Charles Darwin University mandates vaccines for all staff

Charles Darwin University (CDU) has today introduced new requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccines, making them mandatory for all staff.

The changes are in line with the Chief Health Officer (CHO) Directions and also apply to staff who are usually located outside of the Northern Territory in other states or territories.

Under the Direction, all staff must have received the first dose by November 12 and have a booking to receive a second dose by December 24, 2021.

This follows on from CDU’s policy change announced in August that any staff travelling to and working on Aboriginal controlled land must be fully vaccinated from October 1.

Over the next few weeks, CDU will be considering its position on student vaccination, which is dependent on vaccine availability and eligibility and on decisions by the NTG and university sector. 

CDU is also establishing a mobile vaccination clinic at its Casuarina campus in Darwin to support any staff and students who are yet to book an appointment.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said CDU was protecting its people by taking a leadership role to safeguard public health.

“We’re proud to lead the way as an Australian university by showing the right way to respond to this virus to protect the safety and health of the CDU community and the communities we serve in the Northern Territory,” Professor Bowman said.

“We are very concerned about the possible spread of COVID-19, we are sending a very clear message that our staff and people working at CDU must be vaccinated.

“I know that many of our staff are already vaccinated and I want to thank them for that and I would encourage any staff who are yet to get vaccinated to book an appointment or to visit the mobile COVID vaccination clinic at the Casuarina campus.”

The new walk-in vaccination clinic at CDU is open to staff and students and there is no requirement to make an appointment. The clinic will be set up in Green 5 on Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29 from 12 to 2pm.

In line with Directions from the New South Wales Government, CDU’s Sydney campus is currently open for fully vaccinated staff. Student access to campus is granted if the access is considered essential and the student is fully vaccinated.

From 25 October, the Sydney campus will be fully open to all vaccinated staff and students.