Page 2562 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021
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Of course, this has been a particularly tough time for many school students, their families and teachers, as they navigate the challenging environment of remote learning. The Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Health Officer have been planning a pathway forward for ACT schools and early childhood education and care services, that is drawing on the work of the AHPPC nationally and local health advice. Returning kids safely to the classroom is a challenge that the ACT, New South Wales and Victoria are experiencing, and we are currently undertaking the same risk assessments and logistical planning. As an essential part of this effort, we have prioritised vaccinations for teachers and staff in schools, early childhood education and care. We have also prioritised year 12 students, given the importance of this year in determining their further education and career choices.
Based on the advice from the Chief Health Officer, the government has developed a plan for the first four weeks of term 4 in schools. Year 12 students will return to on-campus learning on Tuesday 5 October, the beginning of term 4. Year 11 students will return to on-campus learning from week 3, Monday 18 October, subject, of course, to the health advice at the time. Students from preschool to year 10 will continue remote learning for at least the first four weeks of term 4. Our goal, though, is to get kids back to face-to-face learning as soon as it is safe to do so, and we will continue planning for the phased return to on-campus learning for P to 10 in term 4.
The coming weeks and months require a balance between gradually easing restrictions and protecting the Canberra community until the entire community has had the opportunity to get vaccinated. As outlined in the ACT’s COVID-19 pathway forward released on Tuesday, vaccination is the main pathway to move safely beyond the current situation. When the nation moves forward with the national plan at 70 per cent vaccination coverage, full effective vaccination coverage, in mid-to-late October, and 80 per cent by early-to mid-November, the ACT’s vaccination program will put our city in a very strong position to begin the process of reopening.
The pathway forward has three guiding principles—first and foremost, putting the health and wellbeing of the community at the forefront of decision making; secondly, getting as many people back to work as soon as we can; and thirdly, supporting Canberrans’ mental health. It reiterates our commitment to move through the phases of the national plan that we signed up to, with ACT’s vaccination targets based on the eligible vaccination program—that is, those 12 and older. We will not leave teenagers behind. This is the safest path forward, and it will lead to a safer summer holiday period, a safer Christmas for Canberrans, and a safer and more confident Canberra in 2022.
I present the following paper:
COVID-19 outbreak in the ACT and necessary lockdown, business support and the pathway forward—Update—Ministerial statement, 16 September 2021.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
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