CORONAVIRUS — SCHOOLS — CAMP
GUIDELINES
643. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the answer provided to
question without notice 624, asked yesterday, and the subsequent release of the
Australian Health Protection Principal
Committee statement on risk management for boarding schools and school-based
residential colleges.
(1) Will the
minister table the updated Department of Education school camp guidelines that
have been released in response to the statement?
(2) Given a cap
is not referenced in the AHPPC statement, and does not appear to be in place
for residential colleges and boarding schools, can the minister explain why a cap
of 100 people remains in place for recreation camps?
(3) In reference
to (2), will the minister consider removing this cap prior to the phase 4
lifting of restrictions, given some schools, which would exceed the cap, wish
to book camps for term 3; and, if not, why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
her question.
(1) Yes, I table
those guidelines.
[See paper 3973.]
(2)–(3) As
the member is aware, on 14 May I announced that I had asked Dr Andy Robertson,
our Chief Health Officer, to request that the AHPPC review its guidelines for
the reopening of boarding facilities, and that included school camps. Last
night, the AHPPC published its revised guidelines. I can advise that as of 18 June
2020, the restrictions for camp facilities in Western Australia have been
lifted to the point that they are no longer
required to reduce dormitory occupancy to 25 per cent, reduce sleeping capacity
or require single occupancy. However,
Dr Robertson reiterated that the maximum number of people to attend a school
camp remains unchanged at 100. As per phase 3 of the COVID-19 WA road map, each
camp facility is required to have a COVID safe risk management plan in place
and undertake a facility-specific risk assessment, analysis and mitigation
process to manage the risk posed by COVID-19. The risk analysis should inform
the development of mitigation actions that lower the risk of transmission and
promote good health, hygiene and physical distancing within the camp facility.
On this basis, the cap of 100 was put in place
by the Chief Health Officer. That cap is in line with all school activities,
including camps, excursions and assemblies. The Department of Education
has consistently followed the advice of Health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am not in a position to remove the cap, as the cap was put in place by our
Chief Health Officer.