The ANU has confirmed that at this point in time, it will not be mandating vaccines for students or staff unless they are required to by the ACT or Federal Governments. This comes as some students have viewed a vaccination mandate as a means to returning to normal campus life faster than anticipated.
The ANU is encouraging all its students and staff to be vaccinated. Professor Tracy Smart, head of ANU’s Covid Response Office, has stated that “[a]ll the science is clear; a vaccine is the best way of protecting yourself and others from COVID-19”.
However, the ANU will not mandate vaccination for students or staff at this stage. Moreover, with the ACT’s high vaccination rates and with a minimum of 70% of residents at each Hall having received their first vaccine dose, it appears the ANU is not struggling with vaccination uptake.
The ANU also stated that “[w]hen our students and staff are required to be vaccinated for specialised study or work we ensure that they are”.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Woroni, Woroni Radio and Woroni TV are created, edited, published, printed and distributed. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that the name Woroni was taken from the Wadi Wadi Nation without permission, and we are striving to do better for future reconciliation.