Mandatory vaccinations for employees

In October 2021, the WA Premier Hon Mark McGowan MLA announced a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for most occupations and workforces in Western Australia.

The policy divides various industries and occupations in WA into three groups and provides timeframes on when workers within each of these groups must have their first COVID-19 vaccination, and when they need to be fully vaccinated.

Mayor Mark Irwin said that the City of Stirling has already complied with mandatory vaccinations for employees within Group 1 as per the State Government Directions.

“The health and wellbeing of the City of Stirling’s customers and community is our top priority,” he said.

“Whilst the City does not make these rules, we are legally required to enforce them, and we want all of our residents and customers to rest assured that all relevant City employees are complying with the State Government’s mandatory vaccination policy.

“There will be no disruptions to our normal services.”

As part of the official Directions, the City collects and records the vaccination status of all employees that are covered under the mandatory vaccination policy and it is a requirement that each employee provide that information.

All information collected is held confidentially in accordance with privacy policies and will only be used to meet our obligations as per the State Government mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Mandatory vaccination – Group 1 (already enacted)

Under the mandatory vaccination policy, the first group required to be vaccinated for employment purposes are those in ‘occupations in which high risk is sufficient due to high transmission, vulnerability or necessity to avoid catastrophic risk to safety of the community.’

• First vaccine by 1 December 2021
• Fully vaccinated by 31 December 2021
• Vaccination status obtained.

For the City, that means a number of our employees that work within the community care service area and community services roles.

Employees in this group have been notified, and the City has conducted a thorough review to ensure any and all employees in this group who continue to work are have received their first vaccination.

Mandatory vaccination – Group 2

The City is expecting to receive Directions for Group 2 by mid-December 2021, but based on information currently available, the City is assuming that many of its employees will fall within this group.

According to the State Government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, this group must comply with the following dates:

• First vaccine by 31 December 2021
• Fully vaccinated by 31 January 2022
• Vaccination status currently voluntary, expected to be a requirement by mid-December. 

Chief Executive Officer Stuart Jardine PSM today reiterated his position that he had been fully vaccinated, he had uploaded that vaccination proof into the same system as all other employees, and encouraged all employees to roll up for WA and get vaccinated.

“I have encouraged all employees likely to be in Group 2 to either start the vaccination process now or provide proof of their vaccine if they are already vaccinated,” he said.

“We provide a range of essential services necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the community, so many of our more than 1,400 employees regularly interact with residents and customers.

“Given the likelihood of City employees interacting with people at an increased risk of being infected with COVID-19 or those who are more vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, I have encouraged all employees to lead the sector and get vaccinated.”

Mandatory vaccination in event of lockdown (Group 3)

According to the State Government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, in the event of a lockdown, only employees who have been double vaccinated will be able to attend a City worksite.

If employees are in a role delivering essential services to the community, and cannot work from home, proof of vaccination will be required to attend any and all City worksites.

Like Group 2, vaccination and the recording of vaccination status is currently voluntary, but employees have been encouraged to comply now in order to ensure the City is capable of responding immediately to the needs of the community in the event of a future lockdown.