June 2020. |
22 June 2020 |
The NSW Department of Education
announced that HSC students from government schools could access additional
support through a new online platform, the HSC Hub. The platform was created
to provide resources including online lessons, practice exams, demonstrations
and other support material. HSC Hub also aimed to address equity concerns for
students who had been particularly disadvantaged by the pandemic. |
Department of Education, Online
home for additional HSC student support, media release,
22 June 2020. |
2 July 2020 |
Minister for Education Sarah
Mitchell requested a review of innovative practices implemented by schools
and teachers while students were learning from home during the pandemic to
capture examples of practice that could shape the future delivery of
education. |
Department of Education, Capturing
the innovations of learning from home, media release, 2 July 2020. |
6 July 2020 |
NESA announced a state-wide
computer drop to guarantee HSC students access to the HSC Hub from the school
holidays through to the end of exams. The Department of Education identified
schools and students requiring additional access to technology and the
internet at home and delivered more than 10,000 devices, with priority given
to HSC students. |
NESA, Statewide
computer drop for HSC students, media release, 6 July 2020. |
20 July 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that it had built 42 new and upgraded schools in the year to date. The
Government had invested more than $1.3 billion in the 2020 building program
which was upgrading school infrastructure and supporting jobs across the
state during the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Department of Education, 2020
a record year for building schools, media release, 20 July 2020. |
31 July 2020 |
Following positive feedback, the
NSW Department of Education announced it was expanding a reading and numeracy
assessment package for students in Years 5 and 9 to Year 3 students. The ‘check-in’
assessment tool was designed to assess student learning following the period
of learning at home due to COVID-19. |
Department of Education, New
reading and numeracy assessment tool expanded, media release, 31 July
2020. |
17 August 2020 |
NESA provided updated heath
advice for schools, with all NSW government schools to adopt changes from
Wednesday 19 August. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms was prohibited from
returning to school until a negative test result had been reported.
Additional measures for Term 3
were set out, including restrictions or bans in relation to students mixing,
school travel, interschool sports carnivals, group singing, dance and drama activities.
School formals, dances, graduation or other social events were not permitted. |
NESA, Updated
COVID-Safe guidelines for NSW schools, media release, 17 August 2020. |
19 August 2020 |
The NSW Government extended
COVID-19 relief funding for community and mobile preschools to the end of
Term 4. The continued funding aimed to help keep families engaged in
preschool education and to help preschools remain open and maintain staffing
levels. The package provided funding to cover parent fees and the impact of
falling enrolments on top of the NSW Government’s ongoing preschool funding. |
Department of Education, Free
preschool in NSW continued for Term 4, media release, 19 August 2020. |
21 August 2020 |
In relation to NSW–Victoria
border permits, the NSW Department of Education advised that all current day
school visitor permits would expire at midnight Friday 21 August following an
amendment to the Public Health Order on 7 August. As a result, all Victorian
border residents including students and staff would require new border
permits to attend school from Monday 24 August. |
Department of Education, NSW-Victoria
border permits expire 21 August, media release, 21 August
2020. |
21 August 2020 |
The NSW Department of
Education rescheduled the Opportunity Class Placement Test to November to
give schools time to comply with the latest NSW Health advice to minimise the
risk of COVID-19 spread.
The Department advised that the
test would take place in students’ own schools rather than examination
centres. Over 14,000 applications had been received with high potential Year
4 students sitting the test for placements for Year 5 in 2021. |
Department of Education, Opportunity
Class Test rescheduled to November, media release, 21 August 2020. |
30 August 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that a fly-in fly-out psychology and telepsychology service of 16 permanent
senior psychologists would be introduced to support students in regional and
remote areas with mental health. The service was part of the NSW Government’s
$88.4 million mental health funding that included a commitment to provide
every government high school with a full-time counsellor or psychologist and
student support officer. |
NSW Government, More
mental health support for regional students, media release, 30 August
2020. |
7 September 2020 |
In relation to NSW–Victoria
border restrictions, the NSW Department of Education advised that from 12.01 am
Friday 4 September there would no longer be a border zone and that a new
border region resident permit would be introduced. This would allow Victorian
border region residents to enter NSW to attend work or school where it was
not possible to do so from home, and to allow NSW border region residents to
enter Victoria and return home. |
Department of Education, The
latest NSW-Victoria border restrictions, media release, 7 September
2020. |
7 September 2020 |
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell announced the expansion of the ‘Best in
Class’ team—a team of the state’s best teachers who had been supporting
teachers with remote learning techniques and online teaching materials. The
team had been supporting HSC students over the previous six months and would be
expanding to support more teachers with mathematics and writing across all
secondary years. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), ‘Best
in Class’ to support more teachers and students, media release, 7
September 2020. |
7 September 2020 |
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
announced that Year 12 students in NSW would be able to celebrate finishing
school with COVID-19 safe graduation ceremonies and formals in Term 4, after
the final HSC exams. The announcement stated that schools would receive
COVID-19 safety plan guidance by 11 September and that the NSW Government
would provide COVID-safe guidance to students wanting to participate in
schoolies. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), School
formals to go ahead, media release, 7 September 2020. |
9 September 2020 |
NESA issued guidelines for
schools across NSW to support COVID-safe planning for HSC written exams
starting on 20 October 2020. Schools were asked to limit student numbers to
75 students per exam room, limit HSC student interaction with the rest of the
school and prioritise cleaning for exam venues. |
NESA, COVID-safe
guidelines issued to schools ahead of HSC exams, media release, 9
September 2020. |
16 September 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell released a snapshot of the more than
60,000 students on track to receive their HSC in 2020. Ms Mitchell encouraged
students and parents to engage with the upgraded HSC wellbeing support campaign, Stay
Healthy HSC hub, and announced that the NSW Government continued to
increase its wellbeing support to students sitting the HSC in response to the
pandemic. |
NESA, Support
for HSC students on the home stretch, media release, 16 September
2020. |
21 September 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
sponsorship and scholarship programs to train up to 328 people to join the
school counselling workforce between 2020 and 2023.
The announcement for the professional
pipeline was part of the NSW Government’s election commitment to provide
mental health support in schools, which was particularly important ‘[g]iven the tough year that has been 2020, with
bushfires, drought, floods and of course COVID-19’. |
Department of Education, More
counsellors in the pipeline for NSW schools, media release, 21
September 2020. |
24 September 2020 |
Restrictions around school,
sport and music were relaxed under new COVID-19 safety rules, with more
families able to attend community sports, music ensembles and school camps.
Changes to Term 4 school guidelines included the recommencement of interschool
and music activities and formals and graduations to be permitted. |
NESA, School,
sport and music restrictions relaxed, media release, 24 September
2020. |
20 October 2020 |
HSC written exams began with
protocols in place to protect the 73,000 students sitting exams over the
following three weeks. Students were advised they would be required to complete
health screening prior to entering an exam venue. |
NESA, Students
begin their HSC written exams, media release, 20 October 2020. |
28 October 2020 |
The NSW Government announced a
new $120 million Regional Renewal Program for regional school capital
improvement projects as part of the state’s COVID-19
Recovery Plan, providing a co-contribution of between 50 and 80 per cent for
projects such as covered outdoor learning areas, science facilities, toilet
blocks, administration buildings and canteens. |
J Barilaro (Deputy Premier), Top
up for regional school projects, media release, 28 October 2020. |
4 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that hundreds of fee-free training courses were available for school leavers,
young people and job seekers as part of the Skilling for Recovery program.
$320 million was committed to deliver 100,000 training places. |
Department of Education, Program
helps skill up school leavers over summer, media release, 4 November
2020. |
8 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced $120
million in funding for community and mobile preschools in 2021 to extend the
temporary COVID-19 free preschool program. This would provide up to 15 hours
of free preschool for an extra year, enabling more than 44,000 3–5-year-olds to
attend community preschool (see also
announcements on 9 April and 19 August). |
G Berejiklian (Premier), $120
million extra for free preschool program to help parents, media
release, 8 November 2020. |
8 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced
that the $120 million Metro Renewal Program would provide high priority
schools in the Greater Sydney area with infrastructure upgrades.
Eligible schools would be
contacted by the Department of Education to learn more about the program. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Green
light for hundreds of school projects, media release, 8 November
2020. |
9 November 2020 |
The NSW Government launched the
new online Mental
Health Hub for students, parents and teachers. The site could be
accessed by teachers, parents and students across every school sector,
including independent and Catholic schools. |
NESA, Mental
health hub for students, parents and teachers, media release, 9
November 2020. |
9 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced more
than $300 million for three new and three upgraded schools across the state as
part of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan, with projects estimated to provide up to
1,500 jobs across metropolitan and regional areas.
The NSW Government stated it was
spending $6.7 billion over four years on more than 190 new and upgraded
schools. |
G Berejiklian (Premier) New
schools part of the COVID-19 recovery plan, media release, 9 November
2020. |
10 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced a
$337 million program to employ up 5,500 additional staff to deliver
small-group teaching at every NSW government school as well as non-government
schools with the most significant levels of need.
Minister for Education and
Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell called for educators to express
interest in being part of the COVID intensive support program, including
casual and retired teachers, final year teaching students, and university
tutors. |
G Berejiklian (Premier), Free
tutoring to support students, media release, 10 November 2020. |
11 November 2020 |
The NSW 2020–21 Budget
included more than $700 million to expand digital capabilities. This included
$366 million over two years to close the digital gap in schools by upgrading
technology in regional schools, upgrading learning spaces, upskilling
teachers and giving students cutting-edge distance education platforms and
digital education resources. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said:
‘COVID-19 has shown us just how
important it is to have the digital infrastructure and the skills to match
for a modern flexible society’. |
Department of Education, $700
million to drive digital revolution in NSW, media release, 11
November 2020. |
11 November 2020 |
The final HSC exams concluded
with Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell
congratulating students and saying the Class of 2020 had demonstrated
extraordinary resilience over the year.
Ms Mitchell also noted that it
was the last day of restrictions on high school formals and celebrations. |
NESA, HSC
students reach the finish line, media release, 11 November 2020. |
16 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced $60
million to replace roofs at schools across rural and regional NSW as part of
the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. |
J Barilaro (Deputy Premier), New
roofs for regional schools, media release, 16 November 2020. |
17 November 2020 |
The NSW 2020–21 Budget included
an expansion of the Wellbeing and Health In-Reach Nurse program with $46.8
million over four years allocated for 100 new school-based nurses. Treasurer
Dominic Perrottet said the funding would enable thousands more students to
have access to a nurse at school, stating:
‘With the added stress of
COVID-19 on our young people, the further expansion of this program will
ensure children, young people and families don’t miss out on the support they
need’. |
Department of Education, $46.8
million to expand wellbeing nurses in schools program, media
release,17 November 2020. |
17 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced new
schools and infrastructure projects as part of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. It
was estimated that the projects would support up to 1,500 jobs. |
Department of Education, New
schools part of the COVID-19 recovery plan, media release, 17
November 2020. |
17 November 2020 |
The NSW Government announced more
than $150 million to install LED lights in government schools over the next
two years. The program would target schools that had not yet benefitted from
an infrastructure project and would build on the state’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan. |
Department of Education, Powering
our public schools into the future, media release, 17 November 2020. |
19 November 2020 |
The NSW Government made the
widely-used teachers’ resource, What
Works Best, available as a guide for parents and carers to support
children’s learning at home. |
Department of Education, Top
teaching resource now a quick guide for parents and carers, media
release, 19 November 2020. |
27 November 2020 |
The Department of Education
announced that temporary and retired teachers could apply for the tuition
program announced in the state budget. Applications for university teachers
and initial teacher education (ITE) students would open the following week.
The announcement also stated
that the NSW Government had created optional online reading and numeracy
check-in assessments designed to help teachers identify where students were
up to in their learning. |
Department of Education, Hiring
begins for free tuition, media release, 27 November 2020. |
| Date |
Details |
Source
Documents |
26 February 2020 |
The NT Government announced a
$2 million initiative, the Immediate
Tourism Resilience Plan, to help minimise the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak
on the tourism industry. Under the plan, interstate schools booking an
excursion to the NT between 1 September 2020 and 31 March 2021 could
apply for $3,000, up from $1000, towards the cost of the trip under the Save
& Learn—NT School Excursion Program. |
E Lawler (Acting Minister for
Tourism, Sport and Culture) and D Wakefield (Member for Braitling), $2 million
Immediate Resilience Plan: boost to incentivise school trips to the NT,
media release, 26 February 2020. |
13 March 2020 |
Chief Minister Michael Gunner
outlined advice from Australia’s Chief Health and Medical Officers advising
against organised non-essential gatherings of 500 or more people, and advised
that this did not include essential gatherings such as going to school,
university, work, or using public transport or airports. |
M Gunner (Chief Minister), Media
statement on coronavirus, media release, 13 March 2020. |
15 March 2020 |
Following National Cabinet, Chief
Minister Michael Gunner outlined measures to be enacted from midnight,
including self-isolation for all international arrivals, a ban on cruise
ships (initially 30 days), and a ban on non-essential gatherings of more than
500 people.
Mr Gunner stated that ‘[g]overnment
schools across the NT will remain open.’ |
M Gunner (Chief Minister), Media
statement—National Cabinet meeting on coronavirus response, media
release, 15 March 2020. |
23 March 2020 |
Chief Minister Michael Gunner
outlined social distancing restrictions being implemented, including the
closure of establishments including clubs, pubs, entertainment venues, gyms,
and places of worship.
In relation to schools, Mr
Gunner stated that parents could choose to keep students at home for the
remainder of the term but said he expected education to be compulsory again
in Term 2. Mr Gunner said the Education Department would use the time to
ensure there could be flexible arrangements for children to learn from school
or home. |
M Gunner (Chief Minister), Statement
from the Chief Minister, media release, 23 March 2020. |
26 March 2020 |
A working group was established
to work through options for school staff in the lead up to the term break.
Following discussions with the
working group and the National Cabinet, the NT Government decided that the
final four days of the school term (Monday 6 April–Thursday 9 April) would be
professional development days for staff to prepare for the continued delivery
of education in Term 2. Schools would continue as usual in the week
following, but parents could choose to keep their children at home.
Resources and guidelines were
being developed by the Department of Education to enable students to continue
learning at home or at school in Term 2. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Keeping
Territory kids learning and supporting teachers in the time of COVID-19,
media release, 26 March 2020.
Department of Education, Guidelines
for commencement of Term 2, 2020, Department of Education, 2020.
|
4 April 2020 |
The NT Government announced arrangements
for more than 1,700 casual staff employed by NT government schools to
continue to be paid, in the event of schools being closed due to COVID-19. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Supporting
workers: Territory Labor government guarantees 1700 casual school jobs,
media release, 4 April 2020. |
6 April 2020 |
The NT Government announced a
$10.8 million classroom stimulus package to support the construction
industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, with 15 new prefabricated classrooms to
be built and transported to remote communities when COVID-19 travel restrictions
were lifted. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Supporting jobs and
building better schools: $10.8 million education stimulus, media
release, 6 April 2020. |
8 April 2020 |
The NT Government announced the
Remote Community Schools Package to incentivise teachers and school staff not
to leave their remote communities during the term break. The package was
available to government employees employed in schools in the designated area
outlined by COVID-19 biosecurity measures. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), School
holiday incentives for remote teachers to remain in community, media
release, 8 April 2020. |
9 April 2020 |
Minister for Education Selena
Uibo issued a statement on schooling in Term 2, due to begin on 20 April,
stating that education in the NT was compulsory and all students were
expected to attend from day one. Exceptions could be made for parents who
informed the school that their child would be learning from home. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Media
statement on Term 2 in NT schools, media release,
9 April 2020. |
21 April 2020 |
Chief Minister Michael Gunner
noted that school had returned the day before ‘with strong attendance
results’. |
M Gunner (Chief Minister), Statement from the
Chief Minister—Coronavirus legislation, media release, 21 April 2020. |
6 May 2020 |
The NT Government announced it
was extending the redemption date for 2019–20 Sport and Learn to Swim
vouchers under the Urban Sport Voucher Scheme due to COVID-19 restrictions. |
L Moss (Minister for Tourism,
Sport and Culture), Supporting
Territory families: 2019–20 Urban Sport Vouchers extended, media
release, 6 May 2020. |
6 May 2020 |
The NT Government announced one-off
grants of up to $10,000 to the NT’s 150 child care operators to support them
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The top-up grants were to offset the costs of
supplies, cleaning and maintenance during the pandemic.
The announcement also stated
the NT Government was providing support and guidance to child care operators
to access Australian Government funding as well as guaranteeing the $5.4
million NT Early Childhood Services Subsidy, which would continue to be paid
to child care operators at pre-pandemic enrolment levels. |
N Fyles (Minister for Health), Supporting
the Territory’s childcare workers through COVID-19, media release, 6
May 2020. |
11 May 2020 |
Attendance at NT government
schools returned to pre-pandemic levels. Students in government schools
returned to the classroom from the start of Term 2 on 20 April 2020.
Preliminary data showed that
average attendance across the Territory for week two of Term 2 was 79 per
cent, slightly higher than the average attendance rate of 78 per cent in Term
2, 2019. At the height of pandemic shutdown measures in week 10 of Term 1,
attendance fell to 32 per cent across the NT. |
E Lawler (Acting Minister for
Education), Attendance
at Territory government schools returns to normal levels, media
release, 11 May 2020. |
27 May 2020 |
As part of its COVID-19
education stimulus program to support local employment, the NT Government announced
$1.65 million in acoustics upgrades for NT classrooms, with 75
classrooms to be upgraded with acoustic wall and ceiling finishes.
The acoustics upgrade program was
part of more than $4 million in ‘fast tracked’ school infrastructure
initiatives to support the local construction industry. The funding also
included $1.98 million for school maintenance and repairs. |
E Lawler (Acting Minister for
Education), Acoustics
upgrades for 100 Territory classrooms to support students, media
release, 27 May 2020. |
25 June 2020 |
The NT Government announced
the release of the June–July school holiday program, and its funding of more
than 478 activities and events for children, in line with COVID-19 health
guidelines. |
D Wakefield (Minister for
Territory Families), Release
of the June–July School Holiday Program, media release, 25 June 2020. |
17 July 2020 |
The Department of Education
provided information about Term 4 in government schools. It outlined:
- the NT Government’s Roadmap
to the New Normal (released in May 2020) and how its three principles—personal
responsibility, physical distancing and hygiene—applied in schools’ context
- education in the NT, including
attendance requirements and processes around absences, illness and
self-isolation
- parents and carers on school grounds
and the recommencement of events and activities
- arrangements for Year 12 students relating
to exams and the Northern Territory Certificate of
Education and Training (NTCET)—requirements for the NTCET would
remain unchanged, exams would proceed following the published schedule and
senior schools would adjust assessments fairly
- arrangements for VET courses
- requirements for boarding schools
- hygiene measures in place in schools and
- learning from home and online
learning.
|
Department of Education, ‘Information
for parents and carers about NTG schools for Term 4, 2020’, Department of
Education website, updated 17 July 2020. |
21 July 2020 |
Marking the return to
classrooms, the NT Government stated that learning in Term 3 would be
delivered face-to-face; however, students required to quarantine following
interstate travel would be supported by their school to learn remotely for
the start of the term. These students would need a negative COVID-19 test
result before returning to the classroom.
The media release also provided
the numbers of teaching staff in quarantine and self-isolation and outlined additional
funding provided to schools for cleaning. |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Students and
school staff return to the classroom for Term 3, media release, 21
July 2020. |
27 July 2020 |
Minister for Education Selena
Uibo announced that nearly 90 child care operators had sought financial
assistance through the NT Early Childhood Education and Care COVID-19 Special
Assistance Grant (see 6 May announcement). |
S Uibo (Minister for Education), Supporting our childcare
sector: nearly 90 operators apply for $10,000 assistance grants,
media release, 27 July 2020. |
22 September 2020 |
Following the announcement of
15 pre-fabricated classrooms for NT schools to support the construction
industry through COVID-19 (see 6 April announcement), Minister for Education
Lauren Moss announced that the classrooms would be distributed across eight
schools. Remote communities would receive 10 classrooms and urban sites would
receive five to accommodate students with additional needs. The program was
expected to provide 60 construction jobs. |
L Moss (Minister for Education), 15 new
transportable classrooms for NT schools, media release, 22 September
2020. |
22 October 2020 |
The NT Government announced the
annual Beat Festival—a major performing arts event—would be delivered virtually
in 2020. More than 1,000 NT children would participate in the festival commencing
9 November, with the theme ‘Flight – Lift off after Lockdown’. |
L Moss (Minister for Education), 2020 Beat Festival
goes virtual, media release, 22 October 2020. |
30 October 2020 |
Marking World Teacher Day,
Minister for Education Lauren Moss announced overall winners for the 2020
Teaching in the Territory Excellence Awards. Ms Moss recognised the work of
teachers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the NT was the
first jurisdiction to return to face-to-face learning in Term 2. |
L Moss (Minister for Education), World Teachers Day:
recognising Territory educator excellence, media release, 30 October
2020. |
13 November 2020 |
Noting the challenges
presented by COVID-19 for Year 12 students, Minister for Education Lauren
Moss announced the Get SET in the NT program as part of the 2020 Budget. The
$5.2 million program aimed to increase opportunities to study, learn and
train in the NT through NT public service traineeships, scholarships and
support for industry groups to engage with school-leavers.
There was also $93.5 million allocated
towards school infrastructure projects. |
L Moss (Minister for Education), Budget 2020: $5.2
million for Territory leavers to Get SET in the NT, media release, 13
November 2020. |
15 December 2020 |
Minister for Education Lauren
Moss announced that, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a total
of 1,610 NT Year 12 students would be awarded their NTCET in 2020, 156 more
than in 2019. Of these, 267 recipients were Aboriginal students, 40 more than
in 2019. |
L Moss (Minister for Education), Bumper year:
record number of NTCET completers in 2020, media release, 15 December
2020. |
| Date |
Details |
Source Documents |
10 March 2020 |
All official overseas travel by
students and staff at government schools was halted until further notice due
to COVID-19. Minister for Education Grace Grace stated that the decision
aligned Queensland with other state education systems. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), International
travel ban for state school teachers and students,
media release, 10 March 2020. |
18 March 2020 |
Queensland Premier Annastacia
Palaszczuk provided an update from the National Cabinet. In relation to
schools, Ms Palaszczuk stated that schools would remain open, based on health
advice. She emphasised that students, teachers and school staff must stay at
home if unwell. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier), Ministerial
statement—National Cabinet update, media release, 18 March 2020. |
19 March 2020 |
Minister for Education Grace
Grace announced that cleaning would be increased in Queensland government
schools. Schools would have additional resources to enable progressive
cleaning across the day and would follow cleaning protocols. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), More
cleaning for Qld state schools,
media release, 19 March 2020. |
20 March 2020 |
Minister for Education Grace
Grace released a statement advising that: ‘[t]he expert health advice of
chief health and medical officers remains that schools should remain open’.
Ms Grace also announced the
cancellation of NAPLAN testing in 2020, given the impact of COVID-19 on
schools. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Statement
from Education Minister Grace Grace,
media release, 20 March 2020. |
26 March 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced that Queensland schools would be student-free the following week
until the end of term on 3 April.
Schools would remain open for
children of essential workers and to provide time for teachers to prepare for
a move to remote learning.
Early childhood education
centres and outside hours school care would continue as normal. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Student
free days for Queensland state schools next week, media release, 26
March 2020. |
12 April 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced $17 million for community kindergartens, enabling 22,000 children
to attend kindergarten for free for Term 2. The funding supported community
kindergartens facing falling enrolments to stay open. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), $17 million
relief package enables free community kindergarten for Term 2, media
release, 12 April 2020. |
13 April 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced that Queensland school students would be learning at home for the
start of Term 2 on Monday 20 April until at least Friday 22 May. Schools
would only be open for the children of essential workers.
Community kindergartens would
also implement home-based learning. Before and after school care, long day
care and family day care would continue to operate.
Minister for Education Grace
Grace stated that the government was working with schools and vendors to
supply devices and internet connectivity where required. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Initial
Term 2 school arrangements for Queensland announced, media release,
13 April 2020. |
19 April 2020 |
The Queensland Government
praised families, teachers, principals and Education Department staff for
efforts to prepare students for learning from home. The Government also
outlined support measures for students, including extra laptops, SIM cards,
dongles and hotspots and two new hotlines for families in government schools
and early childhood services. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Support
for every family, media release, 19 April 2020. |
20 April 2020 |
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reiterated
arrangements for the return to school for Term 2, stating that schools would
be open on Monday 20 April for children of essential workers and vulnerable
students, with other students learning from home. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier), Queensland
COVID-19—Sunday, April 19—ready for school, media release, 20 April
2020. |
1 May 2020 |
The Queensland
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath advised parents at
home with young children due to COVID-19 to be wary of potential hazards in
the home. She urged parents not to become complacent about safety, especially
if trying to manage work commitments and caring for children. |
Y D’Ath (Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice), Keep your kids safe
while home during COVID-19, media release, 1 May 2020. |
4 May 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced plans for the gradual return of students to schools by year group,
starting with Kindy, Prep, and Years 1, 11 and 12 on 11 May. It was expected
remaining year groups would return on 25 May.
Education Minister Grace Grace
stated that the Government’s plan had been endorsed by the independent and
Catholic school sectors as well as principals and teachers. Social distancing
measures to protect adults at schools would be in place. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier), Qld COVID-19 - Mon
May 4: classroom plans, media release, 4 May 2020.
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Queensland
success leads sensible steps back to school, media release, 4 May
2020. |
8 May 2020 |
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
released Queensland’s roadmap for COVID-19 recovery. The roadmap comprised
three stages, with each successively allowing more travel, activities and
larger gatherings. Stage One would be effective from 15 May while ‘Stages Two
and Three aim[ed] at gradually increasing travel distances and numbers for
businesses in time for June school holidays’. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier), Premier maps road to
easing restrictions, media release, 8 May 2020. |
15 May 2020 |
The Queensland Government stated
that students in Years 2–10 in Queensland government schools would return to
classroom-based learning from 25 May 2020, following the return of Kindy,
Prep, and Years 1, 11 and 12 on 11 May 2020.
The updated arrangements for
the remainder of Term 2 had been made in accordance with advice from
Queensland’s CHO and the AHPPC. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Schools prepare to
welcome back Years 2–10, media release, 15 May 2020. |
21 May 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced another 580 schools would receive solar panels through the second
and third phases of the Advancing Clean Energy Schools program, to be rolled
out from 1 July 2020. In total, more than 800 schools were expected to
benefit from the program.
The solar installation program
aimed to reduce energy costs and was contributing to supporting jobs during
the COVID-19 pandemic. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Panels
power jobs through pandemic, media release, 21 May 2020.
Department of Education, ‘Advancing
Clean Energy Schools Program’, Department of Education website, updated
22 May 2020. |
25 May 2020 |
The Queensland Government marked
the return of students in Years 2–10 to classrooms, completing the staged
return. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Education Minister Grace Grace
thanked students, teachers, parents and carers for their patience during the state’s
COVID-19 response and the disruption to school communities.
Since the staged return began on
11 May with students in kindergarten, Prep, Year 1 and Years 11 and 12, attendance
rates had been approximately 84 per cent for Prep and 80–82 per cent for
Years 1, 11 and 12.
The learning@home website
would remain available and continue to be updated. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), All Queensland
school students back in the classroom for Term 2, media release, 25
May 2020. |
12 June 2020 |
The Queensland Government announced
it was ‘fast tracking’ a school revitalisation and expansion project through
a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation. The Government stated that progressing
such projects was a key part of the state’s COVID economic recovery. |
C Dick (Treasurer), Green
light given for Logan school revitalisation and expansion plans,
media release, 12 June 2020. |
18 June 2020 |
The Queensland Government announced
that boarding school students would be able to return to school in Term 3,
following the easing of some COVID-19 restrictions by the AHPPC. |
S Miles (Deputy Premier), Boarding
school students back for Term 3, media release, 18 June 2020. |
27 June 2020 |
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk highlighted
the contribution of school infrastructure projects to the state’s COVID-19
recovery.
The Queensland Government’s
plan, Unite
and Recover for Queensland Jobs, included a $50 billion
infrastructure guarantee, ensuring ‘a pipeline of work to support jobs’. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier), School
infrastructure works boost Queensland tradie jobs, 27 June 2020. |
8 July 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced measures to reduce ‘red tape’ as part of its COVID-19 economic
recovery plan. The proposed changes would simplify or remove planning
approvals for events such as school fetes and streamline approvals for
infrastructure such as hospitals and schools, allowing for environmental
assessment and public consultation to occur at the same time. |
C Dick (Treasurer), Have
your say on reducing planning red tape for COVID economic recovery,
media release, 8 July 2020. |
14 July 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced a $346 million education facilities package, which included
building four new government schools. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), More
jobs on offer with four new schools on the way, media release, 14
July 2020. |
11 August 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced $220 million to refurbish education facilities. The works program was
anticipated to support more than 720 jobs across the state.
Schools were being encouraged to
engage local businesses to complete maintenance works and smaller jobs in
schools. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), Funding breathes new
life into Queensland schools creating tradies jobs bonanza, media
release, 11 August 2020. |
12 August 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced that seven schools would soon be calling for tenders for expansion.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated that it was a ‘$200 million investment
supporting 660 jobs’, creating further employment opportunities following the
previous day’s announcement as part of COVID recovery. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and G
Grace (Minister for Education), New schools continue
to grow, more jobs for tradies, media release, 12 August 2020. |
20 August 2020 |
The Queensland Premier
released the next phase of the state’s economic recovery plan. Of particular
relevance to schools and students were measures for ‘Building Queensland’
(priority area 4), including new school infrastructure, and ‘Investing in Skills’
(priority area 6), which included a focus on job pathways, education, and
skills development. |
Queensland Government, Queensland’s
economic recovery plan, Queensland Government, August 2020.
|
28 August 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced that schoolies week events would not proceed in 2020. CHO Dr
Jeannette Young had designated mass gatherings of young people of over
multiple days as ‘high risk’. |
A Palaszczuk (Premier) and S
Miles (Deputy Premier and Minister for Health), COVID cancels
Schoolies events, media release, 28 August 2020. |
9 September 2020 |
Education Minister Grace Grace
said that new figures showed investment in school infrastructure was helping
to drive economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Scale
of extraordinary school infrastructure program revealed, media
release, 9 September 2020. |
14 September 2020 |
The annual Showcase Awards for
Excellence in Schools honoured leading Queensland government schools via a
livestream video. Education Minister Grace Grace noted the importance of
celebrating educational excellence in schools, despite COVID-19 restrictions,
and congratulated teachers, ‘given the unique circumstances that have
transpired since Term 2’. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Excellence
in education on show at annual awards, media release, 14 September
2020. |
20 November 2020 |
Education Minister Grace Grace
farewelled and congratulated Year 12 students on their last day of school,
acknowledging the challenges of the year. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Farewell
to class of 2020, media release, 20 November 2020. |
27 October 2020 |
The Department of Education
advised of changes to the end of Term 4, stating that the last two days of
the 2020 school year, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December, would be
student-free days and schools would be closed in recognition of the efforts
of school-based staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Department of Education, ‘School
holiday and term dates’, Department of Education website, updated 27
October 2020. |
1 December 2020 |
The Queensland Government
announced $14.2 billion in education funding in the 2020–21 State Budget.
Education Minister Grace Grace said this included $1.9 billion of education
infrastructure spending.
The Budget also included $100
million over three years for a student wellbeing package to ensure students
in every government primary and secondary school have access to a
psychologist or similar health and wellbeing professional.
Funding of $8 million over
four years was allocated for an initiative to establish after-school homework
centres at up to 120 government schools. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Budget
bonanza for education, media release, 1 December 2020. |
19 December 2020 |
Minister for Education Grace
Grace congratulated the Class of 2020 ‘on their efforts through an
exceptional year’, with 49,651 students graduating Year 12. Graduating
students were the first in a new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
system with ATARs. |
G Grace (Minister for
Education), Class
of 2020 arises to Year 12 results and ATARs, media release, 19
December 2020. |
| Milestones |
Details |
Source
Documents |
13 March 2020 |
The SA Government provided
information to education sites about COVID-19. This included advice that a
school or early childhood facility would be immediately closed for a minimum
of 24 hours in the event of a confirmed case. Sites would only reopen on the advice
of health experts.
All international student
excursions and work-related staff travel to countries other than New Zealand
was put on hold until the end of Term 2. The travel protocol would be
reviewed as further information became available. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Update
on education protocols for coronavirus, media release, 13 March 2020. |
24 March 2020 |
The SA Government announced an
additional $5 million to increase contract cleaning and improve hygiene
measures in SA government schools. |
S Marshall (Premier) and J
Gardner (Minister for Education), Government
increases hygiene support for schools, media release, 24 March 2020. |
25 March 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner launched the Our
Learning SA website. The website supported home learning, providing access
to curated curriculum resources. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), New
central website to support home learning, media release, 25 March
2020. |
26 March 2020 |
The Department for Education
advised that SA government schools and preschools would have pupil-free days
from 6 to 9 April to enable educators to prepare for school-based and
home-based learning in Term 2.
The Department stated that out
of school hours care (OSHC) and vacation care would continue to operate for
students who needed it during pupil-free days and school holidays. |
Department for Education, Pupil
free days—6 to 9 April, news, 26 March 2020. |
29 March 2020 |
All schools, early childhood
facilities and OSHC services in the Barossa region were closed from Monday
30 March following a number of linked COVID-19 cases in people who had
been in towns in the region. Schools in the region would be closed until
advised by public health officials. |
Department for Education, COVID19:
Barossa region closures, news, 29 March 2020. [Link only shows a thumbnail
from archived Department of webpage; see also a Department
for Education Facebook post] |
3 April 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner announced a new platform for SA government school teachers to create
virtual classrooms. The platform complemented the Our Learning SA website. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Virtual
classrooms to assist student learning, media release, 3 April 2020. |
9 April 2020 |
The SA Government announced a
$2 million partnership with a local company to supply hand sanitiser for
hospitals, schools and other government services. The partnership secured the
supply of 20,000 bottles of hand sanitiser a week. |
S Marshall (Premier) and
S Wade (Minister for Health and Wellbeing), SA
business to supply hand sanitiser, media release, 9 April 2020. |
22 April 2020 |
CHO, Professor Nicola Spurrier,
wrote a letter to parents and carers encouraging students to return to school
in Term 2. The letter advised parents and carers that schools were safe. |
N Spurrier (CHO), Letter
to parents and carers, Department for Health and Wellbeing, 22 April
2020. |
23 April 2020 |
Following the CHO’s letter to
parents and carers, Minister for Education John Gardner advised that families
should feel safe sending their children to school from the beginning of Term
2. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Health
advice clear on schools, media release, 23 April 2020. |
23 April 2020 |
The SA Government announced that
almost 500 schools and preschools would receive grants to undertake
maintenance and upgrades as part of a $32 million stimulus package to be
rolled out in 2020. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), School
and preschool maintenance package to deliver local economic stimulus,
media release, 23 April 2020. |
23 April 2020 |
The SA Government announced that
every SA preschool and children’s centre would receive a high-speed internet
connection as part of the second stage of the high-speed internet rollout to
education sites across the state. The expansion to preschools and children’s
centres was due to be completed by mid-2021. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), High
speed internet expanded to preschools, media release, 23 April 2020. |
27 April 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner marked the return of students to SA schools and preschools for the
start of Term 2. Mr Gardner noted that many schools were expecting higher
attendance rates than before the break. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Schools
open for Term 2, media release, 27 April 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner stated that attendance at government schools had risen steadily
during the first week of Term 2. Figures from the Department for Education showed
that over 69 per cent of students across the state were learning at school. More
than double the number of students were learning at school compared to the
end of Term 1 and the attendance rate was similar to those in NT and WA. |
J Gardner (Minister for Education), School
attendance grows steadily, media release, 1 May 2020. |
5 May 2020 |
The SA Government announced a relief
package to support eight council-run child care centres that had suffered a significant
loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package would match the
Australian Government’s support under the Early Childhood Education and Care
Relief Package for a period of 12 weeks up until 28 June 2020 and backdated
to 6 April, at a cost of around $700,000. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Council-run
child care centres receive support package, media release, 5 May
2020. |
13 May 2020 |
The SA Government announced the
beginning of construction on the first group of school upgrades as part of a $1.3
billion education capital works program. The capital works involved around
100 schools across the state, including the construction of three new
schools. The measure was expected to provide thousands of jobs and assist the
state’s economic recovery from the pandemic. |
S Marshall (Premier) and J
Gardner (Minister for Education), $1.3
billion building bonanza commences, media release, 13 May 2020. |
11 June 2020 |
The SA Government announced that
all 380 government preschools had received a $20,000 grant to complete
priority maintenance work as part of a $7.6 million stimulus package in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The preschool grants were in addition to
$25 million worth of maintenance work that had been ‘fast tracked’ at 116
schools. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Preschool
grants to stimulate local economies, media release, 11 June
2020. |
18 June 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner announced that restrictions on a number of important school
activities would be lifted from 29 June. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Restrictions
to lift on school activities, media release, 18 June 2020. |
5 July 2020 |
The SA
Government launched a digital campaign, ‘You can… in Parks’ to encourage South
Australians to visit the state’s parks and regions during the school holidays
as COVID-19 restrictions eased. |
D Speirs (Minister for Environment
and Water), South
Australians urged to get out and explore our parks, media release, 5
July 2020. |
20 July 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner marked the return of SA students to school for Term 3, with many
activities returning to normal as restrictions lifted.
Mr Gardner outlined activities
that could take place and stated that parents, volunteers and service
providers would also be able to enter school and preschool grounds, as long
as health advice was followed. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Term
3 a welcome return to normal for SA students, media release, 20 July
2020. |
14 October 2020 |
The SA Government launched the Learning+ pilot program, to begin in 2021. Up to 2,000 students in government schools
would have access to one-on-one maths tutoring, with qualified teachers
delivering tutoring to students online for 30 minutes twice per week. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), COVID
computer skills used to give students a tuition boost, media release,
14 October 2020. |
2 November 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner marked the beginning of the major written exam period for Year 12
students for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), running until
18 November. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Major
SACE exam period underway, media release, 2 November 2020. |
12 November 2020 |
As part of the 2020–21 SA Budget,
the SA Government announced that schools and preschools would receive a
$37 million maintenance ‘boost’ as part of a COVID-19 stimulus package, with
grants for priority maintenance work. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Kindy
grants to give local tradies a boost, media release, 12 November
2020. |
18 November 2020 |
Following a cluster of COVID-19
cases, the SA Government implemented ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions from
12.01 am Thursday 19 November for six days.
Only children of essential
workers and vulnerable children would be able to attend school, preschool or child
care.
Students were asked to take home
school laptops or devices and books to enable them to continue learning from
home. |
SA Government, Circuit
breaker restrictions in place from tonight, news, 18 November 2020.
Department for Education, COVID-19
update, news, 18 November 2020. |
20 November 2020 |
The Department for Education
advised that government schools and preschools would reopen to all students
on Monday 23 November. Students not to attend were those self-isolating as
directed by SA health, students asked to stay home on medical advice and unwell
students. |
Department for Education, COVID-19
update 20 November news, 20 November 2020. |
30 November 2020 |
The SA Government launched ThankED,
an online recognition platform for South Australian families to acknowledge
SA education staff in government schools for their efforts in 2020. Minister
for Education John Gardner encouraged families to send a note of thanks to
education staff. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), Say
‘thanks’ to SA educators, media release, 30 November 2020. |
11 December 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner marked the end of the school year for 2020. Mr Gardner praised
educators and support staff for their work during a challenging year, noting
that ‘South Australian students have benefitted from the least disruption to
their learning this year of any students in Australia’. |
J Gardner (Minster for
Education), School’s
out for 2020, media release, 11 December 2020. |
15 December 2020 |
Minister for Education John
Gardner congratulated the Class of 2020 and stated that a total of 15,119
students completed their SACE in 2020. Among those who completed their SACE
were 402 Aboriginal students, up from 393 the previous year, and 323 students
with an intellectual disability, up from 296 in 2019. |
J Gardner (Minister for
Education), 15,000
students complete their SACE, media release, 15 December 2020. |
| Milestones |
Details |
Source
Documents |
27 February 2020 |
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and
Minister for Health Sarah Courtney provided a COVID-19 update, noting that
the Australian Government had commenced implementing its emergency response
plan to the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of the World Health Organisation. The
update noted that the Australian Government’s plan included information on
how schools should react to a widespread outbreak. |
P Gutwein (Premier) and S
Courtney (Minister for Health), Coronavirus
update, media release, 27 February 2020. |
5 March 2020 |
The Tasmanian Department of
Education provided an update on COVID-19 and implications for schools,
libraries, child and family centres and other offices. It also provided a fact
sheet for schools and families. |
Department of Education, Novel
coronavirus—update 5 March 2020, news, 5 March 2020. |
15 March 2020 |
Following the first meeting of
the National Cabinet, the Tasmanian Government announced requirements for
returning international travellers to self-isolate for 14 days and restrictions
on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people. This restriction would
not apply to schools, universities or workplaces; however, principles of
social distancing would apply. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Additional
measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians, media release,
15 March 2020. |
15 March 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government announced
it was asking schools to adopt social distancing measures until further
notice. This would require assemblies, excursions, travel and some events and
conferences to be cancelled. It would also require the postponement of
non-essential school activities, such as fetes, fairs, concerts, sports
carnivals, camps and parent teacher meetings. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Precautionary
coronavirus measures to be implemented in Tasmanian schools, media
release, 15 March 2020. |
16 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
provided an update with the precautionary measures announced by the Minister
for Education and Training.
A fact
sheet was developed for parents and carers about how to talk to their
child about COVID-19. |
Department of Education, Novel
coronavirus – update 16 March 2020, news, 16 March 2020.
Department of Education, Talking
to your child about Coronavirus, news, 16 March 2020. |
17 March 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff noted that, although advice from the Director of
Public Health did not require school closures, parents and carers may have ‘a
range of reasons for not sending their children to school in light of COVID-19’.
In such cases, parents were asked to advise the school in writing, so that
schools were aware the student would be absent. Usual absence rules would not
apply.
Mr Rockliff also assured parents
that the Department of Education had been working to develop a range of at-home
learning materials should the advice on school closures change. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
Tasmanian students and their families, media release, 17 March 2020. |
18 March 2020 |
Following a meeting of the
National Cabinet, Premier Peter Gutwein announced further restrictions on
gatherings from 18 March. Non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100
people would not be allowed. The Tasmanian Government noted the current AHPPC
advice that pre-emptive school closures were not an effective or
proportionate public health intervention at this time. It noted that shorter
school closures for defined periods might be considered as part of more
stringent measures later in the outbreak. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Additional
measures to protect Tasmanians, media release, 18 March 2020. |
20 March 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced, joining with other education ministers, the
cancellation of NAPLAN for 2020. He emphasised that the priority was ensuring
that principals and teachers could focus on supporting the learning and
wellbeing of children and young people. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), NAPLAN
testing cancelled for 2020, media release, 20 March 2020. |
23 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
posted an update:
In the event of a site closure
your school will communicate with you.
Your school may move some or all [of]
your child’s learning into online spaces. They may also use offline
strategies to make sure all students have learning access. |
Department of Education, Learning
at home – support, news, 23 March 2020. |
25 March 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced four student-free days in Tasmanian government schools from
6–9 April. This would enable professional learning and planning time for
teachers and support staff to develop home learning delivery. The media
release stated, ‘[f]rom today parents and carers may choose that their
children are supported to learn at home, due to COVID–19’. School sites would
continue to be open for students who could not learn at home. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Education
in government schools, media release, 25 March 2020.
|
26 March 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government announced
it would provide school levy relief for all parents/carers of students in
Tasmanian government schools. Parents who had not yet paid their child’s levy
would not be required to do so, instalment payments could stop, and those who
had already paid would be reimbursed. |
Department of Education, School
levy relief for 2020, news, 26 March 2020. |
26 March 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff provided an update for Year 11 and 12 students about
the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE), emphasising the Government’s aim
that no student would be disadvantaged by COVID-19 in terms of university
entrance and post-school opportunities. Secondary students were reassured
that if they met the standards of the TCE, they would achieve it, with the
TCE to provide a meaningful and comparable senior secondary certificate with
those who finished Year 12 in 2019. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Tasmanian
Certificate of Education update, media release, 26 March 2020. |
27 March 2020 |
As part of a package to address
family violence and enhance child safety and wellbeing, the Tasmanian
Government announced $260,000 to ensure children and young people in care had
internet access and mobile technology for communication and home learning. |
R Jaensch (Minister for Human
Services), Keeping
Tasmanian children and families safe, media release, 27 March 2020. |
29 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
provided an update about learning at home, stating that school sites remained
open for children who could not be supported to learn at home and that many
schools had made materials available online and offline for students learning
at home.
The Department also stated it
had further developed the Learning At Home website with resources for students across age groups. |
Department of Education, Learning
at home update, news, 29 March 2020. |
31 March 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced that Tasmanians were required to stay home unless getting food or
essential supplies, going to work or school, exercising, or for medical or
compassionate care reasons.
Guidance in relation to schools
encouraged parents who could provide appropriate care for children at home to
do so. Schools remained open for children needing to attend and were
continuing to transition to a new operating model of supporting home and
online learning. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Keeping
Tasmanians safe and secure – Stay Home, Save Lives, media release, 31
March 2020. |
31 March 2020 |
The Department of Education
posted information about the availability of support for school costs from
the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) Network of Tasmania, a not-for-profit
community organisation funded by the state and federal governments. Families
receiving a Centrelink benefit could apply for a no-interest loan of up to $1,500
to assist with the costs of purchasing a computer, laptop or tablet. |
Department of Education, NILS
Tasmania helping parents with school costs, news, 31 March 2020.
See also R Jaensch (Minister for
Housing and Human Services) and J Rockliff (Minister for Disability Services
and Community Development), Supporting
Tasmanians in need, media release, 27 March 2020. |
3 April 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff provided information about Term 2 for students at
Tasmanian government schools, stating that the expectation was for students to
learn from home during Term 2. School sites would remain open for students
who could not learn at home.
Mr Rockliff stated that Term 2
would commence on Tuesday 28 April for students, with 27 April being a
student-free day. Teachers would provide a weekly overview of what students’
days should entail and activities to support learning. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Term
2 learning for Tasmanian government school students, media release, 3
April 2020.
Department of Education, School
Term 2—update, news, 3 April 2020. |
3 April 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced the School Recommendation Program for Tasmanian Year 12 students as
a measure to reduce pressure on students relating to COVID-19 education disruptions.
The program would enable students to apply for most undergraduate courses and
be made an offer by the University of Tasmania, based on the recommendation
of their school and not just the results of formal assessments. The program
required students to complete Year 12 studies, and would not replace other
mechanisms like the ATAR, but aimed to provide assurance to students about
their future earlier in the year. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
Tasmanian Year 12 students into university, media release, 3 April
2020. |
5 April 2020 |
Premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein
stated that Minister for Education and Training Jeremy Rockliff would conduct
a live Q&A session to discuss the importance of staying home during the
holidays and how young people could remain connected during weeks away from
school. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Special
exemption for the Easter Bunny to travel to Tasmania, media release,
5 April 2020. |
13 April 2020 |
The Department of Education provided
information about restrictions put in place in North-West Tasmania in
response to a COVID-19 cluster. It stated that all Department of Education
staff in the region would work from home. This also meant that Department of
Education schools, libraries and Child and Family Centres in the region would
be closed for public access until 27 April 2020.
Early childhood education and care
centres in the North-West could choose to only accept children where both
parents had to leave home for essential work activities over the following
two weeks. |
Department of Education, Department
of Education services on the North West coast, media release, 13
April 2020.
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Childcare
restrictions in the North-West, media release, 13 April 2020. |
16 April 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government provided
an update on the refund process for school levies paid to government schools
(see 26 March announcement). |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Government
school levies refund process, media release, 16 April 2020. |
16 April 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government announced
$10 million for school revitalisation to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), School
revitalisation during COVID-19, media release, 16 April 2020. |
24 April 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced that all government and Catholic schools in the North-West would
remain closed due to additional COVID-19 restrictions in the region. Term 2
would commence on 4 May for students in the North-West. Parents of students
at independent schools were advised to contact their school. Term 2 would
commence on 28 April for the rest of the state. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), North
West school closures, media release, 24 April 2020. |
24 April 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff released a statement encouraging parents and carers
to keep children at home where possible for the start of Term 2 on 28 April.
School sites would be open for students who could not be supported to learn
at home.
Mr Rockliff stated that a new Wellbeing
Check-In tool would be available, allowing teachers to ask students about
learning from home. Principals would be provided with guidelines for
recording student participation and attendance, if appropriate. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Term
2 in Tasmanian government schools, media release, 24 April 2020. |
27 April 2020 |
The Department of Education provided
information about learning at home in Term 2, including fact sheets and a
video to support families with how Term 2 would look. |
Department of Education, Learning
at home in Term 2, news, 27 April 2020. |
30 April 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff provided an update on planning for students’ return
to face-to-face learning. He stated that the Department of Education had
established a Recovery team to consider a range of options for returning
students to the classroom. A key focus of the team was how to best support
students in the early years and Years 11 and 12 as a priority. Mr Rockliff
reiterated that the current advice was that home was the best place to learn
if students could be supervised and supported. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Planning
for students to return to school, media release, 30 April 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced that additional measures in the North-West would be lifted from midnight
Monday 4 May. This included re-opening schools in the North West for students
who could not learn at home. Other students should continue to learn from
home. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Additional
North West COVID-19 measures to be lifted, media release, 1 May 2020. |
8 May 2020 |
The Department of Education
outlined a staged timeline to re-open government schools by early June. The
approach aimed to manage the movement of people across the community as
restrictions were lifted.
From Monday 25 May students from
kindergarten to Year 6 and all Year 11 and 12 students would return to
school. The remaining students would return from Tuesday 9 June. |
Department of Education, Tasmanian
students to return to learning at school, news, 8 May 2020. |
15 May 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
released further information about the $10 million School Revitalisation
Maintenance Package (see 16 April announcement). Approximately 280 projects
across 125 sites would be distributed across all regions and local
contractors would be employed to undertake the work. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), School
revitalisation fund supporting small business and jobs, media release,
15 May 2020. |
24 May 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff marked the return of primary students and Year 11
and 12 students to the classroom the next day. Years 7–10 students would not
return until 9 June. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Welcome
back to class for Tasmanian students, media release, 24 May 2020. |
29 May 2020 |
The Department of Education
advised of changes to mid-year reporting for students’ progress. Following
Australian Government advice, there would be flexibility for 2020 mid-year
reporting. The usual requirement for schools to report A–E ratings for
students twice a year as a condition of Australian Government funding was being
replaced by a requirement for teachers to communicate with parents/carers by
the end of July. |
Department of Education, Mid-year
reporting for Prep to Year 10, news, 29 May 2020. |
2 June 2020 |
The Department of Education provided
information for Year 11 and 12 students, noting that stakeholders, including the
Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC), the
Department of Education, other school sectors, the University of Tasmania and
public and private registered training organisations had been working
together to address issues that might affect the attainment of the Tasmanian
Qualifications Certificate, TCE and the calculation of ATAR scores.
The Department of Education
confirmed that TCE external assessments would be going ahead in 2020;
however, some adjustments would be made to support student wellbeing.
Students were reassured that
they would receive an ATAR comparable with other Year 12 students. |
Department of Education, 2020
external assessment specifications – available now, news, 2 June
2020.
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), TCE
end of year exams, media release, 2 June 2020. |
3 June 2020 |
With around 45,000 primary and
Year 11 and 12 students returning to school sites the previous week, Minister
for Education and Training Jeremy Rockliff outlined work underway to
understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning and wellbeing
and ensure that students were not disadvantaged as a result.
He stated that a range of
resources were in place, including the Wellbeing Check-In (see 24 April
announcement). Teachers would also be assessing student learning and
implementing measures for students needing additional assistance to catch up.
Adjustments had been made to
Years 11 and 12 curriculum, assessment and exams. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
student wellbeing and learning post COVID, media release, 3 June
2020. |
4 June 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced a two-year ‘construction blitz’ which included bringing forward
$3.5 million to begin work on Devonport High School as part of a $10.5
million redevelopment and an additional $7 million for Child and Family
Learning Centres as part of a $28 million investment. |
P Gutwein (Premier), Two
year blitz to generate $3.1 billion in construction value, media
release, 4 June 2020.
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Additional
funding for Child and Family Learning Centres, media release, 4 June
2020. |
10 June 2020 |
The Department of Education announced
the launch of its Physical
Wellbeing and the Environment Action Plan, a resource under the Child
and Student Wellbeing Strategy. The Department noted that COVID-19
had highlighted the connection between wellbeing and learning and the
important role of schools in supporting the wellbeing of children, young
people and families. |
Department of Education, Physical
Wellbeing and the Environment Action plan launched, news, 10 June
2020. |
12 June 2020 |
The Department of Education announced
that all external assessment adjustments for 2020 were finalised and
published on the TASC website.
The 2020 Folio External
Assessment Dates were republished, with the due date for some courses pushed
back to support student wellbeing. |
Department of Education, All
2020 external assessment adjustments now finalised, news, 12 June
2020. |
17 June 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced the ‘Bounce Back to Learning at School’ program for students in kindergarten
to Year 2 to support students after learning at home due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Under the
program, early learning educators would provide support and work in
partnership with teachers to identify learner needs, and provide resources
and tailored learning opportunities. The
program also included the Talk and Read Project providing almost 8,000
families with materials for learners at home. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
early learners to ‘bounce back’, media release, 17 June 2020. |
27 June 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government announced
it would double support available under the Ticket to Play program, from $100
to $200 for eligible applicants aged from 5–17, to support the sport and
recreation sector. The program provides vouchers to redeem against a chosen
sport. |
J Howlett (Minister for Sport
and Recreation), Doubling
down on ticket to play program, media release, 27 June 2020. |
30 June 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
announced it was waiving all Tasmanian government school debts for 2019 and
before to reduce financial pressures and support Tasmanian families in recovering
from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This covered approximately 13,000
outstanding individual debts totalling around $2.8 million. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Outstanding
Tasmanian government school levies waived, media release, 30 June
2020. |
30 June 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced the launch of a new guide for parents and
carers, Learning
at School – Parents and Carers Guide, which detailed what to
expect for the return to school for Term 3. The guide included information
about cleaning and hygiene in schools and the activities and programs that
could resume in Term 3. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Term
3 guide for parents and carers, media release, 30 June 2020. |
12 July 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government
outlined progress on projects as part of the $10 million School
Revitalisation Maintenance Program (see 16 April announcement). General
maintenance projects had been approved at 118 school sites, with a total of
$2.8 million worth of projects completed across 74 sites. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), 118
school sites benefit from School Revitalisation stimulus, media
release, 12 July 2020. |
29 July 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff congratulated the more than 1,600 Year 12 students in
Tasmania who had received an offer to study with the University of Tasmania
in 2021 under the School Recommendation Program. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), School
Recommendation Program,
media release, 29 July 2020. |
5 August 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced the reopening of Field Study Centres
across Tasmania. Field Study Centres provide opportunities for students to
engage in the environment through hands-on experiences. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Field
Study Centres open for business again,
media release, 5 August 2020. |
18 August 2020 |
The Tasmanian Government announced
it would provide an additional $1.5 million to all Tasmanian schools for a
school excursion voucher scheme.
As well as providing students
with learning experiences, the initiative was intended to support Tasmanian
tourism sites in COVID-19 recovery. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Enriching
educational experiences,
media release, 18 August 2020. |
20 August 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced that the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS),
which waives Tasmanian Government levies for eligible students, would be
expanded for the 2021 school year onwards.
More than 9,000 additional
students would become eligible for STAS as eligibility rules changed to use the
Health Care Card or equivalent as the assessment mechanism, rather than
income thresholds. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Reducing
the cost of public education for low income families, media release,
20 August 2020. |
24 August 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced the establishment of a cross-sector
Ministerial Advisory Committee to provide advice on how COVID-19 impacted
Tasmanian students’ learning. Key focus areas would be early years learning,
Years 11 and 12, student wellbeing and second wave planning.
The Committee would remain in
place until March 2021 and comprised representatives from Catholic Education
Tasmania, Independent Schools Tasmania and the Department of Education. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Responding
to the impacts of COVID-19 on student learning, media release, 24
August 2020. |
4 September 2020 |
The Department of Education, together
with Public Health, announced they had developed guidance to allow
celebrations and social events (including school formals) to occur on school
sites. Events would be able to go ahead but would need to comply with current
Public Health directions. |
Department of Education, School
celebrations and social events, news, 4 September 2020. |
10 September 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff highlighted the student-led work being undertaken
during Suicide Awareness Week and the importance of support, particularly in
relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Students
taking the lead to promote suicide awareness, media release, 10
September 2020. |
24 September 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff announced further support for Tasmanian Year 11 and
12 students at risk of not meeting the requirements of the TCE in 2020–21. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), More
support for Year 11 and 12 students, media release, 24 September
2020. |
5 October 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff outlined the Tasmanian Government’s funding and initiatives
to support mental health and wellbeing in schools. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
mental health and wellbeing in our schools, media release, 5 October
2020. |
20 October 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff released the 2020 Student Wellbeing Survey
Statewide Report.
Approximately 30,000 Tasmanian
students in Years 4–12 participated in the survey undertaken in Term 3, 2020.
The data provided insight into student wellbeing during COVID-19 challenges.
Results indicated that student wellbeing was relatively stable compared to the
previous year. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Insight
into student wellbeing,
media release, 20 October 2020. |
4 November 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff marked the beginning of TCE written exams on Monday 9
November for Year 11 and 12 students. Mr Rockliff also outlined measures to
support Year 11 and 12 students, including reviewing and adjusting courses
and assessments. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Supporting
TCE students as they prepare for end of year exams and assessments,
media release, 4 November 2020. |
5 November 2020 |
The Department of Education held
the event ‘Extraordinary! A Celebration of Collaboration’ to celebrate
overcoming the challenges of the year. The event was live-streamed across the
state and included student performances, videos of stories of working through
the pandemic and recognition of staff who had reached 25 years of service in
the last year. |
Department of Education, Extraordinary!
A Celebration of Collaboration, news, 16 November 2020. |
12 November 2020 |
As part of the 2020–21 Budget,
the Tasmanian Government announced funding of $7.5 billion over the
forward estimates in education and training. Measures included $38.9 million
to employ more teachers and reduce the instructional load for primary school
teachers, to provide more time for lesson planning and $12.8 million for an
additional 35 quality teaching coaches. The Government also provided funding
for education infrastructure across the state, with the capital investment program
to provide $204 million over four years. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Record
investment in Tasmania’s future through education, media release, 12 November
2020.
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), $204
million investment in education infrastructure, media release, 12
November 2020. |
12 November 2020 |
In the 2020–21 Budget, the
Tasmanian Government provided additional funding to support students impacted
by trauma or with emotional and behavioural challenges, bringing the total to
$14 million over the forward estimates.
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff emphasised the importance of the initiative
following the impacts of COVID-19. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Additional
support for students impacted by trauma, media release, 12 November
2020. |
17 December 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Jeremy Rockliff congratulated the more than 11,350 senior secondary
students who received their results from TASC. Despite COVID-19 disruptions,
preliminary data showed an increasing percentage of students achieved the TCE
and the Tasmanian Certificate of Educational Achievement compared to
preliminary data from the previous year. |
J Rockliff (Minister for
Education and Training), Tasmanian
students receive their TCE results, media release, 17 December 2020. |
| Milestones |
Details |
Source
Documents |
10 March 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister
for Health Jenny Mikakos and Victoria’s CHO Professor Brett Sutton released
the COVID-19
Pandemic Plan for the Victorian Health Sector. The plan set
out a four-stage response to COVID-19.
Stage 2, the targeted action
stage, included proactive and reactive school closure measures to slow the
peak of the outbreak. |
D Andrews (Premier), J Mikakos (Minister
for Health) and B Sutton (CHO), Victoria’s
health system preparing for COVID-19 pandemic, media release, 10
March 2020. |
16 March 2020 |
A State of Emergency was
declared in Victoria to combat COVID-19, beginning on Monday 16 March at
midday and in force for four weeks. The Victorian Government stated that the
State of Emergency would provide the CHO with powers to enforce 14-day
isolation requirements for travellers entering Australia and to cancel mass
gatherings of more than 500 people, as agreed by National Cabinet.
Gatherings deemed to be
essential and able to continue included public transport, food markets and
workplaces. Schools, TAFEs and universities would remain open ‘for now’ but
were asked to restrict mass gatherings such as assemblies and lectures of
over 500 people. |
D Andrews (Premier) and J
Mikakos (Minister for Health), State
of Emergency declared in Victoria over COVID-19, media
release, 16 March 2020. |
18 March 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced additional restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, stating
that indoor public gatherings of more than 100 people would be banned under
changes to the State of Emergency, following an agreement by the National
Cabinet.
Schools, child care centres and
universities would remain open. |
D Andrews (Premier), More
restrictions put in place in the fight against COVID-19, media
release, 18 March 2020. |
18 March 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino launched the new Learning From Home website to help teachers support
student learning in the event a school was closed because of COVID-19. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), New
website to help closed schools continue teaching, media release, 18
March 2020. |
22 March 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
his intention to inform the National Cabinet that Victoria would shut down
non-essential activity over the next 48 hours. School holidays would be
brought forward to start on Tuesday 24 March. Any decision to re-open schools
after the holidays would be made following advice from the Victorian CHO. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement
from the Premier, media release, 22 March 2020. |
23 March 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
the decision of the National Cabinet to implement Stage 1 shutdown of
non-essential activity nationwide. Mr Andrews also confirmed that school
holidays would be brought forward to 24 March, enabling teachers and staff to
plan for flexible and remote learning. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement
from the Premier, media release, 23 March 2020. |
5 April 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that parents would be able to send children to sessional
kindergarten for free during Term 2, providing up to $45 million in extra
funding to support kindergarten providers. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Free
sessional kinder for Victorian kids, media release, 5 April 2020. |
7 April 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews and
Minister for Education (also Minister for the Coordination of Education and
Training—COVID-19 from April to November 2020), James Merlino announced arrangements
for remote learning and changes to timelines for the Victorian Certificate of
Education (VCE) following advice from the CHO.
The announcement stated that during
Term 2: ’all children who can learn at home must learn from
home – with exceptions only in extremely limited circumstances’.
On-site learning would be
available to students whose parents could not work at home and for vulnerable
students. Arrangements were to remain in place for Term 2 and then be
reviewed.
To support remote learning, the Government
said it would provide free internet access and laptops for students needing
it the most, loaning laptops and tablets to students and providing SIM cards
and SIM-enabled dongle devices.
The announcement also outlined
changes to arrangements for VCE and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
(VCAL) students. |
D Andrews (Premier) and J
Merlino (Minister for Education), Victorian
students to learn from home, as VCE timelines revised, media release,
7 April 2020. |
23 April 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced an extra 21,000 internet dongles would be available to help
meet the demand for internet access from Victorian students following the
move to remote and flexible learning. The first tranche of SIM cards and
dongles was rolled out to schools, prioritising senior secondary students,
students in bushfire-affected areas and families who could not afford an
internet connection at home. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Extra
devices and internet delivered for remote learning, media release, 23
April 2020. |
8 May 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced $900,000 in grants for kindergartens to help children learn at home
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The package would enable kindergartens to
access the Goodstart@home online platform and free professional learning activities for early childhood
staff to help deliver programs remotely. Services could also use the funding
for additional educator and teacher hours to develop and deliver learning
from home programs. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Helping
kinder kids to learn from home, media release, 8 May 2020. |
12 May 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that government school students would begin a phased return to
classrooms by year group, beginning with Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students,
specialist school students, and VCE and VCAL students on 26 May, followed by students
in Years 3–10 on Tuesday 9 June.
The staged approach was to give
the Government and CHO time to monitor and evaluate the effects of the return
to school and transmission within the community.
The Government also announced it
would provide up to $45 million for increased daily cleaning at government
schools in Terms 2 and 3. |
D Andrews (Premier), Getting
our kids back into the classroom, media release, 12 May 2020. |
17 May 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced $2.6 million in grant funding to support kindergarten
services with cleaning and hygiene costs in Term 2. The grants would be
available as part of the $45 million in funding to support kindergarten
providers (see 5 April announcement).
The Government would provide
grants of $900 for kindergarten services with fewer than 50 enrolments and
$1,500 for services with 50 or more enrolments. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Free
cleaning grants for kinders, media release, 17 May 2020. |
18 May 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that more than $1.18 billion in education and school infrastructure
projects was included as part of its $2.7 billion Building Works package,
which aimed to return people to work and stimulate the economy. The projects
would fix old buildings, provide extra classrooms, and build ten new schools,
providing space for more than 21,000 extra students and creating more than
1,600 construction jobs.
The announcement included $27.7
million for the Building Blocks program, which would provide grants to
increase capacity for kindergarten places, upgrade facilities, and to increase
access to technology. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Building
Works: better schools in education jobs blitz, media release,
18 May 2020.
D Andrews (Premier), Building
Works: more jobs for Victorians, media release, 18 May 2020. |
22 May 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino released details for VCE exams, with exams to start in early November
and results available by the end of the year. Due to an earlier than expected
return to face-to-face learning, this was a month earlier than expected when remote
learning was first announced. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Certainty
for students with exams to start in November, media release, 22 May
2020. |
26 May 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino marked the first step of the staged return to face-to-face learning
with around 40,000 students in Prep, Grade 1, Grade 2, VCE and VCAL and
specialist schools returning to classrooms.
Mr Merlino also announced a
summit to be held in June to learn from the learning from home experience.
Mr Merlino outlined safety
measures in place in schools. Staff were prioritised for voluntary COVID-19
testing in the lead-up to the return of on-site teaching. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), First
wave of students back in the classroom, media release, 26 May 2020. |
29 May 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino encouraged Victorians to nominate an individual or organisation for a
Victorian Early Years Award. With services continuing to operate, the
announcement emphasised the importance of early childhood education and care
during the pandemic. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Awards
recognise Victoria’s early years professionals, media release, 29 May
2020. |
8 June 2020 |
With thousands of children in Years
3–10 returning to classrooms across Melbourne the next day, Minister for
Public Transport Melissa Horne highlighted the need for vigilance around
trains. Rail staff had been running virtual learning sessions with children
on rail safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
M Horne (Minister for Public
Transport), Rail
safety warning as more children return to school, media release, 8
June 2020. |
9 June 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino opened a community consultation survey on remote and flexible
learning. The consultation would provide insights into lessons learnt during
the pandemic and improvements that could be made to the education system
ahead of a summit to be held in July. An independent analysis of remote
learning at schools across Victoria and reports on the remote learning
experience would also inform the summit. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Have
your say on remote and flexible learning, media release, 9 June
2020. |
9 June 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino marked the return of Victorian students in Years 3–10 to the
classroom in the final stage of returning to face-to-face learning.
Mr Merlino also announced
schools would be able to apply for a new $20 million Minor Capital Works
Fund. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), All
students back in the classroom, media release, 9 June 2020. |
24 June 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that the reduced-fee kindergarten program would continue during
Term 3, with funding of $230 per child for Term 3 expected to save
approximately half of parents’ average fee costs.
The Government also stated it would
provide kindergarten services with a second round of grants for additional
cleaning. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Keeping
sessional kinder fees low for Term 3, media release, 24 June 2020. |
7 July 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
that Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions would be reinstated across metropolitan
Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from 11.59 pm on Wednesday 8 July for six weeks.
Mr Andrews confirmed that Year
11 and 12 students in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would go back
to school for Term 3 as planned, along with special schools.
For students in Prep to Year 10,
the school holidays would be extended by one week; however, Mr Andrews flagged
that a return to remote learning was possible. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement from
the Premier, media release, 7 July 2020. |
9 July 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that daily temperature checks would be introduced in schools across
metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire following advice of the CHO.
More than 14,000 non-contact
infrared thermometers would be provided to government, independent and
Catholic schools. The Government would also provide thermometers to early
childhood education and care services requiring them.
For a student with a temperature
of 37.5 degrees or above, schools would be required to contact parents/carers
to arrange for students to return home. Families would be encouraged to seek
testing or advice from a healthcare professional. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Temperature
checks to be introduced in Term 3, media release, 9 July 2020.
|
12 July 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that students at schools in areas under Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’
restrictions would return to remote learning at the start of Term 3. Students
in Prep to Year 10 at government schools in metropolitan Melbourne and the
Mitchell Shire would learn from home from Monday 20 July until at least Wednesday
19 August. This followed five pupil-free days already scheduled for the week
starting Monday 13 July.
On-site supervision would be
available for students not able to be supervised at home.
Students in Years 11 and 12 and
Year 10 students attending schools for VCE or VCAL classes would return to
face-to-face learning from Monday 13 July.
Schools in regional and rural
Victoria (apart from the Mitchell Shire) would return to on-site learning
from 13 July.
A range of wellbeing resources
were also being introduced to support students, parents and teachers. |
D Andrews (Premier) and J
Merlino (Minister for Education), Return
to flexible and remote learning, media release, 12 July 2020. |
13 July 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews and
Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley launched a new program to support
young people’s mental health, Orygen’s digital platform MOST (Moderated
Online Social Therapy), funded by the Victorian Government. The announcement
stated that $6 million to ‘fast track’ the rollout of the program had been
included in the Government’s recent $59.4 million COVID-19 mental health
package.
The announcement also outlined other
measures to support young people as part of the COVID-19 mental health
support package. This included more than $19 million for mental health
and psychosocial supports for young people, and $6.7 million to expand online
and phone counselling services for Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Kids Helpline and
Suicide Line Victoria.
The Government announced that Smiling
Mind (a not-for-profit meditation program) would also produce resources for
senior secondary students to support mental health and wellbeing. |
D Andrews (Premier), Supporting
the mental health of young Victorians, media release, 13 July 2020. |
20 July 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced that all students aged 12 and over and staff attending school in
metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would be required to wear a face
covering or mask when at school from Thursday 23 July. Masks would not be
mandatory for teachers while teaching. Specialist schools and primary schools
were exempt.
The Victorian Government had ordered
1.37 million reusable fabric masks to be delivered across July and August. |
D Andrews (Premier), Face
coverings and masks for metro schools, media release, 20 July 2020. |
2 August 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
changes to restrictions in Melbourne following rising COVID-19 cases. The
state would enter a State of Disaster from 6 pm that night. At that time,
Melbourne would enter Stage 4 restrictions, which would include a curfew from
8 pm to 5 am and time and distance restrictions on exercise and shopping.
Mr Andrews stated that schools
would return to remote and flexible learning across all year levels. Students
currently attending on site—including senior students and students in specialist
schools—would attend school on Monday 3 August, have a pupil-free day on
Tuesday 4 August, and be learning at home from Wednesday 5 August.
On-site supervision would be
offered but only for students ‘who really need it’.
From Thursday 6 August, the same
rules would apply to Melbourne’s kindergarten and early childhood education
services. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement
on changes to Melbourne’s restrictions, media release, 2 August 2020.
|
2 August 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
that from 11.59 pm on Wednesday 5 August regional Victoria would return
to Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions.
Regional schools would return to
remote and flexible learning across all year levels state-wide. Specialist
schools would be the only exception. On-site supervision would be made
available for students needing it, including children whose parents were
permitted workers and vulnerable children who could not learn from home. Changes
would be in place for at least the next six weeks. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement
on changes to regional restrictions, media release, 2 August 2020. |
5 August 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews announced
that under Stage 4 restrictions beginning at 11.59 pm that night, only the
children of permitted workers and vulnerable children would be able access
childcare and kindergarten. A permitted
worker included someone working from home for the purposes of accessing
childcare or kindergarten. |
D Andrews (Premier), Childcare
and kinder access for permitted workers, media release, 5 August
2020. |
7 August 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced more support for VCE students and further mental health resources.
Premier Daniel Andrews stated
that the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) would introduce
a ‘Consideration of Educational Disadvantage’ process to calculate VCE scores
to account for disruptions to learning from the pandemic. Every Victorian
student would be individually assessed and impacts of the pandemic reflected
in ATAR rankings.
The Government also announced
$28.5 million to assist students struggling with their mental health. |
D Andrews (Premier), Supporting
students through the pandemic, media release, 7 August 2020. |
9 August 2020 |
The Victorian Government announced
an extension to free sessional kindergarten support, with all kindergarten in
Victoria to be free for Term 3.
A further $1.6 million in grants
would also be available via the School Readiness Funding programs for
kindergartens to help deliver early childhood education to children learning
from home. The funding would be available to services that were not yet
receiving funding through the $160 million School Readiness Funding
initiative. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Free
kinder for families through coronavirus, media release, 9 August 2020. |
14 August 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced additional support for educators and teachers to prepare children
for their transition from kindergarten to school in 2021. |
S Kilkenny (Parliamentary
Secretary for Early Childhood Education), Support
for educators helping students start school, media release, 14 August
2020. |
26 August 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced a range of free online resources to help parents and carers manage
home learning and stay resilient during the pandemic.
The Government also partnered
with the Raising Children Network and funded a 10-episode podcast called
‘Raising Learners’. Themes for the podcast were drawn from common parent
questions received by the Department’s COVID-19 hotline and Parentline. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Online
wellbeing support for families,
media release, 26 August 2020. |
1 September 2020 |
The Victorian Government announced
maintenance and safety works at more than 400 schools ‘to support jobs and
local businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and improve facilities for
students and staff across Victoria.’
Schools would share in more than
$15.3 million of funding as part of the 2020–21 Bushfire Preparedness (Vegetation) Program and Planned Maintenance Program. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Building
better, safer schools across Victoria,
media release, 1 September 2020. |
1 September 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced it would upgrade and build new kindergartens across the state so
all children could access three-year-old kindergarten. As part of the Building
Blocks program, the Minister for Education announced 13 projects would share
in more than $13.8 million in the first round of grants. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Kinder
upgrades across the state,
media release, 1 September 2020. |
6 September 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews released a
statement outlining a roadmap for the state’s reopening. Melbourne was currently in Stage 4 restrictions,
and regional Victoria was in Stage 3.
From 11.59 pm on 13 September,
Melbourne would take the ‘First Step towards COVID Normal’, and regional
Victoria would jump to the ‘Second Step’. The steps would be guided by dates
and data. Case targets would be ‘trigger points’ for review for the public
health team.
First Step arrangements would be
in place until at least 28 September.
Students would begin a staged
return to on-site learning from Term 4. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement
from the Premier, media release, 6 September 2020.
Victorian Government, ‘Coronavirus
(COVID-19) roadmap to reopening’, Victorian Government website, archived
via Trove as at 8 September 2020. |
11 September 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced more secondary students would have access to school-based
mental health support. Recognising the increased mental health challenges
posed by the pandemic, the rollout of the Mental Health Practitioners
initiative would be brought forward to be completed by the end of 2021.
Under the $51.2 million
initiative, schools would receive funding to recruit mental health
practitioners. Depending on schools’ size and requirements, all government
secondary schools would receive between one and five days a week of support
from a mental health practitioner. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), More
mental health support for Victorian students,
media release, 11 September 2020. |
17 September 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced additional funding of $26.7 million to support early childhood
services as they reopened on 5 October 2020. The funding was to enable
sessional kindergarten to remain free for most families in Term 4 and to
provide children with additional support as they prepared to transition to
school.
The Victorian Government would
also provide 5,300 vulnerable children up to five extra hours of kindergarten
per week to help them catch up on missed learning before starting school.
Under the Victorian Government’s
roadmap to reopening, child care services would be open for all children from
28 September. Sessional kindergarten services would open from 5 October. |
D Andrews (Premier), Getting
our kids back to kinder and ready for school, media release, 17
September 2020. |
21 September 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced that school camps and face-to-face learning would resume in
Term 4 in regional and rural Victoria. School camps would be limited to
single schools and could only take place in regional and rural Victoria.
Mr Merlino outlined arrangements
for returning to classrooms. Students in Prep to Year 6 in standalone primary
schools in regional and rural Victoria would return to on-site learning from
Monday 5 October.
Year 11 and 12 students and Year
10 students studying VCE and VCAL subjects could also attend on site for the
General Achievement Test (GAT) and essential assessments during this week.
In P–12 schools in regional and
rural Victoria, students in Prep to Year 6 would return to on-site learning
from Thursday 8 October. All other students would return from Monday 12
October.
Schools would have the
flexibility to stagger the return of students, depending on local
circumstances. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), School
camps to return for regional and rural Victoria, media release, 21
September 2020. |
21 September 2020 |
Premier Daniel Andrews marked
the first day of the school holidays. He highlighted online activities and
events via the Victoria Together platform and reminded families of the
importance of staying home. |
D Andrews (Premier), Keeping
young minds active and engaged these holidays, media release, 21
September 2020. |
5 October 2020 |
The Victorian Government released
a roadmap for the final stage of students returning to on-site learning,
subject to final health advice. Students in Year 7 in metropolitan Melbourne
would return to classrooms from Monday 12 October and students in Years 8–10
would return from Monday 26 October, with both cohorts subject to
risk-mitigation strategies.
In metropolitan Melbourne, primary
school students, students studying VCE and VCAL, and students attending
specialist schools, would return to on-site learning from Monday 12 October.
Students in rural and regional
Victoria were returning to the classroom in a staggered approach from this day,
depending on their year level and local circumstances. |
D Andrews (Premier), Roadmap
for all students [sic] return to the classroom,
media release, 5 October 2020. |
13 October 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced a $250 million package to deploy more than 4,100 tutors across
Victorian schools in 2021. |
D Andrews
(Premier), Thousands
of tutors to bring students up to speed,
media release, 13 October 2020. |
19 October 2020 |
Minister for Education James Merlino announced $145 million
for more than 50 projects under the Non-Government Schools Capital Fund.
Funding for the
second round had been brought forward to help stimulate the economy and
create jobs. It was expected that the funding would create more than 800 jobs
during construction. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Building
better schools faster and driving economic recovery,
media release, 19 October 2020. |
25 October 2020 |
Although there were no changes
for Melbourne’s restrictions due to the number of new cases, Premier Daniel
Andrews announced changes for regional Victoria following low numbers of
regional cases. Mr Andrews stated restrictions would ease from 11.59 pm on Tuesday
27 October, as part of the Third Step. This would include allowing school
graduations to be held within school communities. |
D Andrews (Premier), Statement from
the Premier, media release, 25 October 2020. |
26 October 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino marked the return of the remaining Victorian students to the
classroom, with 163,000 students in Years 8–10 in metropolitan Melbourne
returning to on-site learning in the final stage of the staggered return.
Mr Merlino stated that graduation
ceremonies could commence in the term. Applying to both regional and
metropolitan schools, COVIDSafe measures needed to be in place and only
students from the graduating year and school staff could attend. Ceremonies would
be broadcast to families.
Additional support was provided
as students returned, with schools being provided with additional expert
advice to identify and address gaps in the implementation of health and
safety strategies. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Every
student returns to the classroom, media release, 26 October 2020. |
1 November 2020 |
The Victorian Government
announced a $45.2 million package to assist with community sports costs and
to assist children become more active as the state moved towards ‘COVID normal’.
The $21 million Get Active Kids
Voucher Program would support children to be involved in organised activities
by providing $200 vouchers to help families with the cost of sports
equipment, uniforms or memberships. The package would also provide more
opportunities to participate in sport at school as part of the Active Schools
Program. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Getting
kids moving again as we cut costs for families, media release, 1
November 2020. |
10 November 2020 |
VCE exams officially began. In
recognition of the challenges and the different ways they have impacted schools
and students, the VCAA introduced the new Consideration of Educational
Disadvantage process for calculating VCE scores. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), VCE
exams get underway, media release, 10 November 2020. |
24 November 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced more than $3 billion for school upgrades in the 2020–21
Victorian Budget. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Building
the future our kids deserve, media release, 24 November 2020. |
24 November 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced that the 2020–21 Victorian Budget included $24.4 million to
allow students to keep mobile and digital devices loaned to them during the
pandemic.
Mr Merlino also stated that $7.4
million was allocated to continue the Marrung strategy and programs to help Aboriginal students stay engaged in their
education. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), A
better vocational education for school students, media release, 24
November 2020. |
24 November 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced that the 2020–21 Victorian Budget included nearly $1.6
billion for students with disability in Victorian government schools, which
would double the number of students receiving extra support in the classroom
and create an expected 1,730 jobs by 2025. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education) and L Donnellan (Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers), Help
where it’s needed: supporting Victorians with disability, media release,
24 November 2020. |
24 November 2020 |
Minister for Early Childhood
Ingrid Stitt and Minister for Education James Merlino announced early
childhood education measures in the 2020–21 Victorian Budget, including:
- $169.6 million to help cover the cost
of kindergarten for up to 100,000 Victorian families
- an extra $30 million for the
Refurbishment and Minor Works grant program to support minor capital works in
Victorian kindergartens, and
- almost $6.2 million for early
intervention specialist support to help parents and children struggling due
to the pandemic.
|
I Stitt (Minister for Early
Childhood) and J Merlino (Minister for Education), Helping
families juggling it all, media release, 24 November 2020. |
2 December 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced that 328 schools would receive funding to ‘fast track’
priority projects under the $70 million Minor Capital Works Fund. The
projects would commence early in 2021. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Supporting
small-scale school building projects, media release, 2 December 2020. |
14 December 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced that applications were open for round three of the
Non-Government Schools Capital Fund, which supports projects such as building
new schools, upgrading facilities, and removing asbestos and cladding.
The Victorian Government was
contributing $402 million to fund upgrades for non-government schools
and had allocated $249 million to date.
The opening of round three was
brought forward to ensure the creation of more local jobs. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), Non-government
schools to share in funding boost, media release, 14 December 2020. |
24 December 2020 |
Minister for Education James
Merlino announced an additional 15 primary schools would join the Mental
Health in Primary Schools pilot, a partnership with Murdoch Children’s
Research Institute.
The expansion of the pilot was
part of a $28.5 million package of mental health initiatives announced in
August to support students to work through any mental health challenges they
face due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
J Merlino (Minister for
Education), More
mental health support in more primary schools, media release, 24
December 2020. |
30 December 2020 |
Acting Minister for Education
Gayle Tierney announced that more than 64,800 Victorian students had received
their VCE or VCAL results. To calculate VCE scores, every student had been assessed
via the ‘Consideration of Educational Disadvantage’ process to mitigate
adverse impacts from the pandemic or bushfires. |
G Tierney (Acting Minister for
Education), The
wait is over for VCE and VCAL students, media release, 30 December
2020. |
| Milestones |
Details |
Source
Documents |
9 March 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a
ban on school-related international excursions had been extended to travel to
Canada and the USA. The ban extension applied to government, independent and
Catholic schools, following advice from the CHO. New Zealand was the only
country where international travel for WA school groups would be considered.
Media reported on 3 March that the WA Government had banned international travel for school
students, except to the USA, Canada and New Zealand, due to the COVID-19
pandemic. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), School
travel ban extended to United States and Canada,
media release, 9 March 2020. |
11 March 2020 |
The WA Government released the Western
Australian Government Pandemic Plan, updated for COVID-19. The plan supported a suite of specific health and
emergency management plans.
Response strategies
included arrangements for schools and other educational facilities. It set
out information to assist educational facilities in preparing for and responding
to a pandemic. |
M McGowan (Premier) and R Cook
(Deputy Premier), Updated
WA Government Pandemic Plan released in response to COVID-19,
media release, 11 March 2020. |
17 March 2020 |
The WA School Curriculum and
Standards Authority (SCSA) wrote to principals of WA secondary schools with
COVID-19 advice for schools. In relation to Year 11 and 12 curriculum and
assessment, the letter advised schools to refer to the WACE
[WA Certificate of Education] Manual 2020 regarding procedures to be
implemented if assessment is affected by a catastrophic event, such as the absence
of staff and students due to a pandemic. |
P Garnett (Chair), Letter
to principals of WA secondary schools: COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) advice
for schools, School Curriculum and Standards Authority, 17 March
2020. |
19 March 2020 |
The WA Government announced a
new free influenza vaccination program for all primary school-aged children,
with vaccines to be available after Easter. It cited research that if 20 per
cent of school-aged children are vaccinated, it can reduce influenza hospital
admissions in all age groups by 30 per cent. Vaccination was anticipated to
be critical in 2020 as WA hospitals prepared to deal with the impact of
COVID-19. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier), Early
influenza shots for over 65s, media release, 19 March 2020. |
23 March 2020 |
Premier Mark McGowan announced WA’s
implementation of ‘Stage 1’ social distancing directions from 12 noon.
Facilities to close included pubs, bars, clubs, indoor sporting venues,
cinemas, cultural institutions and places of worship; restaurants and cafes
would only be able to serve takeaway.
The announcement stated that schools
would remain open until the end of the term, as agreed by National Cabinet;
however, parents who decided not to send their children to school would not
face usual consequences. Resources would be provided to children so that they
had the option to continue their education program for the rest of the term. |
M McGowan (Premier), Important
new COVID-19 measures come into effect, media release, 23 March 2020.
|
26 March 2020 |
The WA Government announced that
new learning arrangements would be introduced in government schools to help
manage the COVID-19 pandemic. From Monday 30 March to Friday 3 April, parents
were encouraged to keep students at home from school. Students who could not
learn from home were encouraged to continue attending school. Teachers would
use the time between 6 and9 April to prepare for Term 2.
Independent and Catholic schools
were expected to introduce their own measures. |
M McGowan (Premier) and S Ellery
(Minister for Education and Training), Changes
to government school learning from Monday, media release, 26 March
2020. |
31 March 2020 |
The WA Government announced a
$1 billion economic and relief package to support WA businesses,
households and community groups and boost health and frontline services in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure included funding for increased
cleaning of schools and public transport. |
M McGowan (Premier) and B Wyatt
(Treasurer), $1
billion COVID-19 economic and health relief package unveiled, 31
March 2020. |
31 March 2020 |
Premier Mark McGowan announced
that intrastate travel bans would come into effect from 11.59 pm that night
to stop the spread of COVID-19. From this time, Western Australians would not
be able to travel outside of their regional boundary. Exemptions would apply when
travel was necessary for specified reasons, including to attend school or an
educational institution. |
M McGowan (Premier), Intrastate
travel ban comes into effect from 11.59pm tonight, media release, 31
March 2020. |
1 April 2020 |
Deputy Premier and Minister for
Health Roger Cook announced that testing criteria for COVID-19 would be
expanded for the general public and people working in high-risk settings,
including boarding schools. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier and
Minister for Health), COVID-19
testing criteria to be expanded in WA, media release, 1 April 2020. |
17 April 2020 |
The WA Government announced
arrangements for the start of Term 2, with government schools to have a soft
opening. Schools would be open for students from Wednesday 29 April, with the
original first day of class (28 April) being a pupil-free day to enable
teachers and staff to finalise learning arrangements. Parents and carers could
choose whether to send children to school; Year 11 and 12 students were
strongly encouraged to attend.
Other measures included $43
million for cleaning at schools throughout the day and social distancing
measures.
Distance education packages
would be provided for students learning from home. Arrangements would be in
place until the end of week three and reviewed before week four.
The capacity of the Department
of Education’s website, Learning at Home, was tripled to meet demand.
Year 12 and ATAR students were
assured they would be able to receive their WACE and an ATAR in 2020.
Students studying for VET qualifications were assured they would not be disadvantaged
due to cancelled work placements.
The announcement stated that the
WA Government had been working with Catholic and independent schools and
expected they would also implement the arrangements outlined. |
M McGowan (Premier) and S Ellery
(Minister for Education and Training), Soft
Term 2 opening for public schools as part of COVID-19 response, media
release, 17 April 2020. |
24 April 2020 |
The SCSA and leaders of school
sectors wrote to Year 12 students with advice concerning COVID-19.
The letter assured them that all
eligible Year 12 students would be able to get the WACE in 2020 and outlined
assessment and communication arrangements. The SCSA was liaising with the
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre to ensure Year 12 students would not be
disadvantaged. |
P Garnett (Chair of SCSA), L
Rodgers (Director General of Department of Education), D Sayce, (Executive
Director of Catholic Education WA) and V Gould (Executive Director of
Association of Independent Schools of WA), Letter
to Year 12 students: COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) advice for 2020 Year 12
students, SCSA, 24 April 2020. |
26 April 2020 |
The WA Government announced that
some Stage 3 restrictions would be relaxed from Monday 27 April. Indoor and
outdoor non-work gatherings could have up to ten persons gather, up from two.
The announcement stated that people
should continue to practice social distancing and stay home. Child care and
school were listed as reasons to leave the house. |
M McGowan (Premier) and R Cook
(Deputy Premier and Minister for Health), Cautious
easing of restrictions thanks to WA’s COVID-19 progress, media
release, 26 April 2020. |
26 April 2020 |
Minister for Transport Rita
Saffioti announced that bus services would return to pre-pandemic levels from
Wednesday 29 April to ensure students going back to school would have options
for travel.
Bus services would resume normal
timetabling; trains would return to normal operations on Monday 4 May. In
regional WA, school bus services would be available from the start of Term 2
on 29 April. |
R Saffioti (Minister for
Transport), Return
of regular public transport services brought forward, media release,
26 April 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
The WA Government announced it
was partnering with the Telethon Kids Institute in the DETECT study.
The school
study would have three aspects:
- a surveillance study testing for
COVID-19 in students and staff without symptoms
- tracking transmission in schools, and
- a wellbeing survey.
Eighty schools were
participating. |
M McGowan (Premier), R Cook
(Deputy Premier and Minister for Health) and S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Research
study to track COVID-19 in schools, media release, 1 May 2020. |
1 May 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced residential boarding facilities in WA
government schools could reopen, with students returning on Tuesday 5 May.
Monday 4 May would be a pupil-free day.
The announcement stated that a
facility-by-facility approach would be taken, depending on size, capacity,
enrolments and implementation of hygiene requirements.
Year 12 students would be able
to return to every government school boarding facility.
Support for facilities included $343,000
for additional cleaning time and supplies, providing an additional 77 hours
of cleaning for each facility.
Catholic and independent schools
would make their own decisions about the transition of students back into
residential colleges. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), School
boarding residential facilities to reopen where safe, media release,
1 May 2020. |
2 May 2020 |
Deputy Premier Roger Cook announced
that WA had reported the lowest number of influenza cases in the state’s
recorded history, attributing the low numbers to COVID-19 precautions. The WA
Government encouraged Western Australians to continue taking advantage of the
free influenza vaccine for primary school-aged children (see 19 March
announcement). |
R Cook (Deputy Premier), WA
records lowest flu numbers in history, media release, 2 May 2020. |
14 May 2020 |
The WA Government announced that
all WA school students were required to return to school from Monday 18 May
2020. Medically vulnerable students could continue to learn from home. Up to
20 additional teachers would be employed to support students still learning
from home. Up to 36 additional staff would be employed to assist students needing
additional support to re-engage with school.
The announcement also stated:
- 2020 ATAR course written exams would
go ahead as scheduled from 2 November for Year 12 students
- flexibility would be introduced into
the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) for Year 9 students who could
not sit the NAPLAN in 2020. This would allow Year 9 students the opportunity
to demonstrate the literacy and numeracy standards required to achieve the
WACE
- teachers would be required to report
to parents about students’ learning progress in Semester 1, but would not be
required to assign an A–E grade.
|
M McGowan (Premier) and S Ellery
(Minister for Education and Training), All
WA students to return to school from next week, media release, 14 May
2020. |
29 May 2020 |
The WA Government announced that
Phase 3 of the WA roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions would commence from Saturday
6 June.
Under the changes,
parents/guardians would be able to enter school grounds to drop off and pick
up children. |
M McGowan (Premier) and R Cook
(Deputy Premier and Minister for Health), Phase
3 of COVID-19 roadmap to commence from Saturday, June 6, media
release, 29 May 2020. |
2 June 2020 |
The WA Government announced an
expansion of work groups eligible to participate in the two-week DETECT
Snapshot asymptomatic COVID-19 testing program. This included school staff,
transport workers and tourism industry employees. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier and
Minister for Health), Western
Australia expands asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, media release, 2
June 2020. |
8 June 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery provided details of Phase 3 operating arrangements which
came into effect in schools on Monday 8 June.
Parents were allowed on school
grounds and restrictions were eased for school events, sporting activities
and camps.
High-frequency cleaning
throughout the day would continue in government schools. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Restrictions
lifted for public schools as WA moves into Phase 3 of COVID recovery,
media release, 8 June 2020. |
8 June 2020 |
The WA Government launched the ‘Take
2 STEM’ campaign to encourage more WA students to select two STEM subjects,
especially those entering Years 11 and 12 or those considering a vocational
pathway.
With the state’s COVID-19
response emphasising the importance of STEM skills, the campaign aimed to build
skills in young people and strengths in the workforce. |
D Kelly (Minister for Science)
and S Ellery (Minister for Education and Training), McGowan
Government launches campaign to enable students to be ready for future jobs, with STEM skills, media release, 8 June 2020. |
18 June 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced the lifting of restrictions on dormitory
capacity for government school boarding facilities and school camps following
the AHPPC’s revised guidelines.
Ms Ellery stated that school
camps could fill dormitories but had to continue to comply with the limit of
100 people under Phase 3 guidelines. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Restrictions
lifted on public school boarding facilities and school camps, media
release, 18 June 2020. |
18 June 2020 |
Deputy Premier and Minister for
Health Roger Cook announced findings from the two-week DETECT Snapshot program
to identify COVID-19 in people without symptoms.
WA Police staff, school staff,
meat workers, and retail, hospitality, transport and tourism industry
employees were swabbed, with all 18,409 people returning negative test
results. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier and
Minister for Health), Picture
of wellness captured in DETECT Snapshot, media release, 18 June 2020. |
19 June 2020 |
The SCSA wrote to principals of
WA secondary schools about Year 12 Physical Education Studies (PES) ATAR
course practical examinations.
Following consultation about how
to best implement PES assessment in relation to COVID-19, the SCSA determined
it would administer the standard examination in the metropolitan area, and where
viable, in regional centres. |
A Blagaich (Executive Director), Letter
to principals of WA secondary schools: 2020 Year 12 Physical Education ATAR
course practical (performance) examination, SCSA, 19 June 2020. |
3 July 2020 |
Deputy Premier and Minister for
Health Roger Cook announced two research projects underway in WA to
understand the rate and prevalence of COVID-19 in children. The research
would complement the WA Government’s DETECT schools project. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier and
Minister for Health), Western
Australia paving the way in kids COVID-19 research, media release, 3
July 2020. |
26 July 2020 |
The WA Government launched the
$5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan to drive economic and social recovery across the state and create a pipeline
of jobs.
‘Building schools for the future’
was an identified priority, with new schools to be built and other schools
extended. |
M McGowan (WA Premier) and B
Wyatt (Treasurer), $5.5
billion WA Recovery Plan launched to get WA back on track, media
release, 26 July 2020. |
26 July 2020 |
The WA Government announced a
$66.3 million package focussed on renewable energy technologies as part of
the WA Recovery Plan. The package included $4 million for ten schools
to transform into Virtual Power Plants, receiving rooftop solar panel systems
and commercial batteries. The local community would be able to contribute and
withdraw power, reducing power bills for the schools and community
participants. |
M McGowan (Premier) and B
Johnston (Minister for Energy), $66.3
million renewable energy technologies boost in WA recovery, media
release, 26 July 2020. |
2 August 2020 |
Results were announced for the
first round of the DETECT schools study, which tested 4,757 school children,
teachers and staff from government schools for COVID-19. All results were
negative.
The swab testing at
participating schools would be repeated at least twice in Term 3.
The project also involved a psychosocial survey of students, parents,
teachers and staff from across 79 schools representing a range of
socio-economic, educational and cultural backgrounds. |
R Cook (Deputy Premier and
Minister for Health) and S Ellery (Minister for Education and Training), First
round of swab testing in schools detects no COVID-19, media release,
2 August 2020. |
3 August 2020 |
Premier Mark McGowan and
Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery announced a package to upgrade
WA schools as part of the WA Recovery Plan.
The $492.2 million Major School
Upgrade package included $319.2 million of new funding and was in addition to
$173 million of infrastructure
funding for government schools previously announced.
The Major School Upgrade package
would fund upgrades and refurbishments at 63 government schools across the
state. |
M McGowan (Premier) and S Ellery
(Minister for Education and Training), Record
investment in WA school upgrades to help with recovery, media
release, 3 August 2020. |
27 August 2020 |
The WA Government outlined new
projects worth $28 million for five schools in the South-West as part of the $492.2
million package under the WA Recovery Plan. |
M McGowan (Premier) and S Ellery
(Minister for Education and Training), South-West
school upgrade boost in WA Recovery Plan, media release, 27 August
2020. |
2 September 2020 |
The WA Government announced the
ten schools selected for the $4 million Virtual Power Plant pilot as
part of the WA Recovery Plan (see 26 July announcement). |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training) and B Johnston (Minister for Energy), Student
power: Schools to transform into Virtual Power Plants as part of recovery,
media release, 2 September 2020. |
17 September 2020 |
The WA Government announced that
10,000 tourism vouchers worth $100 each would be on offer from Monday 21
September—in time for the school holidays—as part of a new $1 million
initiative to support WA tourism and experience businesses to manage impacts
from the COVID-19 pandemic. |
M McGowan (Premier) and P
Papalia (Minister for Tourism), A
million reasons to Wander out Yonder in time for school holidays,
media release, 17 September 2020. |
8 October 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced funding of $456.2 million in 2020–21 to improve
school infrastructure and create jobs as part of the 2020–21 State Budget’s
$5.5 billion for school education.
Ms Ellery stated that the WA
Government had also committed $39.6 million for Semester 2 in 2020 to ensure
schools could continue enhanced cleaning regimes. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Record
investment in education to benefit students and create jobs, media
release 8 October 2020. |
22 October 2020 |
Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti
stated that Perth’s public transport usage had returned to almost 80 per cent
of pre-COVID-19 levels. School student patronage was back to almost 100 per
cent. |
R Saffioti (Minister for
Transport), WA
public transport patronage bouncing back from COVID-19, media
release, 22 October 2020. |
28 October 2020 |
Under the WA Recovery Plan,
the WA Government announced a new $1.5 million program for water efficiency in
schools. |
D Kelly (Minister for Water) and
S Ellery (Minister for Education and Training), $1.5
million investment in water efficiency flows into WA public schools,
media release, 28 October 2020. |
5 November 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced that Royal Life Saving WA would deliver two new
‘jobs ready’ short courses, the Pool Lifeguard Skill Set and Swimming and
Water Safety Teacher Skill Set, as part of the WA Recovery Plan. The
courses would help meet state-wide demand for pool lifeguards and swimming
instructors. The courses would be fee-free for concession students, certain
age groups and jobseekers.
In addition, school students could
receive funded training to become qualified swimming instructors for the
Department of Education’s VacSwim program. Eligible Year 11 and 12 students
could register to take part and get paid employment over summer holidays
during VacSwim. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Fast-lane
to swimming jobs as Western Australia gets summer-ready, media
release, 5 November 2020. |
16 November 2020 |
The SCSA wrote a letter to
principals of all WA schools with curriculum and assessment advice for
schools in 2021. The letter acknowledged schools’ work in managing
circumstances arising from COVID-19 in 2020.
The SCSA said it would continue
to monitor COVID-19 impacts but was planning to return to largely normal
operations in 2021. Year 11 and 12 courses modified in 2020 would revert to
regular syllabuses. |
P Garnett (Chair), Letter
to principals: curriculum and assessment advice for schools—2021, School
Curriculum and Standards Authority, 16 November 2020. |
11 December 2020 |
Minister for Education and
Training Sue Ellery announced that government schools in WA would receive
bandwidth upgrades from early 2021 to meet the growing demand for students to
access online learning materials. Ms Ellery stated that the Department of
Education had signed a $130 million extension to its telecommunications
contract with Telstra.
The Department of Education said
it would continue to improve telecommunications services in 23 very remote
schools still reliant on satellite-based services. |
S Ellery (Minister for Education
and Training), Massive
bandwidth boost for WA public schools, media release, 11 December
2020. |