CORONAVIRUS —
SCHOOLS — CAMP GUIDELINES
581. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the phase 3 operating
guidelines for WA public schools and the announcement that camps will now be
permitted for up to 100 people.
(1) Will the
minister table a copy of the additional guidelines relating to camps that have
been developed?
(2) Is the
minister aware of ongoing concerns that the current guidelines do not
adequately take into account that recreation camps are short-term
accommodation, not boarding schools or residential colleges, and therefore most
recreation camps cannot open despite the 100 people limit; and, if so, what is
the minister's response to those concerns?
(3) What is the current information available to the
government on the status and likely completion date of the Australian
Health Protection Principal Committee's review of its advice in regard
to the risk management for boarding schools and residential colleges?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
speaking to me about this beforehand so that I can table what she wanted me to
table.
(1) Yes, I table the phase 3 school
camp guidelines.
[See paper 3942.]
(2) Yes, we
recognise that these restrictions continue to present challenges for recreation
camp providers, as they do for many others across the state. We know it is
tough. We want schools to return to their normal activities as soon as
possible, but we need to follow the expert public health advice. The advice
from the Chief Health Officer in WA is that camps may proceed, but they should
adhere to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee guidelines for
residential colleges. The phase 3 operating guidelines for schools outline that
camps can recommence, however, should not exceed 100 people. Schools should
follow departmental excursion policies and AHPPC advice to develop mitigations
that lower the risk of transmission. Schools must also ensure camp providers
comply with WA COVID-19 health guidelines. All school activities will be
reviewed again in preparation for phase 4 of the COVID-19 road map.
(3) I asked the
Chief Health Officer to request AHPPC review the requirements for boarding facilities
to make any further changes. From the beginning, AHPPC has provided advice that
boarding schools and residential colleges
provide a higher level of risk than schools, so the rules have had to be
different. AHPPC is currently reviewing its advice. I have had
preliminary discussions with the WA Chief Health Officer and while the final
advice from AHPPC is pending, I have seen a draft. Based on those discussions,
we anticipate we will be able to implement the advice to suit Western Australia's
context. I have spoken with independent and Catholic education sectors as well.
The school camp guidelines will be updated as soon as we receive the revised
AHPPC advice.