Take care on campus

Welcome to campus! Find out what you need to know and do to take care of yourself and others on campus and other University sites.

Please DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, including a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss or change in sense of taste or smell – however mild, even if you have a negative rapid antigen test result.

Find out what to do if you have symptoms, or if you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19.
Testing and notification information

If you are a close contact, you are encouraged to explore studying or working from home, if you can, for 7 days. Further guidance is available on our testing and notification page.

Welcome to campus - help keep our campus COVIDSafe

We all have a role to play to keep our campus community healthy.

Before coming to campus for the first time this year, please watch our 5-minute video to find out about the University's COVIDSafe measures, what you can do to keep yourself and others safe, and where to find further information and support:

To look after yourself and others whenever you are on campus, please:

Additional requirements may apply in specific University buildings in accordance with the local COVIDSafe plan, as well as in partner organisations such as hospitals and medical research institutes. Anyone accessing these locations must comply with local requirements.

Face-to-face teaching and learning

From Semester 1, 2023, most subjects will be taught on campus only, with flexible options limited to select graduate programs and individual subjects. Provision will be made for international students outside Australia who are on track to complete their degree by the end of Semester 1, 2023.

Find out more

COVIDSafe campuses

To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our community we have COVIDSafe plans in place across the University to guide our activities and operations.

There are many factors helping to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on campus. They include vaccination, testing and isolation, cleaning, ventilation, personal behaviour, face masks, COVID‑19 case management, and ongoing monitoring to respond to the changing situation.

  • Face masks

    The University continues to follow Victorian public health advice for face masks to help reduce the transmission of airborne viruses. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.

    Face masks are required:

    • if you have COVID-19 and must attend campus – everywhere on campus (see detailed requirements)
    • if you are a close contact – in sensitive settings (see detailed requirements)
    • in any setting at the University where a local risk assessment has determined this is necessary
    • where required by third parties

    Face masks are recommended:

    • if you are a close contact – indoors on campus (see detailed requirements)
    • if you have any COVID-19 symptoms (please stay away from campus if you have symptoms)
    • indoors and whenever you are unable to safely distance when you or someone you are with may be at a higher risk of falling very sick with COVID-19
    • when visiting or working in sensitive settings such as hospitals and aged care and disability services – follow local guidance

    Students with hearing difficulties are encouraged to contact their lecturer/tutor or Student Equity and Disability Support with any concerns about mask usage and communication.

    Further guidance is available about types of masks and how to use them effectively.

    Face masks available on campus

    The University continues to provide access to face masks on campus:

    • surgical masks are available in key locations, like libraries, for staff, students and visitors who have forgotten or don’t have access to a mask and want to wear one – report shortages via COVIDSafe Campus category in Snap Send Solve
    • P2 or equivalent masks:
      • students and staff can purchase discounted masks via vending machines on Southbank and Parkville campuses, and can access them in person at these locations on our other campuses
      • limited access to free P2 masks for students meeting criteria for additional support – more information
    • staff and students attending an area of campus or undertaking an activity where it is required by local risk assessment or Standard Operating Procedure will be provided with an appropriate mask
  • Cleaning and sanitising

    The University has implemented enhanced infection control and cleaning measures across all facilities, including:

    • More frequent cleaning and disinfection by professional cleaning staff
    • Self-service infection control measures, such as 2500+ touch-free hand sanitiser dispensers and 3000+ alcohol wipe dispensers – report shortages via COVIDSafe Campus category in Snap Send Solve
  • Physical distancing
    • People are encouraged wherever possible to maintain a physical distance of 1.5m between themselves and others
    • Some indoor spaces have been reconfigured and plexiglass barriers installed in some service areas to facilitate physical distancing
    • Signage provides reminders for people to maintain physical distance of 1.5m where possible
  • Ventilation

    The University has implemented a range of measures to support improved air quality, including:

    • Increasing ventilation by mechanical or natural means where necessary
    • Where the system is unable to ensure to adequate air intake and exchange, other mitigations, such as portable air purifiers have been deployed
    • Real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels as a proxy to evaluate airborne virus risk and adequate fresh air supply – sensors have been installed in all teaching spaces and each occupied level of every building
    • A central team monitors these sensors and responds where additional action is required

    Find out more about ventilation.

  • Screening and testing

    People with undiagnosed COVID-19 symptoms should not attend campus. Please follow our testing and notification guidance to look after yourselves and others.

    To help detect and reduce transmission of COVID-19 in our community, the University is supporting students and staff with access to discounted rapid antigen tests (RATs) on campus for:

    • Regular testing following exposure to someone who has COVID-19
    • Clearance testing for people returning to campus as they recover from COVID-19
    • Voluntary routine testing by asymptomatic people for additional confidence and assurance

    During Semester 1, 2023, the University will also provide limited access to free RATs and P2 masks for students meeting these criteria.

    Students and staff may need to undertake asymptomatic testing to participate in activities in higher-risk settings as identified through local risk assessment – local areas will provide RATs if this is required.

    Find out where to access RATs on campus.

    Please do not come to campus to collect a RAT if you have symptoms. You may be able to collect free RATs from some community collection points. You can also buy RATs from supermarkets, pharmacies, and some other retail outlets or online.

  • Processes and administrative measures
    • A dedicated Public Health Network supports COVID-19 case management and response, to minimise risk of on-campus transmission
    • Ensure appropriate record-keeping and training processes are in place
    • Strongly encourage all members of our University community to stay up to date with their vaccinations, and continue to provide advice, information and resources to support our community to stay informed on this
    • Strongly encourage people not to attend University locations if they are unwell, even with mild symptoms, and provide advice about getting tested for COVID-19 and what to do from there
    • Report COVID-19 cases on campus on our website and to the Victorian Department of Health as required
    • Guidance is available (staff login required) to help our support teams assist students and staff who may be at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to continue to participate in study and work
    • Follow the Victorian Government's guidance for COVIDSafe workplaces

Staff can access the University and local COVIDSafe Plans here for more detail. (staff login required)

Further information for staff

Food and drink vendors

All food and drink vendors on campus are operating with COVIDSafe principles in place. We encourage you to support the local businesses on campus, but remind you to practice physical distancing wherever possible and follow all other health and safety guidance.

Details of food and drink vendors on campus are available via our campus information listing and our Food on Campus map (Parkville).

Food and drink outlets that are not University tenants also operate on or near campus.

The Sustainability Team would like to remind people purchasing drinks in disposable coffee cups that these must be disposed in the red landfill bins. For more information on correct waste disposal, including takeaway food packaging, visit Reduce, Re-use, Recycle