Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide the guiding principles that will help the City meet its occupational health and safety obligations by either eliminating or reducing as far as is reasonably practicable the incidence of the risk of the COVID-19 virus being contracted or transmitted by Employees of the City of Greater Geelong (the City) in the course of their duties.

Scope

This policy applies to all Employees of the City and to any Contractor or visitor (including volunteers and student workers) working on or at any City workplace or worksite.

References

• Health Records Act 2001 (Vic)
• Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
• Privacy and Health Records Council Policy
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)

Definitions

• Anti-viral treatment – An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate.
• City - The City of Greater Geelong.
• Acceptable Certification means:
  
  1. A current COVID-19 digital certificate issued by Services Australia and displayed through the Medicare App Service Victoria App or equivalent smartphone wallet that states that the Employee is unable to receive a dose or a further dose of any COVID-19 vaccine that is available in Australia; or
  2. a printed version of the COVID-19 digital certificate referred to in (a);
  3. only in relation to an Employee who is fully vaccinated a current Immunisation History Statement displayed through the Medicare App that states that a fully vaccinated person is unable to receive a booster dose that is available in Australia; or
  4. only in relation to a person who is fully vaccinated a printed version of the Immunisation History Statement referred to in subparagraph (c).
• Agency Engagements – backfill engagements through recruitment agencies.
• Contractors – providers who deliver goods and services to the City in accordance with a contract or purchase order.
• COVID-19 - means the Coronavirus disease formerly referred to as 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCOV and includes all of its derivates and variants.
• Employee - Individuals who contract their services to the City and includes Employees recruitment agency engagements volunteers trainees and student workers.
• Exemption – where an Employee holds Acceptable Certification that the Employee is unable to receive a dose or a further dose of any COVID-19 vaccine that is available in Australi