Hi everyone,

There have been no cases of COVID-19 reported in our wider Bendigo Kangan Institute network this week, which is heartening. Please continue to take all measures you can to stay safe and healthy.

Since the new COVID-19 restrictions were announced last weekend, a significant amount of work has been underway to adapt our delivery.

For most of our courses, that means nothing will change. We are still delivering online as we have been since March.

In the regional areas covered by Stage 3 restrictions, our essential practical assessments, will continue to be carried out on campus.

In Melbourne the type of practical assessments we can do has been restricted. Stage 4 is extremely restrictive, and that is the point. Less people moving around means less community transmission of COVID-19.

Where necessary we are issuing permits for staff to travel to work. Students are encouraged to carry letters verifying they are undertaking study at either Bendigo TAFE or Kangan Institute, as well as their student ID and proof of address.

The impact of the Stage 4 restrictions means we are using parts of our metro campuses less and so from a public perspective, these are closed.  Signage is up at main entries for couriers and deliveries to contact security.

At our Bendigo and surrounding campuses we will be introducing temperature checks for all VETiS students from 8:00 am to 10:30 am and 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm starting next Tuesday.

This is a requirement set by the Department of Education and Training, and one of the many measures we have in place to keep all staff, students and visitors to campus as safe and healthy as possible.

Beyond Blue has a COVID-specific section on its website to offer as much support as possible in these very uncertain times. It is completely normal to feel anxious.

The Beyond Blue assistance is free and available to anyone, anywhere in Australia. If you, or anyone you know might benefit from talking to someone or just reading through the resources, please go to the Beyond Blue website.

Please take care and stay safe this weekend.

We have no COVID-19 cases reported across our network today. Please continue to take care of yourselves and your loved ones with good health practices and social distancing.

We have no COVID-19 cases reported across our network today. Please continue to take care of yourselves and your loved ones with good health practices and social distancing.

The Stage 3 restrictions have not created any significant change for us. We can continue with remote learning and on-campus practical activities/assessments as required current on-campus practices in all regional areas.

The only additional requirements introduced is the wearing of masks whilst on campus, which came into effect on Monday 3 August.

This does still mean that only essential practical assessments should be carried out on campus. All other coursework that can be done remotely, will be.

 

We will update you if anything changes.

These are unprecedented time and we appreciate that this is challenging for you all. If you need financial or personal support or advice, please check out the information provided on the student portal today.

Hi everyone,

We are aware of several cases of COVID-19 across our wider network, and we hope that everyone impacted is able to make a full and speedy recovery.

Hi everyone,

We are aware of several cases of COVID-19 across our wider network, and we hope that everyone impacted is able to make a full and speedy recovery.

Importantly, none of the people who are unwell have been on any Bendigo TAFE campus or had any physical contact with any other students or staff for a considerable amount of time.

This means we have not had to take any additional action on any campus, and no other people are at risk.

Our strict campus protocols remain in place and only those people who have essential work or study can be on site at any time. All people who are on site must adhere to social distancing rules and use the appropriate PPE, and maintain good personal hygiene.

The requirement to wear masks outside your homes will extend to everyone living in Victoria from Monday morning.

That means anyone arriving on any of our campuses in greater Bendigo will need to already be wearing a mask.

You will not be allowed on any Bendigo TAFE campus across Victoria if you do not have your face covered appropriately.

As the Premier reiterated this week, wearing a mask when outside and staying away from friends and family for now is a crucial way to fight the spread of COVID-19. It’s a small sacrifice when the alternative is so devastating.

There has been some interesting publicity around people refusing to wear masks and challenging the requirement. To provide some background and explanation to why public health rules can be enforced in this way, The Age newspaper put together this article which explains how the State of Emergency works.

It’s a challenging new step for everyone, but why not use it to explore your creativity?

Work is charging full steam ahead in Bendigo and you can get a real sense of the progress in this new video.

Play it using a Chrome browser for best results.

 

Have a safe weekend everyone, stay home, stay healthy.

Kind Regards,

Bendigo TAFE

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

We have not had any COVID-19 cases reported in our network this week, and we hope you are all taking care of yourselves and remaining healthy and well.

Two significant changes happened in our world this week – we introduced temperature testing for our VETiS students, and we all are now required to wear masks outside our homes in Melbourne.

The temperature testing is something that the Department of Education and Training has specifically asked us to do. Although it is currently just for high school students who come to us for part-time vocational training, we are considering extending this to all people coming on campus.

We are working through this and will be letting everyone know if and when this will be starting.

For those of us in Melbourne, it is now compulsory to wear a face covering when leaving the house. That has meant an adjustment for those people on campus – the only exception is that our teaching staff do not need to wear a mask while teaching a class.

For everyone else, at all other times, it is a mandatory requirement and the fine for not doing so is $200.

There is a silver-lining to this however, as the change has created quite a market for masks. We know of at least two talented designers within our wider BKI network who are making and selling face masks and you can find them here and here.

As always, despite the challenges and uncertainty the world is experiencing, our students continue to shine through with their talent and resilience.

This fantastic, intricate cake was made by a nursing student this week to share with her colleagues. So very clever!

We were also happy to host our first virtual graduation this week with 25 international students being farewelled and congratulated.

Taking part in such a significant ceremony by video instead of in person is certainly a challenge, but these are truly unusual times! We wish all of our graduands the very best for their futures. We have been so pleased to be part of their learning journey.

Stay safe and healthy, and have a great weekend.

Kind Regards,

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Hello everyone,

From midnight Wednesday, everyone living in the Melbourne and Mitchell Shire lockdown areas must wear face masks or coverings when outside their homes. Any face covering will be acceptable – it does not need to be a cloth mask or a surgical mask.

The penalty for not doing so is a $200 fine. The full detail of the announc​ement by Premier Dan Andrews is here

This means that staff and students arriving on campus must already be wearing a face mask. If you are not wearing one, you will be asked to leave campus.

The reason for the change is that the majority of current COVID-19 outbreaks are now coming from settings where people are working closely together.

Specific information for TAFEs has today been provided by the Department of Education and Training:

More coronavirus-related information from the Department of Education and Training can be found here.

There is a lot of information available about types of face masks and coverings, both from an official health perspective, which you can read here (noting that this information was published before the rule change to make mask-wearing mandatory).

 If you want to read information about mask-wearing from a broader perspective, try this Q&A story in The Age.

In this TV interview Dr Nick Coatesworth, Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, explains why mask wearing has now been made mandatory in Victoria.

The $200 fine is a public health directive, and can be enforced just like the fines for being out of your home during lockdown for reasons other than work, study, buying essentials or exercising. In general, this coronavirus section of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Take care out there. Face masks, hand washing and social distancing are to keep you safe and healthy.

Stay safe,

Bendigo TAFE

We have been made aware of two COVID-19 cases in our wider network, although neither person has been on any of our campuses or in personal contact with anyone else at Bendigo TAFE & Kangan Institute.

Over the past week we have been made aware of two COVID-19 cases in our wider network, although neither person has been on any of our campuses or in personal contact with anyone else at Bendigo TAFE & Kangan Institute.

The number of cases in Victoria is hitting record daily increases so it is not surprising that we are now hearing of cases in our network. We sincerely hope that anyone who is impacted by this virus is able to make a full recovery as quickly as possible.

The impact of COVID-19 is different for everyone who contracts it and thankfully most people appear to have only mild symptoms.

This increased surge in cases across Victoria underlines how important it is to social distance, wash your hands and to stay away from other people if you are unwell.

The current lockdown impacting Melbourne has another month to go. Please stay home unless absolutely necessary. This will reduce the chance of you catching or spreading this virus.

The Bendigo City Campus Revitalisation Project is not impacted by the same lockdown restrictions as Melbourne, and work is progressing full steam ahead. Read more about the plans here.

The next significant activity on site will be the demolition of Building C which will make way for the new Bendigo Law Courts.  

Hoardings are now up to protect the rest of the area from the demolition work which will start from the back of the building and then more along Hargreaves and Mundy streets. The demolition is expected to be completed in November and necessary precautions will be taken to protect Specimen Cottage during the demolition. 

Due to the demolition works, most of the laneway between McCrae and Hargreaves streets is closed but the laneway behind Building K (behind Asian Grocery) will remain open. There is no parking available between McCrae and Hargreaves Streets. 

Stay safe this weekend.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Hello everyone,

 

We have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in our wider Bendigo TAFE network as of today. 

For those of you in our Melbourne network, you will be heading into the weekend mindful of the new Stage 3 restrictions. This does not apply to Bendigo or its surrounds.

For everyone working or studying at Bendigo TAFE, this does not create any change. Education is an essential service and our practical assessments will continue.  

This is all part of Australia’s bigger recovery picture, and our role in supporting the emerging workforce is critical. We are uniquely placed to play our part and we will continue to support our students to succeed.

Where we can, we will continue to deliver course content remotely or via digital channels.

To ensure everyone on campus remains safe and healthy, and to reduce the chance of COVID-19 spreading across our network, we have introduced a wide range of precautions. These have been in place now since early April and we review and adapt as we need to.

They include :

 

This is a robust set of procedures with an ultimate goal of keeping everyone healthy and safe while on campus.

This increased wave of COVID-19 cases will undoubtedly be causing many people concern but we are working hard to give you all the confidence that coming to campus remains safe.

If you need any support for whatever reason, please reach out. No question or concern will be taken lightly.

Stay safe this weekend.

Kind Regards,

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

The new COVID-19 lockdown which began this week includes the wider Broadmeadows suburb, which is where one of our larger campuses is based.

As one of the permitted activities in this lockdown is to travel for work or study, we are able to continue with our practical assessments at our Broadmeadows campus in the same way we have been doing for the past few months.

We also know that the majority of students who will be attending practical assessments at Broadmeadows live in the region, so moving sessions to other campuses would not necessarily be practical. If you need to, please print out this letter and carry it with you to show that you are genuinely attending campus.

If you are coming to campus, please remember to take every precaution you can. We all need to continue to be vigilant in following all of our social distancing requirements, so please remain at least 1.5 m away from other people where possible.

Remember to wash your hands and use the provided gloves, masks and hand sanitiser.

If you are unwell, please do not come to any of our campuses. And if you have any concerns about being on campus, please contact your teacher.

The health and wellbeing of everyone in our wider Bendigo Kangan network is our primary concern, and as numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to spike, this is a truly a concerning and unsettling time.

Please reach out if you need any support using our dedicated range of student support options. Remember that it is absolutely OK to feel worried or anxious, and we are here to help you.

Bendigo TAFE:

Email: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Skype: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Phone: 03 5434 1755

Text Message: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

WhatsApp: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

As our Bendigo campus building project continues to come to life, more of our courses are moving around to different locations. From this week a range of courses will be relocated to Charleston Road, including:

Thank you to everyone who is being flexible as we work hard to build our fantastic new campus.

Take care this weekend everyone, stay healthy and safe.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Hello everyone,

We hope your week has been great so far.

We are very glad to continue to report that everyone across the Bendigo Kangan network of staff and students is maintaining good health, and we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

We are still only having a small number of staff and students on campus, and only as their course work absolutely requires it. For some students, the remote option has been a huge help and you can read about that here!

Stay safe and healthy!

Bendigo TAFE

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Hi everyone

 

We are happy to say that no staff or students have contracted coronavirus as of today. We hope that everyone in our wider network is keeping safe and healthy.

As some staff and students are spending more time on our campuses, it is appropriate for us all to get back up on speed with what to do if someone suspects they are at risk of contracting COVD-19.

We have protocols and processes to follow for all scenarios around COVID-19 in line with the health authorities’ requirements.

The consistent health guidance is that unless someone has had direct close contact with a person confirmed to have coronavirus, the risk of contracting the virus is low.

But that does not mean any concern is unfounded, as these are challenging times for us all. The health and wellbeing of everyone in the BKI network is definitely our priority.

If you are unwell, for whatever reason, please don’t come onto campus.

It is great to know that our people are taking every precaution and being tested when they need to, so thank you everyone who has been doing that as required.

Recently Bendigo Kangan Institute joined forces with over 30 organisations in the first ever Greater Bendigo Coalition Gender Equity Strategy.

 

The Coalition for Gender Equity is made up of local Bendigo public, private and community organisations, and groups who are committed to advancing gender equity and preventing violence against women and children. It’s incredibly important work.

 

We are all responsible in addressing this social issue so that everyone can live in safety and be free to participate in all aspects of community life. 

Therefore, today we’d like to share this video of some of our female students who are breaking new grounds in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Video can be found here: https://vimeo.com/425009140/e82016f4e4

We are always proud when our students speak about their work, it is a credit to our passionate educators and staff who give our students the support and encouragement to succeed.

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Bendigo TAFE

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Happy Friday everyone and how great it is to be back watching the footy!  The impact of this pandemic is certainly making for some interesting changes, and watching players in the empty MCG on Thursday night was one of them.

The good news remains for us and our network that we have no cases of coronavirus impacting our staff or students.

The coronavirus pandemic impact is not stopping our progress in Bendigo either, where our campus revitalisation project is well underway.

Our new portable classrooms have now been delivered and are being fitted out. As part of the revitalisation project, our Hairdressing, Beauty, and Creative departments will relocate out of building C at Bendigo City campus into these bespoke built portable classrooms.

This will make way for building C to be demolished and the new Bendigo Law courts to be built. 

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Kind Regards,

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

Welcome to the long weekend. It will be great to see cafes and restaurants back in action, and that hopefully means many of our students will be back into their part time jobs.

We end the week with no reported cases of coronavirus impacting our students or staff.

Although some restrictions are easing, it is important to continue to observe the social distancing requirements. There are still coronavirus cases being reported across Victoria every day, and although most cases are related to each other, there is still a chance of wider community transmission.

Make sure you stay at least 1.5m away from other people in public places. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds – soap and water is your best defence. And of course, be hygienic when coughing or sneezing. Use tissues, or sneeze into your elbow – not on other people.

Note that the police are still out and about to ensure social distancing is happening. Some outdoor attractions remain closed because people were not following the rules last weekend, that includes the 1000 Steps in the Dandenong Ranges, the 12 Apostles and the St Kilda Pier penguin viewing platform.

We have made the news in Bendigo this week in regards to Free TAFE* courses.

Please read article in the Bendigo Advertiser below:

Free TAFE provides such an excellent opportunity for training, and did you know that almost 40,000 students were enrolled in free TAFE courses across Victoria last year? That was an 88 per cent increase compared with the same courses at the end of 2018.

Women accounted for 56 per cent of all free TAFE students across Victoria, an increase of 118 per cent with female participation surging in courses like building surveying, construction, and cyber security.

If you know someone who might benefit from a Free TAFE course, please send them to our Bendigo TAFE or Kangan Institute websites to check out the options.

Did you know that the National Debt Helpline is the frontline for people seeking assistance for financial hardship?

The services provide free, confidential and independent financial counselling to people who are experiencing financial hardship and the team have recently reached out to make their services known to our students. 

This is particularly important to share at this time when our students may have lost their part time work, or for our international students who cannot access government financial assistance. 

If you know of someone this service might be of use for, please share the details with them. https://ndh.org.au/

Our CEO Sally Curtain was in Bendigo this week to see the exciting progress on our Bendigo City Campus Revitalisation Project.

Bendigo turned on a fabulous day too. We are lucky to be working with some excellent construction partners on this project – thanks to everyone involved.

Have a happy and safe long weekend!

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

We are so pleased to start having students back on campus for practical assessments, and bringing our campuses back to life – even if it just for a few hours at a time.

Social distancing is key to making this work and our classroom and assessment spaces are being set up to enable this to run smoothly.

For any of our external suppliers who are coming back to our campuses, we’d like to also thank you for your efforts in this area. It is important that as we work towards returning to normal, we all respect each other and ensure we are keeping healthy and safe.

We do not have any staff or students impacted by coronavirus as at 29 May.

As you know, it is Reconciliation Week and at Bendigo TAFE ​our own Indigenous Education Centre plays a key role in this important work.

You can find out more about that here

This year's Reconciliation Week theme is ‘In This Together’. We believe this theme is very fitting for us at Bendigo TAFE. We are very much in it together to ensure our students have the best opportunities and support possible. 

This week the Victorian Government released its 2019 Free TAFE* Scorecard and it showed that almost 40,000 students were able to access training through this scheme last year. That was an 88 per cent increase on the previous year and showcases the value of the program.

Our own figures show that across ​​Bendigo TAFE​ we supported more than 3,660 students last year. This figure is over a huge range of courses – from nursing to accounting, construction and horticulture.

The Free TAFE* program continues to play an important role in our new post-Coronavirus environment. It offers options for Victorians needing to retrain and it is important that Bendigo TAFE and remains front-and-centre in supporting this recovery.

Please visit our Bendigo TAFE​ website to find out what Free TAFE* courses we have on offer.

 

Have a great weekend everyone.​

*Free TAFE on selected courses only. Eligibility criteria apply. Other fees and charges may apply. Find out more at freetafe.vic.gov.au​​

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

We head into the weekend without having any cases or suspected cases of coronavirus across our network. We are really pleased that our collective efforts in social distancing and increased hygiene practices are contributing to Australia’s success in managing the spread of the virus. It means there is no increased pressure on the health system, and those who do need urgent medical care are not impacted.

Maintaining our digital delivery of education is still challenging. We know that many of our students are keen to get back to campus as quickly as possible, but for now we need to keep delivering all theory and as much practical as possible by remote and digital means.

Where it is essential and unavoidable, we are holding practical assessments on campus. These are staggered to ensure the least amount of people are on campus at any one time, and that all social distancing rules are followed.

Hand sanitiser stations have been installed around our campuses, please use them. If masks and gloves are required, they will be provided. If you are unwell at all, please do not come to campus. Let your teacher know so that other arrangements can be worked through.

Our work-arounds to help students carry out their practical work have been attracting attention. Some of our Year 12 VET Hair and Beauty students have told their school what has worked for them and how the remote training still allows them to keep up with their studies. You can read about that here.

The Victorian Government has announced a $45 million fund to support international students in Victoria facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is being delivered in partnership with Victoria's tertiary education providers.  

Our international students facing financial hardship as the result of job and income losses since March 2020 can now apply for this once-only support payment up to $1,100. We have established a dedicated team of student support officers to receive and assess applications to determine eligibility for this financial assistance and disperse the funds. 

If you are an international student or know someone who might need this information please contact our International Team by phone at 9279 2631 or email international@kangan.edu.au

​Have a great weekend, stay healthy and safe.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We end the week on a really positive note – no cases of coronavirus among our staff or students as of today Friday May 8, and we have not been notified of any of the stakeholders in our wider group being impacted either.

The instances of the disease spreading in our community has slowed considerably, which means the tough measures put in place by the federal and state governments have been successful. The point has been to ensure our health system and hospitals are not overwhelmed, and that everyone needing care for whatever illness they have, can get it.

Today the Prime Minister announced the next steps to move Australia out of lockdown, and he outlined how each state and territory will now need to set the pace for that change.

One key point that applies everywhere is his statement on coming to work if you are sick:

"No more heroics of coming to work with a cough and a cold and a sore throat. That's off the agenda for every Australian for the foreseeable future. Please."

While our students and teachers have moved off campus, our construction progress rolls on.

In Bendigo we are making great headway on our campus redevelopment, and having less people around is actually making it a bit similar for the construction crews to get their work done.

An added bonus is that our construction and building students have had real-time practical experience of being on the construction site to learn how things are done. This flexibility from our construction partners is excellent, and we are grateful that we have such practical learning environments to showcase right on our doorstep. 

Our students continue to make us proud – just today we heard that one of our Plumbing students, Andrew Jan, is one of the winners of a Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant. He will receive $2,000 to help with his TAFE fees and textbooks, $1,000 to help build his own trade toolbox, and a tool tote bag for transport and storage of tools on the jobsite. 

Congratulations Andrew!

We are grateful for the support of organisations like Rheem, who see the value of the apprenticeship scheme. The Victorian Government has already outlined that it believes TAFE training is going to be critical for economic stimulus post-coronavirus, and we know it is an excellent option for our students.

According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 91.5 per cent of apprentices who complete a trade apprenticeship retain employment, with a median annual salary of $62,800.

Some of the students and staff from Bendigo Kangan Institute are taking part in a Push-Up Challenge Community event as a way to promote fitness, mental health and community spirit.

It starts on Monday and involves doing lots of push-ups for the month… Fun!

Fundraising is optional but if you do, the recipient is Headspace Bendigo which is an organisation providing mental and physical health support for young people.

We challenge you to PUSH yourself by signing up and if you do create a team, let us know so we can check out your efforts.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We have ticked over into May and have now been set up to deliver our courses digitally for five weeks.  It is still a challenge in some respects, but we are very pleased with everyone’s efforts – thank you.

There are no staff or students who have reported to have contracted coronavirus as of today at 3:00 pm on Friday 1 May. We are not aware of any suspected cases or people awaiting test results. The number of new cases across Victoria since yesterday is in the single digits, which continues to please health officials.

Social distancing and good hygiene practices have made a significant impact for Australia.

Horticulture students at Bendigo TAFE have developed stunning ways on how you can transform your space with greenery, with three hanging gardens selected as finalists for the 2020 Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition.

As part of the 2020 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and led by the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, the 2020 Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition received over 550 entries from across the state. Entries were submitted through digital photographs following the cancellation of the show due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Finalists include,  Bendigo TAFE students Ken Price, Rhys O’Sullivan and Mark Borradaile who are completing the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30710) at our Castlemaine campus. We wish them all the very best and congratulate them on their efforts thus far.  Winners to be selected through online voting by the public.

The public are now invited to vote for the Most Popular Baskets at http://www.rhsv.org.au – voting will close on Sunday 17 May at 5pm.  Please get behind our talented students by showing them your support and vote!

The Victorian Government this week announced a $45 million support package for international students called International Student Emergency Relief Fund.

This fund will provide up to 40,000 eligible international students experiencing financial hardship as a result of employment loss due to COVID-19 with a one-off payment of up to $1,100 to help cover necessities such as rent, food, utilities and healthcare.

Details on the program and a form for students to register their interest are available on the Victorian Government's Study Melbourne website.  Please direct any students you know that may benefit from this resource.

The weather has definitely taken a wintry turn this week. We hope you all stay warm, safe and healthy over the weekend!

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We have no cases of coronavirus affecting any staff or students across the Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute network, and that is no surprise given the number of cases reported across Victoria have continued to drop. Only six new cases were reported yesterday.

Regardless, we can’t lose sight of the health risks. There is no cure or vaccine for coronavirus as yet, and we need to provide new levels of health safety to keep this disease at bay as much as we can.

As TAFE is an essential service all students are permitted to travel outside their homes during this lockdown period when the journey is connected with their studies.

To help our students feel secure about this, we have developed a letter than can be downloaded and carried with you.

You can download this from the student portal.

A reminder that although access to our physical library spaces have been reduced until further notice, all services are available online.

Broadmeadows

(for basic library services and computer access)

9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Monday – Thursday)   

Access to computers at the Broadmeadows Campus is also available in Building J, Room 207 

8:30am - 5:00pm  

Docklands 

Closed

Essendon 

(Computer access only)

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

(Monday – Thursday)

8:00 am - 6:00 pm (Friday)  

Richmond

(Computer access only)

8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

The book collection is closed.

Our online e-Library is available 24/7 as normal.

Our online chat service (accessible from the right-hand side tab on the e-Library) is live during office hours.

We have produced a guide for students studying from home. This includes information on how to login to the network and how to access MyLearning, with contact numbers for password resets and other connection problems.

The guide also has tips on studying from home (including how to stay safe), as well as a page of newly available stuff available online for free.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Regards,

Bendigo TAFE & Kangan Institute

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

Another short week and it ends on the positive note that there are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff. Australia is doing very well to slow the spread of this virus, which you can see for yourself as each day the Department for Health and Human Services provides an update on the latest number of cases.

We have now been off campus for three weeks, but our on-site cleaning regime has still continued.

That means we can be confident that as there have been very few people on any campus, the chance of the virus making its way on campus is extremely unlikely. Our regular and vigilant cleaning process will have kept all areas sanitised every day, regardless.

This cleaning schedule will continue as we do have some staff on some campuses, and our libraries are still available for student use.

The Government is still requiring us to continue as much digital or remote delivery as we can, which is working well at the moment.

A good example is the work load being delivered by the team managing our automotive courses. Last week 136 courses were held online, and next week that will increase to 160. It is great to see that attendance rates are between 80 and 90 per cent, so it appears that doing theory remotely is not putting students off.

Thanks for your patience as we adapt to this new way of teaching.

This will continue for some time with ongoing support of the Government as Premier Daniel Andrews announced today, which you can read about here.

This will be our last daily message to students, we can see from the reduced rate of emails being opened that this may not be of as much use to students on a regular basis.

These updates will now come out every Friday.

However, don’t forget that support is always available to you and that we have a range of ways for you to reach out for help.

Email: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Skype: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Phone: 03 5434 1755

Text Message: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

WhatsApp: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

Therefore, it is definitely OKAY to think to the future and as part of that future-focus, BBM has launched its 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships for young Australians.

The scholarships offer $8,000 grants for 17-23 year olds to take on the opportunity of a lifetime. The funds cover two to three months’ travel in which time students will learn from global leaders in their industry (agriculture, trades, horticulture and performing arts) before bringing their new skills and ideas back to Australia.

Applications are now open online at www.bbm.asn.au and close midnight 8 May.

In an announcement today the Prime Minister said that we should expect our current levels of social distancing to remain in force for another four weeks. He also explained that the impact on our health system is currently manageable and that is really positive. A rundown on today’s announcement from the media is here, and a version direct from government is published here.

We continue to be delivering the good news that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Thursday 16 April.

Library operating hours for term two

 

Access to our physical spaces has been reduced until further notice.

Bendigo City Campus:  8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

Telephone: 5434 1750  

Email: libraryservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

e-library: www.bendigotafe.edu.au/library

With no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Wednesday 15 April, we are really pleased to know everyone is healthy across our Bendigo TAFE network.

Please continue to practise those excellent social distancing skills and good personal hygiene. 

The dangers of sitting too long     

Sitting down can be a nice break during a busy day, but as we have started to study and work remotely we have all become a lot less active. These fascinating stats published by Apple show exactly how that has changed by region across the world.

Unfortunately, research suggests that sitting for more than four hours each day can have some serious effects on our bodies. Don’t forget to take a break away from your computer when you can, get some fresh air and exercise.

The reduction of traffic on our Bendigo campuses has allowed some of the revitalisation work to progress earlier than originally planned. Carpark 9 is almost complete and has re-opened. Carpark 10 is due for completion in early May.

Meanwhile, the significant reduction in the use of the main carpark adjacent to Building AR has allowed for building works to start with the installation of portable classrooms as of today, 15 April. The access road past Building P will remain operational.

We apologise for any inconvenience to those still using campus facilities, and questions or concerns can be directed to capitalworksprogram@bendigokangan.edu.au.

Don’t forget that there is help at hand for any students unfamiliar with the BlueJeans format we are using for some class delivery:

Students are also invited to access one-on-one online Learning Support from our Maths and English specialist teachers. Just email one of our teachers to book a one-on-one appointment. Check the details below:

Hope you’ve all had a great and relaxing Easter break.

It was announced on the weekend that the state of emergency in Victoria has been extended for another four weeks, to give us the best chance of combating the effects of COVID-19 on our health system.

Stage 3 restrictions will stay in place for the same period i.e. until midnight 11 May. You can read about that and all other Government information here.

As education is an essential service, we will continue operating and delivering courses for our students through digital and remote learning channels.

We will continue to operate this way until told otherwise, so we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible. The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible. 

We are pleased to continue to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Tuesday 14 April.

The importance of practising social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community.

Please remember that social distancing rules apply and are required to be followed at all times. Please keep at least 2 metres away from other library users, and remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before using the library equipment. ​

As we take a well-earned Easter break we are pleased to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Thursday 9 April. If this changes, we will let you know.

The importance of practising social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community. Thank you!

As education is an essential service, we continue operating and delivering courses for our students. The difference is that we are doing that through digital and remote learning channels – we know this is challenging for some people but it is to everyone’s credit that we have been able to adapt so quickly to this change.

The Government has told us we need to continue operating this way for a while, so as of Tuesday we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible.  The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible. Your teacher will let you know if this applies to you.

For guidance on general social distancing you can watch our video here.

 

Stay home this Easter break. Leave only to get groceries, do exercise, or seek medical care. Stay home. Stay safe!

There are still no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Wednesday 8 April, which is excellent. We will update you if this changes.

 

As education is an essential service, we remain operating and delivering courses. The difference is that we are now doing that through digital and remote learning channels.

The Government has told us we need to continue operating this way for a while yet, so as of Tuesday we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible.  The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed, and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible.

For advice about that, watch our social distancing video here.

The message is really clear from the health specialists. Stay home this Easter break. Only leave the safe bubble of your home for essential things like groceries, exercise, and medical care. 

Why not tune into the Supercars All Stars Eseries starting tonight!

The race will be live streamed on the Supercars Facebook page every Wednesday from 7pm, starting tonight: https://www.facebook.com/supercars/

Vin Ryan, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts teacher (Corrections department) created a fast forward video on HOW TO DRAW A KOALA, as a trial and demonstration on how this technology can be used in the future creative arts space.

 Working or studying at home has led to a lot of creativity – we’d love to hear yours. Please send your tips and photos to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

Bendigo TAFE are doing everything possible to ensure our students have access to support during these confusing and challenging times.

 

TalkCampus is a 24/7 global anonymous group chat that lets students connect with their peers around the world in 25 different languages in a moderated environment, giving our international students another option to reach out for support.

 

Students can register using the unique Bendigo TAFE email address, which was provided at enrolment. Please log on to the student portal or refer to the student handbook to find your student email address.

We also have teams available wherever you are to lend an ear.

As of today, Tuesday 7 April, we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff.

However, we want to emphasise the importance of continuing to practise social distancing and good hygiene wherever you are. This is the best way to slow the spread of the virus, and ensure that the health system is able to cope with any serious cases as they occur in the wider community.

While we are all navigating our new normal it is also OK to think to the future, as there will come a time when life will return to normal. As part of that future-focus, BBM has launched its 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships for young Australians.

The scholarships offer $8,000 grants for 17-23 year olds to take on the opportunity of a lifetime. The funds cover two to three months’ travel in which time students will learn from global leaders in their industry (agriculture, trades, horticulture and performing arts) before bringing their new skills and ideas back to Australia.

 Applications are now open online at www.bbm.asn.au and closes at midnight 8 May.  

Our Events team has created Self-care Bingo cards to stay mentally and physically healthy when practising social distancing:

Lastly, we know that working or studying at home has led to a lot of creation – we’d love to see yours. Please send your tips and photos to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

We continue to be pleased that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Monday 6 April.

The importance of practicing social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community. Thank you!

Bendigo TAFE are doing everything possible to ensure our students have access to support during these confusing and challenging times.

 

We are pleased to be leading the way as the first Australian TAFE to embrace technology and extend further support to our students. Today we launch a new peer to peer mental health support app called TalkCampus which adds to the range of support services we already have in place for our students. 

 

TalkCampus is a 24/7 global anonymous group chat that lets students connect with their peers around the world in 25 different languages in a moderated environment, giving our international students another option to reach out for support.

 

Students can register using their unique Bendigo TAFE email address, which was provided at enrolment. Please log on to the student portal or refer to the student handbook to find your student email address.

 

TalkCampus will be a helpful tool for many students, but it will not replace the support that is also available from our exceptional team on the ground. To talk to someone, all you need to do is reach out.

​It has been another very busy and challenging week for us all, but we are pleased to be able to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as at this afternoon, Friday 3 April.

Social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are also following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community, thank you to everyone. We have produced videos to explain social distancing and the correct handwashing procedures and you can find them here.

There has been a lot of information shared by the Government about what people can and cannot do while managing life in these unprecedented times. The ABC has published a helpful guide you might find useful, especially over the weekend.​

We are hearing great stories about people adapting their work and study processes while we are all in this more digitally-focused environment. We had hundreds of courses delivered by digital means this week – a significant change for our organisation and our students, but one we have embraced and adapted to quickly.

And our subject material has had to adapt too. Here’s an animal studies grooming class about to be broadcast from the teachers’ deck… and the client looks quite happy about it too.​

Our Skills and Jobs Centre has adapted its operations and is fully operational at this time. The centre is offering free employment workshops, career & employment advice and support via online, over phone and email. The centre is offering FREE 1:1 consultations for those who are;

Contact the centre on 1300 100 606 or email:

In other news, we are very proud of our baking students Russell Sawtell and Rosario Thomas, who clinched first and second place awards at the Baking Association of Australia’s annual Victorian Baking Show held in Shepparton on 14 March.

Armed with mouth-watering chocolate, ginger and chilli pull-apart loaf, 100% rye sourdough and a three-layer black forest gateau, our baking students wowed baking industry experts from across Victoria.

And finally, please don’t forget that there is help at hand if you need it at any time. Our professional counselling staff can be reached in many ways.

This is a very unsettling and challenging time for everyone, but you are not alone, and we want to make sure everyone gets the support they need.​​

​Bendigo TAFE:

Email: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Skype: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Phone: 03 5434 1755

Text Message: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

WhatsApp: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)​

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

​​Bendigo TAFE

Good Afternoon,

The good news continues in that we have no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus relating to any of our staff or students at any of our campuses, as at today Thursday 2nd April 2020.

The Government’s strict new regulations around social gatherings are designed to limit unnecessary contact and therefore exposure to coronavirus. As you will have read from other countries’ experiences, this is a critical tool to slow the spread of this virus.

Each day the Department for Health and Human Services provides an update on the latest number of cases available to the public.

As of today more than 49,000 people have been tested in Victoria and there have been 1035 confirmed cases of coronavirus. This equates to 0.01% of Victoria’s 6.3m population. Of those cases 828 are in Melbourne and 193 are in regional areas.

In total 422 (or 40%) have already recovered which means there are just 613 people currently with the infection and of those 36 are in hospital. In total, five people have died. These statistics show that the chance of contracting the virus in Victoria is relatively low right now.

However, there are now 57 confirmed cases of community transmission in Victoria which means the person with coronavirus has not been overseas, or had close personal contact with someone who has. This growing number is the reason that it is essential to stay at home if you can.

The more exposure to other people and places you have, the higher the chance of becoming unwell. Details explaining when you are allowed to leave your home are published here.

Attending TAFE to work or study is still allowed because education is an essential service. But with the majority of classes now set up to provide learning in some form via online methods, we are seeing a huge reduction in on-campus attendance.

If you are on campus, please adhere to the social distancing guidance of remaining 2m away from others, and ensure you are washing your hands regularly. We have produced some videos to help explain these steps:

- Good Hygiene

- Social Distancing​

We are pleased to still be able to report that we have no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus on any of our Bendigo TAFE sites as at today, April 1st 2020.

We are seeing very few students around campus now with most classes moving to an online and remote delivery model, and of course many of our students are also on term break. But libraries are open should anyone need to use Moodle or access the internet.

To reiterate, as an essential service TAFEs are not subject to the new restrictions on social gatherings that came into force at midnight Monday. But to clarify, these do mean that if you are outside you home for anything other an essential outing, there can be no more than two of you together – excluding anyone who you already live with.

The Department of Health and Human Services has published the new rules so you can take a close look if you are unsure.

Having your classroom in your house will be a big change for many students and has no doubt led to a lot of creative approaches – we'd love to hear yours. Please send your tips and photos about "attending" class from home to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

Here's a tall person's solution to not having a stand-up desk at home… not sure how the cats feel about sharing their scratching tower though!

Our Employment Centre is fully operational and offering our free assistance to all our current students and recent graduates. The friendly team has adapted operations in these unusual times, and now offers appointments online, on the phone and via email and will help with:

Contact them on 9279 2459 or 1300 484 335 or email employmentcentre@kangan.edu.au

The Australian Government has created a new app where it shares all its up to date information about coronavirus, including what to do if you think you have been exposed or if you have any health concerns. You can access the app here.

Good afternoon everyone.

Firstly, to reassure you, there are no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 at any of the Bendigo TAFE campuses as at 31 March 2020. Maintaining your strict social distancing and hygiene practices is playing a part in this and slowing the spread of the virus, thank you.

Stage 3 restrictions now in place

You may be aware that the Government moved to Stage 3 of its coronavirus response from midnight last night, and that means more restrictions on social gatherings. People may now only socialise with up to two other people other than those in their household. This is due to the thousands of people ignoring the health advice over the weekend to stay home and away from others, and if people are found to be in breach of these new rules, they can be fined $1600.

As an education facility we are an essential service, so this does not apply on our campuses. But we do ask that if you are working or studying on any of the Bendigo TAFE sites you practice good social distancing and of course, good personal hygiene.

Good afternoon,

We come to the end of another tough week, and one that has seen significant change for our organisation.

It is important to note that we end the week with no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus COVID-19. Maintaining your strict social distancing and hygiene practices is playing a part in this and slowing the spread of the virus, thank you.

It has been a week of phenomenal change for students and staff as we transitioned as many courses as possible into digital and remote delivery modes. Many are already up and running in the new formats successfully while some will take longer, and may have less adaptable components.

As a TAFE we are proud to be leading the way with our flexibility and ability to change quickly. Next week alone the automotive department will run over 100 individual classes through digital means – a huge change from the way we delivered courses even just two weeks ago. This is a credit to all staff and students.

As the majority of our students are now completing their course work off campus, it is timely to note that our library services are also available online.

The instruction from Government remains clear that we must continue to operate and support our students, and that applies to libraries. Providing this service using online channels also fulfils our obligations.

The libraries remain open for use by students who need to access Moodle or the internet.

The transition to digital delivery and working from home arrangements has had the most visible impact on our smaller campus sites. Visitors to our Castlemaine, Echuca and Moonee Ponds next week will be guided by signage to explain this digital delivery change, and ensure they can still contact who they need to by phone or online.

In crisis management terms, we are now at a point where a significant amount of operational change and readiness planning has been completed. The issues and concerns around the health of our staff and students on campus have eased.

From next week this daily communication will be more functional. It will provide updates on Bendigo TAFE operational matters, working for home advice, and also lighter content to keep us all connected while we work separately. We will be asking you to share your experiences in this new digital learning world too.

There will be the need for urgent, coronavirus-related communications to be shared but this will only be as required. That type of information will likely come directly from our Chief Executive Sally Curtain.

 

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

Regards,​

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon everyone,

As at 4.30pm Thursday 26 March there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus at any of our campuses.

Our campuses are starting to look quite different however, as so many our courses are now being delivered using a range of online channels, and students are completing their courses from home. This shift in delivery is enabling us to remain operational as we are required to by the Government and we’d like to thank everyone for their flexibility.

If that situation changes, you will hear it from us in these updates. The decisions and changes made by other educational facilities will not necessarily apply to us, nor will the decisions Government makes for different industries and services. If in doubt about your work or course requirements, please just ask.

For those still on campus, it is good to see the social distancing guidelines being observed where practical. We understand that our legal requirement to stay open is confusing for some, especially as the general health advice is to work from home and isolate.

We have had further clarification from the Department of Education and Training today to reiterate that we must keep providing services for students, including library support. Our libraries are an integral part of our delivery of education and are not regarded as separate operations.

For students who do not have access to Moodle or the internet at home, you are welcome to use your campus library. Please make concerted efforts to respect our library staff and your fellow students. Ensure you are keeping an appropriate distance from other people, wash your hands thoroughly before entering the library and use hand sanitizer if it is available.

If you are sick with a cold or flu, do not use the library, do not go to class or work.​

Both remaining Bendigo Campus cafés at BTEC and Charleston Rd sites will temporarily close from tonight, including takeaway options. We will update you when the cafés are reopening.

The number of coronavirus cases is increasing across Australia as predicted. To slow that growth, we must all continue to be vigilant with our health and hygiene.

If you have concerns about your health, please follow the required coronavirus guidelines as issued by the Australian Government.​

Regards,​

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon,

There are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus at any of our campuses as at 4.30pm today, Wednesday 25 March.

We remain in daily contact with the Department of Education and Training about our obligations as an essential service. This has not changed and we must continue to remain operational in every aspect to deliver our quality education program to our students.

We are not subjected to the same restrictions as pubs, restaurants and public facilities like libraries, and we must remain open and operational so that our students are not disadvantaged. This means transitioning to digital and remote learning, and we are well underway with these changes where possible.

 

Your health and well being

We want to thank everyone for continuing to step up the hygiene practices. Hand washing will help slow the spread of this virus. You may also note our increased campus cleaning cycle. This now comprises a continuous 45-minute rotation to clean all kitchens, restrooms, mirrors, offices, meeting rooms, desk phones, doors and door handles.

 

TAFEs are considered an essential service and have different exemptions from restaurants, cafes, and pubs, but we do need everyone who is still working on site to practice responsible social distancing.

We appreciate this has been confusing. There is a lot of information coming out from Federal Government and State Government about this, and we are constantly seeking clarification in order to follow the correct instructions.

We need to be able to operate and teach, including in courses which have yet to move to a digital or remote teaching option.

Signage will be going up around campuses from today to remind everyone about the need to maintain social distancing.

We will keep you all updated if there are any changes to our operations.

Regards,

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon all,

As at 4pm Tuesday 24th March there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus, and we want to continue to thank you for the efforts you are all making around social distancing and personal hygiene practices.

Yesterday the Department of Education and Training (DET) clarified our position as an essential service. This is why we must keep our doors open, but we are now allowed to move to digital or remote course delivery models. That means our facilities remain operational but that we will start to have less student activity and attendance on campus.

We appreciate that this is difficult for some people to understand, however it is not our decision to make and we must follow the Government instruction. The health advice given to the DET is that we are able to remain open and that we are exempt from the stricter social distancing rules seen at pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes. However, we must be sensible and take the health advice around hand washing and social distancing seriously.

In most instances, our course delivery will change. This will happen in different timeframes for different courses. Some will already be able to move to a fully digital learning experience and may do so quite quickly; others will take more time to set the new processes up.

Given the current situation and the serious moves in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus, these changes will continue for some time – this could be weeks or even months. At this point we do not know the time frame.

More details will be provided to you about your specific course information or teaching requirements as soon as possible but for now we continue as normal.

The transition to having less students and staff on campus has prompted the cafés at Broadmeadows and Docklands to close from today.

The Department of Education and Training is also sharing its general information on its website: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

More health-related information is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Our coronavirus section of the intranet is the repository of all the information we are sharing and you can find that here.

As you will all be aware, this is an unprecedented global health emergency and the significant measures the Government has announced should be taken very seriously. We know people are concerned and worried, and it is absolutely understandable in this time of uncertainty. Your health and well-being is extremely important to us.