Health Information

Message from - Northam COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Administration

 

It’s come to our attention there is confusion in the community regarding when confirmed COVID-19 Cases can leave isolation.

 

We ask for your help to share the messages highlighted:

I have tested positive for COVID-19

This protocol will help you know when and how long you need to isolate for if you are COVID-19 positive.

What to do if you are a confirmed positive case:

  • Isolate at home for 7 days
  • If you have no symptoms after 7 days, then no further test is required, and you can stop isolating
  • If you have symptoms on day 7, remain in isolation until those symptoms clear or get clearance from a medical professional before leaving isolation

Important: If you return a positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), you must register your result (external link) with the Department of Health.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will receive an SMS from WA Health. There is a link in the SMS that will take you to a web page with more information and a number of questions.

You do not need a negative COVID-19 result to leave isolation and go back to work if you have completed 7 days of isolation since testing positive, and no longer have symptoms.

A person may still test positive after the 7 days because they can shed the dead virus. They are not contagious.

 

This information has been taken directly from: COVID-19 Coronavirus: What to do if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact (www.wa.gov.au)

(Attached is a visual guide depicting these rules)

 

In addition attached is a guide for workplaces which states on page 5: Workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 can return to work when they have completed their required isolation period and their acute respiratory symptoms have resolved. Evidence of a negative test or a clearance certificate is not required and are not provided by a COVID testing clinic.

 

If you could please help by sharing this information with your community in any capacity you have – that would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thank you!

 

Kind regards,

 

Zoe Jenkin

Northam COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Administration

WA Country Health Service – Wheatbelt

Northam Health Service – Ambulatory Care Unit, Robinson Street, NORTHAM, WA  6401

PO Box 312,  NORTHAM WA 6401

Email: Zoe.Jenkin@health.wa.gov.au

 

 

“I respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land that we are working on.”

 

School Year 2022

Years 7 – 12

Term 1

COVID-19 vaccination dose 1 or 2

 

Encourage all students to access COVID-19 vaccinations at local health services. School in-reach may be organised depending on local circumstances, need and capacity.

 

Year 7

Year 10

Term 2 & 3

Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine and

Human papillomavirus vaccine (dose 1)

 

Early as possible in Term 2

Meningococcal vaccine

Term 4

Human papillomavirus vaccine (dose 2)

Catch-up vaccinations

Catch-up vaccinations

Notes

  • Human papillomavirus vaccinations dose 1 and 2 must be six months apart.
  • If plans need to change due to the pandemic and associated issues, we will let you know.

About the vaccines

  • The diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccination is a booster dose for vaccinations received in early childhood.
  • The meningococcal vaccination (Men ACWY) protects against meningococcal disease, a bacterial infection that effects the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. This life-threatening disease is not common but can be easily spread. Older teens have some of the highest rates of infection.
  • The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination protects against 90% of cervical cancers and genital warts.
  • The COVID-19 vaccination protects against becoming severely ill or dying if they contract COVID-19.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine is scientifically proven to be safe and effective. It has been approved for use for all Australians aged 5 years and over.
  • 11-year-old students cannot be given COVID-19 vaccination at school. They must be referred to a GP or community clinic for a Paediatric Pfizer vaccine.

All vaccines must be approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which monitors the safety of medicines in Australia.

Visit healthywa.wa.gov.au/immunisation for more information.


 

Please find information below on free COVID-19 tests for every WA household.

COVID-19 coronavirus: WA free RAT program (www.wa.gov.au)

COVID-19: Changes to gatherings of students and staff at school sites

The Chief Health Officer has advised that schools should limit in-school gatherings of students and staff to class groups or small groups within a year level.  This is to minimise the number of students or staff impacted by the presence of a positive case of COVID-19.  

At this stage, it is not yet necessary for schools to postpone or cancel infrequent special events, such as interschool carnivals, camps, or school balls.  Further public health measures may be stepped up in line with high caseloads in the community which WA is not yet experiencing.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

You may have heard that from 6.00pm, Thursday 27 January 2022, mask-wearing is now required at all indoor public settings in our region. Further details are available at wa.gov.au.
This means our staff and students will now need to wear masks indoors at school, including getting to school on public transport or rideshare.
Students are expected to bring their own mask. However, I do understand that this is a new requirement and we will have spare masks for students who arrive without one.
I want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will continue to follow the latest WA Health advice at healthywa.wa.gov.au.
Thank you for your understanding and support to help keep our school COVID-19 safe. I look forward to welcoming our students when our school opens on Monday 31 January.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 9621 6300.
Please click on the below link to view the Back to School factsheet for parents.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

 

Lifeline - Self Harm Fact Sheet

Lifeline - Panic Attacks Tool Kit

Lifeline - Stress and Overwhelmed Fact Sheet

Lifeline - Depression Fact Sheet

Lifeline - Anxiety Fact Sheet

Beyond Blue - Anxiety and Depression Check List

Northam Senior High School is participating in a program to transport eligible children to a local COVID-19 community vaccination clinic. This is an important initiative to increase the convenience of COVID-19 vaccination. This initiative is optional. 

 

If you want your child/ren to participate in the school community vaccination clinic, here is what to do:

  1. Complete and sign the consent form for every student being vaccinated. This form will be sent home with students today. A copy of the consent form is also attached to this notice. All sections of the consent form must be completed Parent Information and Consent Form . Consent forms must be returned to school by Thursday 28th October.
  2. It is also important that parents / legal guardians register their child/ren in VaccinateWA . This will ensure that the child’s vaccination record will be received by the Australian Immunisation Register. You can find information about registering your child at https://vaccinatewa.health.wa.gov.au/s/login/SelfRegister.

    Helpful Information

    If you require additional information about COVID-19 vaccination, we encourage you to review the following sites or call 13COVID.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    COVID-19 Vaccines; Is it true

    Get the facts on the COVID-19 vaccine

For more information about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities visit https://rollup.wa.gov.au/ 

Parents and guardians can elect to take their child/ren to GPs, pharmacies or state community vaccination clinics in their own time. 


As you may have heard, all Western Australians aged 12 to 15 are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health has also announced it is offering allocated times for school students aged 16 years and over and school-based staff to access WA Health clinics.
More information about clinic locations can be found on the
HealthyWA website.

Please find attached a letter from the Chief Health Officer, providing details about the clinics, including information about consent.

If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinating your child, please visit the HealthyWA website.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students, staff and community safe.

Chief Health Officer Letter

 

COVID-19 Update

 

20 September 2021

As you may have heard, all Western Australians aged 12 to 15 are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health has also announced it is offering allocated times for school students aged 16 years and over and school-based staff to access WA Health clinics.

More information about clinic locations can be found on the HealthyWA website.

Please find attached a letter from the Chief Health Officer, providing details about the clinics, including information about consent.

If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinating your child, please visit the HealthyWA website.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students, staff and community safe.

Chief Heath Officer Letter

 

3 September 2021

COVID-19 in Western Australia daily snapshot

View public exposure site locations and find out where to get tested.

Remember to:

  • practise physical distancing (keep at least 1.5 metres or two arms lengths from each other)
  • practise good personal hygiene (wash hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitiser and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use your elbow)
  • stay home if unwell and if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms get tested for COVID-19
  • use the SafeWA app (external site)
  • wear a face mask in certain settings. Masks are not necessary for children under 12.

If you need help with translating the information on these sites, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Call the coronavirus (COVID-19) information helpline on 13 COVID (13 26843). (Interstate callers: 1800 595 206. International callers: +61 8 9118 3100.)

What do I need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine?
How can I protect myself (incl. face masks) against COVID-19?
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Who is most at risk of COVID-19?
Arrivals into Western Australia
What is self-isolation and self-quarantine?
What do I need to know about testing?
Health and wellbeing during COVID-19
What locations have been visited by confirmed cases?
Frequently asked questions

Further information, advice and resources

 

From 12.01am on Tuesday, 29 June 2021 all persons who live in the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region entered a minimum four-day lockdown to limit any potential spread of COVID-19. All other schools continue using the Phase 5 Operating Guidelines.

 

24 June 2021

The COVID-19 Ikon content collection is current at all times and the most reliable source of truth.

For Information

Phase 5 of the COVID-19 roadmap

WA transitioned to Phase 5 of the COVID-19 roadmap from 12.01am Wednesday, 23 June. This resulted in the removal of the two square metre rule for businesses and events, as well as the capacity limits for events or venues.

Phase 5 Operating Guidelines and FAQs for schools and residential facilities are available on Ikon.

Enhanced cleaning for Term 3

Additional funding for enhanced COVID-19 cleaning will be provided in Term 3, 2021 in line with the State’s transition to Phase 5. Schools should refer to Ikon for the Phase 5 enhanced cleaning requirements.

The Term 3 funding for additional cleaning time will provide a salary allocation for outside school hours cleaning plus an allocation for cleaning playgrounds and/or play areas where applicable. An additional cash allocation for cleaning products will also be provided. Further information about Term 3 funding is now available on Ikon: Use your Term 3 Coronavirus (COVID-19) additional cleaning allocations.

The following Ikon services will be updated over the next few days to assist you in appointing fixed term cleaners. Please check these services next week before appointing cleaning staff for Term 3, 2021:

  • Increase cleaning staff during COVID-19.
  • Clean schools and worksites during COVID-19.The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on minimising the potential risk of COVID-19 in schools no longer specifically refers to food.July school holidays – Interstate travelIf a staff member travels, they should continue to monitor the WA.gov.au website for any changes to travel directions during the holidays and ring the G2G helpline on 13 26843 to confirm their pass is valid before returning to WA.
  • Staff should also consider the following:
  • With the holidays approaching, people will be making decisions about whether to travel interstate. Any Department staff who are considering interstate travel are strongly encouraged to visit the WA.gov.au website regarding the process for re-entry into Western Australia, including the application for a G2G Pass prior to departure.
  • Public Health has recently advised that the sharing of food in schools is acceptable provided it is done in a COVID safe way. Please refer to updated Hospitality advice on Ikon for more information.
  • Hospitality
  • When travelling to another state or territory, travellers are required to abide by any travel conditions upon their arrival.
  • Staff will be required to access their existing leave entitlements if they are unable to return to WA when scheduled due to travel restrictions, and are not available to start the school term. Leave options for people in this situation are available on Manage Workforce Absences Due to COVID-19 on Ikon. Enquiries regarding leave due to COVID-19 can also be emailed to labourrelations.queries@education.wa.edu.au.
  • Upon arrival in WA, staff will be required to follow any instructions regarding quarantine requirements as they apply at that time.

We recommend staff consider the implications of interstate travel during the student vacation time prior to travel.

COVID-19 vaccination rollout

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Western Australia. Eligibility to receive the vaccine is based on population groups, as outlined on Healthy WA website. If you are unsure, check your eligibility through the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

Controlled interstate border arrangements

Western Australia has introduced a hard border with New South Wales following the evolving
COVID-19 situation and outbreak. NSW transitioned from a 'very low risk' state to ‘medium risk’ under WA’s controlled border, from 11.00am, Wednesday 23 June. Travel from NSW is no longer permitted unless you are an exempt traveller.

Public health advice has also been issued for returned travellers from New Zealand and Queensland.

It is important to note that close contacts of a person in self-quarantine (due to testing for COVID-19 or travel) are still able to go to work or school. However, if the person in quarantine develops symptoms and requires a COVID-19 test, their close contacts may need to self-quarantine once the results of the person’s test is known.

­

COVID-19 Support Contacts

COVID-19 Support Team

coronavirussupport@education.wa.edu.au

Phone support

1800 882 345

 

Curriculum/Connected Learning

connectedlearning@education.wa.edu.au

Phone support (8am – 4pm weekdays)

9413 3394

 

Parent Helpline

1800 882 345

 

Curriculum/Connected Learning

COVID19.studentwellbeing@education.wa.edu.au

Phone support

9402 6428

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

No Energy Drinks

 

 

Research from the Telethon Kids Institute shows that young people who consume energy drinks suffer negative health effects.

These include heart palpitations, trouble sleeping or insomnia, headaches and upset stomachs.

These drinks contain a potent source of caffeine, high levels of sugar, sodium and herbal stimulants.

Some young people require medical assistance after consuming these drinks.

In order to keep our students safe and well, Northam SHS is banning energy drinks.

Students who have energy drinks on school grounds are required to hand then to a teacher or put them in the bin.

We ask for your support by not purchasing these drinks for your child and encouraging your child to not purchase them for school.