Coronavirus

Posted 28 July 2022

From 28 July 2022, you no longer need to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination to access a University of Divinity campus*, however, vaccination remains the best way to reduce your risk of severe illness, so students and staff are encouraged to keep up to date with vaccinations.

*Students who are undertaking placements must continue to provide proof of vaccination in accordance with any mandate that applies to their sector (e.g. Aged Care, Healthcare, Disability care etc).

Stay Well in Winter

Students and staff are encouraged to wear face masks whilst in indoor learning spaces and crowded settings to protect individuals and the most vulnerable in our community during the winter months.

Posted: 6 July 2022

The following information has been provided by the Department of Home Affairs. This announcement is particularly relevant to students who are seeking a visa to study.

To improve visa application processing times, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) will be moving back to pre-pandemic decision-making processes, including finalising applications where applicants lodge incomplete applications. This means that visa applications may be finalised without asking for further information through a Request for Information (RFI).

Applicants should ensure that they include all the relevant documents when lodging their visa application. The application form in ImmiAccount tells applicants what documents they need to attach.

The Department has returned to standard timeframes for RFIs. Where an RFI has been made for the applicant to supply additional information to support their visa application, but the visa applicant does not provide this information within the specified timeframe, the Department will decide on the visa application on the basis of the information already provided. The decision will be made unless the applicants have requested an extension of time.

If a visa applicant is experiencing delays in obtaining the required information, they should request an extension of time through ImmiAccount and provide evidence of what steps have been taken to obtain the required information, such as a payment receipt or booking confirmation.

The Department has increased communications with international students via social media (Australian Department of Home Affairs Facebook page).  Key messages include:

• Students should ensure they submit a complete and decision-ready application.
• Students should lodge their student visa application at least 6-8 weeks before their course commencement.
• Applicants should respond to any requests for information promptly. Applicants do not need to wait until the deadline to respond to a departmental request.  If documentation is provided when requested, the Department can progress the application.

Students are encouraged to regularly log into their ImmiAccounts to check for messages from the Department and respond promptly.

Posted: 23 February 2022

The Victorian public health settings will change from 11:59pm on Friday 25 February 2022, to remove the recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home. This means a full resumption of all onsite activities at the University of Divinity’s Victorian Colleges and sites.

Face masks 

Face masks will no longer be required for students and staff attending for on-site study and work, although they remain highly recommended in all indoor settings.

QR codes 

QR code check-in of students, staff and visitors remains mandatory for all Victorian universities. This means that you will need to continue to check-in on arrival at all University of Divinity and College premises in Victoria.  

Vaccinations

The requirement for Victorian students, staff and visitors attending on-site activities to be fully vaccinated or hold a valid medical exemption remains in place.

For more information on current restrictions, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

We look forward to seeing many of you on campus!

Update: 16 December 2021

The University of Divinity is required to collect evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status for verification purposes to ensure the safety of all members of the University and to meet Victorian government directives that all students and staff attending on-campus activities at the University or one of its Colleges in Victoria have been fully vaccinated or hold a valid medical exemption.

Posted: 27 September 2021

Over the last couple of months the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has reached a new stage. By a miracle of scientific collaboration and creativity – and sheer hard work by scientists around the world – we now have multiple reliable, effective vaccines against this coronavirus. In Australia this means government and institutional plans are focussed on achieving very high vaccination rates in order to end lockdowns and reopen borders while preserving life and health as far as possible.

In coming weeks the University Executive (comprising the Vice-Chancellor and the College Principals) will need to take decisions which support a full resumption of the University of Divinity’s mission of education, research and community service in 2022 – and which ensure a safe and healthy environment for all our staff and students. In relation to vaccination status, these decisions may differ slightly from College to College, based on denominational and occupancy requirements set by their owners, and the regulatory requirements set by different governments across Australia.

Read the full statement to find out what this will mean for you as members of the University community for the remainder of 2021.

Posted: 28 September 2021

Graduation ceremonies are milestones for students and in the life of the University as opportunities to celebrate and recognise your academic achievements. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the December graduation is unable to be held in the customary manner and will be replaced with an online ceremony. Degrees/awards will be conferred virtually at the online ceremony and graduation documents (testamur and academic transcript) will be mailed to graduands.

Update: 3:00pm 19 January 2021

The University of Divinity is now closed for applications to International Student Emergency Relief Fund.

If you are an international student in Victoria experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for emergency financial support through the Victorian Government’s Extreme Hardship Support Program.

The program is for temporary and provisional visa holders and undocumented migrants, including international students, who: are experiencing significant hardship as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have little or no income, savings or community support.

Please visit www.redcross.org.au/vicrelief to apply.

For further information on the range of support available to international students from the Victorian Government visit www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au

Posted: 20 May 2020

The Victorian Government has announced a $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund for international students facing financial hardship.

If you are an international student in Victoria experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for support. For information about how to apply for support as a University of Divinity student, contact Ms Anna Kumashov.

For more information about where to find information, practical help and confidential support available at Study Melbourne, visit www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au

2020 graduation ceremonies to be virtual celebrations

Posted: 21 September 2020

Graduation ceremonies are milestones in the life of the University as opportunities to celebrate and recognise the academic achievements of our students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the time being graduations are unable to be held in the customary manner and will be replaced with online ceremonies. All students who are eligible to graduate will have their degrees conferred on the same date as the scheduled ceremonies and their graduation documents (testamur and academic transcript) will be mailed to them.

As State restrictions are increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, if you are a STFE or CPE student in a pastoral or field placement this semester, please read the following:

In Greater Melbourne, regional Victoria and potentially elsewhere, STFE and CPE placements may need to be adjusted or changed.  The priority remains for the safety and welfare of students and those they might interact with.

In Victoria, regarding STFE and CPE students and staff, no face-to-face group sessions, or meetings, or informal discussions in person are allowed.  All contact for these tasks must be online. The restrictions must be followed.  There are no exemptions or work permits for the education tasks that the University of Divinity and its Colleges and students are involved in.

However, depending on where the placement is and the details of the level of Restriction, some hospitals or denominations may be able to include field placement students in exemptions they may have. However this should not be assumed.  It is important that both the student and the student’s College are clear that any task the student may be asked to do is permitted under the current restriction Stage and also through a relevant exemption that workplace holds.

Students should discuss their placement as soon as possible with their College or STFE Coordinator.  Assessment tasks may need to be amended, or an alternative to part or all of the Unit found, so the semester can be successfully completed.  If you are not feeling safe in your placement you should also discuss this with a staff member so an alternative can be found.

And for everyone:

The health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff is of primary concern.  Please contact an appropriate support person or service if needed, and encourage and enable others to do so.

The University announces the following measures to support HDR students:

1. An extraordinary extension of 6 months for all HDR students enrolled as at 1 April 2020, regardless of award, stage of candidature or of whether the student is part-time or full-time.
2. A Research Fee Scholarship of 6 months for all HDR students who receive the extraordinary extension, to cover HDR student tuition fees for the period 1 July to 31 December 2020.

Students will need to register with the Dean of the School of Graduate Research to access the extension and to have their completion date updated.

Please read an important statement from the Vice-Chancellor on the University’s response to Coronavirus. The university will be moving to online delivery as much as possible for the remainder of first semester. In addition, first semester will be extended by two weeks.

Library Hub staff and librarians working at libraries associated with the University are committed to providing continued access to library services and resources as the global coronavirus (COVID-19) situation evolves. 

The University continues to provide access to a huge number of online library resources via the Library Hub and library staff are still available to assist. 

A LibGuide has been created as a central place to update the University community about any library-related developments, including access arrangements at the libraries associated with the University of Divinity, and tips for accessing library resources remotely.

Library Research Services for Academic Staff and HDR students

Library premises associated with the University are now closed to public access, although some libraries are able to support mediated loans (“Request & Collect”) or extended loan renewals.

On 16 April 2020 the University announced special research services available to support academic staff and higher degree by research (HDR) students. Services include:

• virtual document delivery service
• e-consultancy service to navigate electronic resources and assist with access to print collections
• A grant to the SGR for the purchase of e-books and digital resources required by HDR students
• A grant for the provision of document delivery and interlibrary loans services for resources held in library collections in Australia or overseas

In a time of great disruption and uncertainty, members of the University community are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by penning reflections and meditations.