Masks will remain optional and visitors, including parents and volunteers, will be allowed on school sites under the South Australian COVID-19 Forward Plan for Education.

The Department for Education will have a centralised contact tracing team to work with SA Health’s Communicable Disease Control Branch in the event of a confirmed case in one of our public schools, preschools or children’s centres.

Additional daily cleans at public schools and preschools will continue for the remainder of term 4 and while interstate camps are not recommended, excursions and camps within South Australia can continue subject to appropriate contingency planning and assessment of COVID-19 risks.

Key features of the plan include:

• All eligible students (aged 12+) strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated.

• Masks optional indoors for all staff on site and students in secondary settings until SA Health requirement to reinstate masks in response to transmission risk.

Masks recommended for all adult visitors to site

• Schools, preschools and early childhood services remain open unless directed to close due to a confirmed case or in the event of a significant outbreak.

• If SA Health identifies a significant regional/localised outbreak, the Department will advise when to activate remote learning.

All schools, preschools and early childhood services will remain open with skeleton staff for students and children that need to attend.

COVID-19 vaccinations will also be

mandatory for people who work in an education or early childhood setting to keep South Australians safe from the pandemic.

Under the direction, anyone who works at or volunteers at a South Australian school, preschool or childcare centre/Early Learning Centre must receive at least 1 dose of a Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccination and a booking to receive a second dose by December 10, 2021.

This direction includes:

• Anyone who attends a South Australian school, preschool or childcare/early learning centre for work of volunteer purposes (including building contractors and parent helpers).

• All Department for Education employees and contractors.

• Governing council members and employees.

• OSHC and vacation care providers.

• Department for Education contracted bus drivers and transport providers.

• Family Day Care employees.

Only those who have a medical exemption endorsed by the Chief Public Health Officer will be permitted to work or volunteer at a school or early childhood setting without getting vaccinated.

Not included in the direction are students, parents who do not work/volunteer at the school, preschool or childcare centre; playgroups or play centres off site, delivery drivers, people responding to urgent maintenance tasks or an emergency situation.