Latest Information 30 November 2021

Update 30 November 2021

EIT appreciates that many international students are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to commence or continue their studies in Australia and enjoy the benefits of an on-campus learning experience. 

We are pleased to let you know that the Australian government announced on 22 November 2021 that Australia will start to welcome back fully vaccinated students in December 2021, subject to the additional requirements of each state and territory. The return date was initially set as 1 December 2021 but has now been delayed until at least 15 December 2021 pending further research on the Omicron COVID variant. Travel restrictions are also currently in place for students from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique. You can learn more here. 

For more information and to keep updated with the latest Australian government advice, please visit: 

Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) website 

https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/english/student-arrivals-travel-and-visas/updates/student-arrival-plans-and-updates 

EIT’s CAMPUSES 

As EIT has campuses in two different states (Victoria and Western Australia) it is important you understand the restrictions in each state before making any plans to travel to Australia. More information can be found here: https://www.australia.gov.au/states 

Melbourne, VICTORIA 

Once borders are open, provided students are fully vaccinated and meet the pre-flight 72 hour negative COVID-19 test requirement, they will be allowed in to Victoria without the need for a travel exemption and won’t be required to quarantine.  

More information on Victoria’s arrival plan can be found at the Study Melbourne website which is currently being updated with information for international student arrivals: https://www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/student-arrivals 

We have plans in place to safely welcome students back to our Melbourne campus for Semester 1, 2022. 

Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

The Western Australian government has announced it will welcome fully vaccinated international students with no quarantine period once 90% of Western Australians are fully vaccinated. It is expected that this target will be reached in late January or early February 2022. More on WA’s arrival plan can be found on the Study Perth website. 

When entering WA, once the border is open, fully vaccinated international students will not be required to quarantine as long as they return a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to departure and complete aG2G pass 

Further details on a return date for international students will be made available by the WA government once the state reaches the next vaccination milestone in mid-December. We look forward to being able to provide you with more updates then and hopefully welcoming new students to campus in time for Semester 1, 2022. 

QUESTIONS 

If you have any questions about your enrolment at EIT please contact your Agent, EIT Admissions (admissions@eit.edu.au) or EIT Student Services (student.services@eit.edu.au).  

You can also keep updated with EIT’s response to COVID at our website: https://www.eit.edu.au/eit-covid-19-information/ 

We will post essential information and updates to our online student community via our regular channels including this website page, emails and newsletters.

For all general enquiries, please contact your Learning Support Officer via phone or email.

How is EIT responding to COVID-19?

In order to look after the safety (and long-term success) of our students, the Engineering Institute of Technology has appointed a COVID-19 Task Team and are monitoring the situation very closely. As an Australian headquartered organisation, we are following the advice provided by the Australian government and its agencies who we believe have taken a proactive and decisive approach in implementing measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

Our COVID-19 task team is led by our HR Manager, Ms Lisa Chisari and is ably assisted by Ms Caroline Patterson, our Compliance and Education Manager. Please be reassured that we are here to support you and will send you regular communiques regarding developments via our regular channels including this website page, emails and newsletters.

Will EIT continue to deliver their online programs?

EIT is delivering our online programs as usual. In a time of global volatility, your education is a key asset in securing your future and as members of our online learning community, you are well placed to continue with your studies amidst the current turmoil.   We have over 15 years’ experience in delivering our unique, live online methodology that makes use of interactive webinars, an international pool of expert lecturers, dedicated learning support officers, and state-of-the-art technologies.  Irrespective of the challenges COVID-19 present us, we have contingency measures in place to ensure we that we will continue to safely deliver our programs across the world.

How should I respond to COVID-19?

We encourage you to stay calm and to focus on keeping yourself, your family and friends healthy and safe. We also suggest you identify a few trustworthy sources of information and focus on that advice over the coming weeks and months.  As members of the EIT community, we also respectfully ask you to demonstrate leadership and assist others if they need it.

It is important to prevent the spread of germs by thoroughly washing hands, sneezing/coughing into elbows and staying away from work if you are sick.

Further details from the Australian government can be accessed here.

We will post essential information and updates to our on-campus student community via our regular channels including this website page, emails and newsletters.

For all general enquiries, please contact our Student Services at student.services@eit.edu.au.

Update: 26 October 2021

EIT thank each and every one of you for the focus, dedication and resilience that you have shown towards your studies at EIT as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued. We know it has been a very difficult time and hope you are all keeping safe and well.

As the Victorian Government has announced that the easing of restrictions under Phase C of the Victorian Roadmap will commence on 29 October 2021, when the state will have reached the goal of 80% full vaccination for those over 16 years, our Melbourne campus will re-open on Wednesday, 3 November 2021 for fully vaccinated staff only. This is an important step towards being able to re-open our Melbourne campus to students in the near future.

In line with the Victorian Government advice, we are committed to providing the safest possible environment for our students and staff. As such, EIT will be implementing the following measures for our students enrolled at our Melbourne campus.

TEACHING AND LEARNING REQUIREMENTS

All Semester 2, 2021 classes will continue to be delivered online for all students enrolled at our Melbourne campus. EIT will provide future updates on when campus activities will resume for all students. We hope to be able to welcome all students back to campus no later than Semester 1, 2022 (dependent on Victorian Government advice).

SPECIAL ACCESS TO CAMPUS

If you are required to come to campus you will be notified of this by your Learning Support Officer or Student Services. If you would like to request access to our campus under special circumstances please contact our Student Services Team at student.services@eit.edu.au prior to attending, and provide the details of why you are requesting special access. You must receive EIT’s approval prior to attending campus.

If you are given permission to attend campus you must adhere to the following whilst on campus:

  • All staff, students and visitors, including contractors visiting EIT’s Melbourne campus, will be required to have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (unless a medical exemption applies) in line with Victoria’s Roadmap.
  • Prior to the first visit to our Melbourne campus on or after 3 November 2021, all students are required to provide EIT with proof of their vaccination status by emailing this to services@eit.edu.au. For guidance on providing proof of vaccination please refer to the Services Australia website.
  • If you are medically exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine please submit documentation (e.g. medical certificate or letter) from an authorised medical practitioner to show that you unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Check-in using the Service Victoria QR code displayed at the entrance to our campus. If you exit and return you must check-in using the QR code again. This is a critical part of the Victorian Government contact tracing efforts.
  • Mark your attendance during any class you attend on campus, your lecturer will provide attendance marking instructions in class.
  • Wear a face mask at all times whilst on campus. If you forget your mask you can collect a spare mask from our Student Services team. Please note that lecturers are not required to wear a mask whilst teaching.
  • Follow all safety advice and signage including maximum room capacity limits, maintain physical distancing, keep up good hygiene (e.g. wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, clean and disinfect high-use items). Hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes will be available on campus for student use.
  • If you are feeling unwell, DO NOT attend campus – instead, stay home, seek medical advice and consider getting a COVID-19 test. COVID-19 symptoms are listed on the Victorian Government Department of Health website.

If you have any questions about vaccination, we encourage you to speak with your GP or visit the Victorian Government’s vaccine website for more information.

If you would like to speak to EIT about your individual circumstances, including medical exemptions, please contact our Student Services team at student.services@eit.edu.au.

EIT thank you for your ongoing understanding and cooperation as we pave the way to returning to full campus activities. If you require any support during this time we encourage you to speak with our Student Services team.

Update: 6 August 2021

Due to the 7 day lockdown in Melbourne, our Melbourne campus will be closed from Friday 6 August 2021 until Thursday 12 August 2021. During this time all live tutorials will be delivered online. If you require any assistance with accessing your live tutorials, please contact your LSO.
Please continue to follow the government guidelines regarding lockdown, more information is available on the VIC government website here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-victoria

Update: 20 July 2021

EIT is adhering to the guidelines set by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Stay up-to-date with all WA Government announcements here. To view VIC Government latest announcements and information on current restrictions, please click here.

Update: 29 June 2021

Perth and Peel will enter a minimum 4-day lockdown from 12:01am, Tuesday 29 June 2021 until 12.01am, Saturday 3 July, 2021. All live tutorials will be held online for students and the Bentley Campus will remain closed until further notice.

Update: 24 June 2021

On the advice of the Chief Health Officer, restrictions in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will ease from 11.59pm Thursday 24 June. The Melbourne Campus is now open, students and staff will be following the health advice provided by the Victorian Government

Update: 2nd June 2021

Amid the current concerns about the variant of the virus, the Victorian Government has extended the lockdown by a further seven days. All live tutorials will continue to be held online for students and the Melbourne Campus will remain closed until further notice.

Update: 27th May 2021

On Thursday 27 May, Metropolitan Melbourne will enter a community lockdown for a period of seven days. This lockdown is due to end at 11.59pm (AEST) on Thursday 3 June 2021. This includes all non-essential workers remaining in their homes. All live tutorials will be held online for students and the Melbourne Campus will be closed during this time.

To see the full range of measures announced, visit the VIC Government website here:

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings

Update: 27th April 2021

Perth and Peel entered a 3-day lockdown from 12.01am, Saturday 24 April 2021. The WA Premier has announced that due to no new cases of community transmission of COVID-19 detected, lockdown rules will be relaxed from 12.01am, Tuesday 27 April 2021. A post-lockdown transition will be in place until 12.01am, Saturday 1 May 2021. All tutorials and assessments in Perth will be held online from Tuesday the 27 April 2021.

To see the full range of measures announced, visit the WA Government website here:

https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/end-of-lockdown-perth-and-peel

Update: 18th February 2021

The VIC Premier has announced that due to no new cases of community transmission of COVID-19 detected, from 11.59pm 17 February 2021 Victoria returns to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions, with some revised conditions.

To see the full range of measures announced, visit the VIC Government website here:
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-summer

Update: 12th February 2021

Due to the snap lockdown in Melbourne, our Melbourne campus will be closed until Thursday 18th February 2021, effective immediately. We will be following the advice provided by the Victorian Government and ask students to please adhere to the strict lockdown regulations.

We are still optimistic about welcoming our new students to Orientation on 22 February 2021 as well as welcoming all students back to campus for the beginning of the semester on 1 March 2021, however we will be guided by the advice provided by the Victorian Government and if the situation changes we will provide further information to you.

Please review your student emails carefully, as we will provide regular updates as they are released.

Further information about EIT’s COVID response can also be found at https://www.eit.edu.au/eit-covid-19-information/

Update: 5th February 2021

The WA Premier has announced that due to no new cases of community transmission of COVID-19 detected, lockdown rules will be relaxed from 6pm Friday, 5 February. The Perth metropolitan area and the Peel region will now be under reduced restrictions until 12.01am on Sunday 14 February.

To see the full range of measures announced, visit the WA Government website here: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/transition-out-of-lockdown-6pm-friday-5-february

Update: 31st January 2021

On Sunday 31st January, the Western Australian government reinstated a community lockdown for a period of five days. This lockdown is due to end at 6pm on Friday, 5th February. This includes all non-essential workers remaining in their homes.

As students are currently on semester break and we encourage you observe the requirements of the lockdown in line with the directions of the WA Government.

For any further enquiries, please contact our Student Services at student.services@eit.edu.au.

Can I travel to and from Australia?

EIT is adhering to the guidelines set by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Further information can be accessed here. We understand that this may cause you some anxiety and wish to reassure you that the EIT family is here to support you.

For any further enquiries, please contact our Student Services at student.services@eit.edu.au.

How is EIT responding to COVID-19?

We are aware that you will be feeling a sense of trepidation because of the presence of the virus, known as COVID-19. As governments around the world monitor and respond to the outbreak, we understand how difficult it is being far from home. We are committed to looking after your safety and have appointed a COVID-19 Task Team who are monitoring the situation very closely.  As an Australian headquartered organisation, we are following the advice provided by the Australian government and its agencies who we believe have taken a proactive and decisive approach in implementing measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

Are EIT campuses open?

Perth, Bentley Campus

The Bentley Campus is open. All live tutorials will be held online for students. If and when the WA government makes further changes in the future, EIT will communicate immediately with students via this website page or HE-OC Student Homepage on Moodle.  The Moodle login can be accessed here

Any On-Campus students who are planning their travels to Perth, will be required to send a copy of their G2G travel pass to student.services@eit.edu.au before travelling and to check any quarantine requirements carefully: www.wa.gov.au (G2G pass is required regardless of current lockdown).

For any further enquiries, please contact our Student Services at student.services@eit.edu.au.

Melbourne Campus

Amid the recent VIC government update, all assessments and tutorials in Melbourne will be held online.

The Melbourne Campus will be closed until further notice. All live tutorials will be held online for students. If and when the VIC government makes further changes in the future, EIT will communicate immediately with students via this website page.

If you are a current on-campus student, all the information you need is available on the HE-OC Student Homepage on Moodle.  The Moodle login can be accessed here.

If you have any questions please contact Student Services student.services@eit.edu.au or HE support hesupport@eit.edu.au.

Who can I ask for help?

As part of the EIT family, please also remember there are many support services available to you. The Australian Government has provided the following infographic summarising the support available to on-campus international students currently in Australia.  You can download it hereOur Student Services team are also here to assist you if you have any concerns. You can contact them at student.services@eit.edu.au.

What should I do to protect myself and others from COVID-19?

It is important to remember to practice good hygiene – cover coughs and sneezes, stay home if you are unwell and washing your hands often.  We urge you to seriously consider avoiding any international travel for the foreseeable future. If you are expecting visitors from overseas or planning a trip home, please let us know your plans by contacting Student Services. It is important to note that if you are travelling or returning to Australia, you may not be able to enter Australia or will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. This applies to all travelers, including Australian citizens.

What information can I access about COVID-19?

Further information for on-campus students regarding COVID-19 can be accessed via the Study in Australia website or the Department of Education, Skills and Employment dedicated COVID19 website.

Further general COVID-19 information from the Australia Government is available as follows:
• To access the Australian Government COVID-19 Whatsapp channel, go to: aus.gov.au/whatsapp
• To access the Australian Government Coronavirus app, search for “Coronavirus Australia” in the Apple App Store and on Google Play
• To access updates from the Australian Department of Health visit their website here.

We will post essential information and updates to our education agent community via our regular channels including this website page, emails and newsletters.

For all general enquiries, please contact our International Education Agent Coordinator, Caroline Mackay +61 401 014 273 or Caroline.Mackay@eit.edu.au.

How is EIT responding to COVID-19?

As members of the global education community, we share a sense of trepidation because of the presence of the virus, known as COVID-19. As governments around the world monitor and respond to the outbreak, we understand you may have experienced disruption in assisting students with their international study goals.  EIT are committed to looking after the safety of our students and have appointed a COVID-19 Task Team who are monitoring the situation very closely.  As an Australian headquartered organisation, we are following the advice provided by the Australian government and its agencies who we believe have taken a proactive and decisive approach in implementing measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

What happens If my student’s visa is granted, but there is a travel restriction for the next intake?

If international and/or interstate border closures are still in place for our next intake, or if other countries have placed a travel ban, we wish to advise you that our students will be able to commence their program of study through our online methodology until it is safe to travel to Australia or physically attend on-campus.

Irrespective of the challenges COVID-19 present us, we have contingency measures in place to ensure we that we will continue to safely deliver our bachelor’s and master’s degrees to our student community.

Can students defer to the following intake if they don’t want to continue with the forthcoming intake?

Yes, this is possible.

How will students be supported while studying in Australia?

We wish to reassure you that all our students can access a wide range of support services when in Australia. Our on-campus students have been contacted to reiterate the support services available to them.

What information can I access about COVID-19?

Further information regarding COVID-19 can be accessed via the Study in Australia website or the Department of Education, Skills and Employment dedicated COVID19 website.

We firmly believe – as with previous crises – that we will emerge stronger and wiser from the experience when it does eventually pass. I believe that we will demonstrate to you – our valued supporters – that we can rise to the occasion and continue to deliver an outstanding educational experience.

We will post essential information and updates to our staff and contractor community via our regular channels including this website page, emails and Teams updates.  For immediate assistance, please contact our HR Manager, Ms Lisa Chisari or Ms Caroline Patterson, our Compliance and Education Manager on +61 8 9321 1702.

How is EIT responding to COVID-19?

We are aware that you will be feeling a sense of trepidation because of the presence of the virus, known as COVID-19. As governments around the world monitor and respond to the outbreak, we understand that you are experiencing disruption in your professional and personal lives.

In order to look after the safety (and long-term success) of all of our valued staff, we have appointed a COVID-19 Task Team and are monitoring the situation very closely.  The team is led by our HR Manager, Ms Lisa Chisari and is ably assisted by Ms Caroline Patterson, our Compliance and Education Manager.  As an Australian headquartered organisation, we are following the advice provided by the Australian government and its agencies who we believe have taken a proactive and decisive approach in implementing measures to reduce the spread of the virus.   Please be reassured that we are here to support you and will send you regular communiques regarding developments via our regular channels including this website page, emails and newsletters.

What happens with COVID-19 escalating in some countries?

Irrespective of the challenges COVID-19 present us, we have contingency measures in place to ensure we that we will continue to safely deliver our professional certificates, diplomas and higher education degrees across the world.

Many you may already work remotely, and we have now implemented measures to allow all EIT staff to work from home should they need to do so.

For those who are working from a campus or office, in the event that we receive advice from the government that everyone must self-isolate and you cannot return to work, you will receive an SMS from EIT advising you that you cannot come to work accompanied by instructions to attend an online meeting/teleconference to receive further information from EIT.

In a time of global volatility, education is a key asset in securing an individual’s future. We can all be satisfied that our students, whether on-campus or online, are well placed to continue with their studies amidst the current turmoil.   We have over 15 years’ experience in delivering our unique, live online methodology and are uniquely placed to support our students and our own learning and development.

What is the EIT travel policy?

  • All work-related travel will not be permitted until further notice.
  • Personal travel is your own decision, please note the following:
  • If you feel even slightly unwell on your return from travel, do not come back to work until you feel 100% better.  If you are situated in Australia and have travelled overseas, you must self-isolate for 14 days before returning to work.
  • If you travel to another country and are forced into quarantine in another country, you can continue to use your annual leave. In these cases, EIT may allow you to go into a negative leave balance, if required.
  • If you contract COVID-19 the standard sick leave policy applies, as it would with any illness.
  • If you are advised to self-isolate at home, but are not unwell, you can work from home. We will need to sight official government documentation informing you to self-isolate.

What should I do to protect myself or what should I do if I become sick?

We encourage you to stay calm and to focus on keeping yourself, your family and workmates healthy and safe.  As members of the EIT community, we also respectfully ask you to demonstrate leadership and assist others if they need it.

For those of you who work on campus or at an EIT office, please do not come to work if you feel unwell in any way.  Or, if you work remotely, please advise your line manager if you cannot work as soon as it is reasonably possible.

It’s important that we prevent the spread of germs by thoroughly washing hands, sneezing/coughing into elbows and staying away from work if you are sick. We also need to stop the spread of inaccurate or ‘sensationalised’ information regarding COVID-19, as this can cause anxiety in some people as well as confusion.

Further details can be accessed here.

We firmly believe – as with previous crises – that we will emerge stronger and wiser from the experience when it does eventually pass. I would like to reiterate to you, our incredible and valued staff, that we can rise to the current challenges and continue to deliver an outstanding educational experience.

Engineering Institute of Technology