23 September 2020 Coronavirus Update

It has been a challenging year for students across Victoria and particularly Melbourne in managing their studies during periods of significant COVID-19 restrictions. 

Box Hill Institute educational staff are working hard to keep learning on track and we continue to strive to make the learning relevant, interesting and engaging. Student Life has been providing extensive support to our domestic and International students. Please reach out to them for assistance (see below for details) if you need it.

Victoria’s VCE students have had a Year 12 like no other and are about to commence their exams. The GAT Exam for our VCE students will be hosted in the CAE on 7 October and their VCE exams will commence later in the month. We wish all of them luck.

From the week beginning 12 October 2020, we will welcome VETDSS, VCAL and SBATS back to campus for practical components of their VET program learning.

Other study areas will commence returning to campus from 26 October onwards for practical training and assessment, however remote and online learning will continue for the theory aspects of your course of study.

As permitted in the Stage 4 restrictions, some areas of health and apprentices in construction related industries are currently allowed to complete practical assessments on campus and they have been attending campus during the Stage 4 restrictions.

Some apprentices have lost their jobs but despite this you can continue to attend TAFE. Please let your teachers know if you are currently unemployed so they can alert you to opportunities that become known to them.  Government support is available (see below).

To ensure the safety of all staff and students whilst on campus, COVID-19 safety measures are in place. These include infection control training and practices, entry to campus screening, modification of spaces to meet social distancing and maintaining records for contact tracing.

All students returning to campus must provide proof that they have completed the infection control training. On completion of the training take a screenshot of the completion advice and present this when asked on campus. If you cannot find proof or have not completed the training please do so now.

Although the libraries are currently closed, library staff can be reached by leaving a message on (03) 9286 9283 or by emailing library@boxhill.edu.au. Library staff are working remotely but can still assist you with advice and training on library resources, including the online resources available to you. Hard copy resources are not available at this time due to COVID safety measures.

Apprentices and Trainees

Apprentices and trainees who have been suspended or lost their job completely can register with the Victorian Government's Program for retrenched apprentices and trainees.

You can apply for the new Jobseeker payments if both apply:

• you're not receiving Youth Allowance (Apprentice) payments
• you've lost your job and are not receiving an income due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you're seeking Jobseeker payments, you do not need to provide an employment separation certificate. This means that if you have had your apprenticeship suspended – but not terminated – you're still eligible for Jobseeker payments.

If you're looking for alternative employment, you can:

• register with the Victorian Government's Working for Victoria program
• access the Australian Government's Jobs Hub

Advice for International Students

We encourage international students to get the most up-to-date information by:

• visit Study Melbourne
• visit Study in Australia

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides information about coronavirus (COVID-19) in many languages.

Student Life

If you require support during this time, please contact Student Life on (03) 9286 9891 or email studentlife@boxhill.edu.au. They can offer advice, support and guidance for students needing assistance.

For International Students, please contact the International Student Wellbeing Officer, Nikki Singh on (03) 9286 9445 or via email at nikita.singh@boxhill.edu.au. If you have questions about your academic progress and would like assistance with your assessments, please contact the International Academic Advisor, Faz Maghami on (03) 9286 9734 or via email at f.maghami@boxhill.edu.au. 

Mental Health Assistance

• headspace – https://headspace.org.au/covid-19/.
• Beyond Blue – https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/?utm_campaign=hp_banner.
• Black Dog Institute – https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/coronavirus-resources-for-anxiety-stress/.
• Multilingual Assistance – https://embracementalhealth.org.au/community/multilingual-information.

More information regarding COVID-19 is available on the Department of Education and Training website, which will continue to be updated as the situation evolves.