Staff and researchers - COVID-19 advice

Actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses include:

• Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
• Avoid sharing objects like phones, keyboards and pens, and clean these objects often.
• Do not touch your face
• When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or a tissue – throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is unwell, especially a fever or cough
• If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Call ahead and share any previous travel history with your health care provider
• Practice physical distancing
• Stay home if you’re feeling unwell
• Wear a face mask when you are not able to keep 1.5 metres away from other people or whenever mandatory face masks are required, as per current directions from Queensland Government.
• Get vaccinated – find out about the vaccine, your eligibility and how to book your COVID-19 vaccination.

We’ve prepared a factsheet on ways to help limit the spread of the virus. Read the UQ Safety Note - Hints to protect yourself from transmission (PDF, 523.7 KB). 

See QLD GOVT – How to protect yourself and others.

The regular contract cleaning of approximately 40,000 spaces around campuses is continuing with a focus on all hard surfaces and touch points using paper towels and sanitiser.

Separate teams work in higher-traffic buildings and areas from 9am-5pm sanitising hard surfaces and touch points (e.g. handles, rail, bins, switches, bathrooms, water bubblers, equipment). 

Staff and students can also help by cleaning their work areas. Work practices such as using normal household cleaner to clean commonly touched surfaces such as benches, lab equipment, desks, phones, remote controls, printers, fax machines, computer mice and keyboards (several times per day) help reduce the threat of disease transmission. Cleaning products can be purchased via UQ eMarket. The latest advice is there is no requirement to do 'deep cleans' with disinfectants.

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after cleaning. Hand washing should include the use of regular soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. If soap is not immediately available, use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol content or greater. Remember – DO NOT touch your face when cleaning. Avoid touching your face, hair, and neck as much as you can always.

Managers and Heads of organisational units are responsible for: 

• Ensuring a COVID-19 Local Management Plan (DOCX, 117.8 KB) is completed locally and any outstanding items are actioned as soon as reasonably practicable. 
• Enabling people to take personal responsibility for their own health and safety e.g. mask wearing if people want to.
• Working with vulnerable people to develop a plan to reduce exposure.
• Ensuring staff in local area are maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks when required, practicing good hygiene practices, and staying home if unwell. 

Physical distancing and good hygiene practices are key controls for stopping the spread of COVID-19.

To minimise the risk of the spread of infection through this practice you should implement measures such as:

• Ensure workspaces (desks, chairs, shelves etc.) are cleaned either at the end of the day where only one person has used the workspace, or after each use by a person where multiple people are using the workspace throughout the day.
• Where possible, you should have your own equipment such as keyboards and mice, so they are not shared between people. If sharing equipment is unavoidable, ensure that you have ready access to appropriate cleaning supplies to enable equipment to be thoroughly wiped down or cleaned after use by a person.

If you consider yourself or someone close to you as in a vulnerable group (as defined by Queensland Health), you are encouraged to make contact with your supervisors. 

It is essential that you take the advice of your medical practitioner when looking at reasonably practicable working arrangements. Your local HR and HSW contacts can assist. The COVID website also has the following information – e.g. Local Management Planning Templates (in the Resources section).

• Discuss situation with your manager and contact your HR Advisor to have personal plan developed.
• If possible, get your COVID-19 booster dose as soon as you are eligible.
• Stay home if you’re feeling unwell or awaiting test results for COVID-19. If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
• Stay home until all your symptoms have resolved.
• Practice physical distancing from others and wear a face mask where this is not possible.
• Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Avoid sharing objects like phones, keyboards and pens, and clean these objects often.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is unwell, especially a fever or cough.

If you need further advice for managing working requests for vulnerable workers in your team or if you are a vulnerable worker and need advice you can contact the AskHR on +61 7 3365 2623 or email askhr@uq.edu.au.

The following is a summary of key recommendations: 

• Maintain physical distancing as per current directions from Queensland Government.
• Ensure you check in using the QLD COVID Check-in App when required.
• Avoid physical contact – no handshaking. 
• Keep meetings as short as possible. 
• Avoid sharing equipment including pens, keyboards, mice, etc. 
• Remember it is essential to practise impeccable hand and respiratory hygiene – avoid touching your face. 
• Keep a record of attendance.
• And remember, you should not be at work if you feel ill. 
• Wear a face mask when unable to maintain physical distancing.

No. You must not attend campus or visit any UQ facility while waiting for COVID-19 test results.  You are required to self-isolate at home while you wait for test results which may take from one to several days.

If you use your own phones or internet for work purposes, you may be able to claim a deduction if you:

• Paid for these costs and
• Have records to support your claims.

If you use your phone for internet for both work and private use, you will need to work out the percentage that reasonably relates to your work use.

Further details can be found on the Australian Taxation Office | Home office expenses calculator.

You must discuss your request with your supervisor. Your supervisor will need to consider your request and the impact on the organisational unit's operations.

Many professional staff at UQ must work within a standard spread of hours. If you initiate a change to your work hours or days beyond the spread of hours applicable to your role under The University of Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2018-2021, your new arrangement will be considered ordinary time and paid at ordinary rates (penalty rates are not applicable).

Changing your work hours, days or work pattern may impact your leave entitlements. For more information:

• talk to your HR Client Services team
• read the Hours of Work and Flexible Work Arrangements Policies [5.55].

Instructions for a supervisor to complete a change of hours, days or work pattern request can be found here. 

If you are a UQ staff member and are impacted by any of the restrictions please advise your supervisor, who will in turn will work with you to provide the necessary support.

Our teams are well-placed to provide support and advice, and put in place all necessary arrangements.

You should try to have regular conversations with your supervisor about any COVID-19 related questions you may have.

For general COVID-19 staff related questions, you can call HR on +61 (07) 3365 2623 or email askhr@uq.edu.au.

If a member of staff has been diagnosed, or contacted by Queensland Health and asked to self-isolate, email askhr@uq.edu.au or call HR on +61 (07) 3365 2623.

For students, please contact Student Services +61 (07) 3365 1704 or toll free within Australia: 1800 512 391.

Be mindful that various conditions can produce cold or flu-like symptoms. People can have normal cold and flu viruses at any time.

It is reasonable to check on the welfare of that person and ensure that they are aware of the latest health advice.

Students: If a student presents as unwell and has cold and flu-like symptoms, their supervisor should ask them to contact UQ Health Care or their preferred medical practitioner, making sure to call ahead to explain their symptoms prior to attending in person.

Staff/Colleague: It is reasonable to check on the welfare of a colleague and ensure that they are aware of the latest health advice. If a colleague presents as unwell at work and has cold and flu-like symptoms, their supervisor should ask them to contact their medical practitioner (or UQ Health Care) for advice on an appropriate course of action, prior to physically attending.

Importantly, if anyone feels unwell and has the onset of any cold or flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home and not attend campus. This is important to facilitate a quick recovery for them, and it is also important for their colleagues and friends whose health should be protected.

A Manager’s Toolkit has been developed to provide UQ Managers with a range of information, support and resources for them and the teams they manage.  Access it here. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many challenges for families. These Parenting in a Pandemic resources are designed to help families deal with the unique challenges and emotional consequences of parenting in stressful times. There are downloadable guides and tips for parents of pre-teens, teenagers, and children with developmental disabilities, and links to a podcast series and TV series. These resources are designed to help parents to support their children through the changes to daily life that they are facing, and also to help parents to look after themselves and manage stress, anxiety and relationship tensions during this difficult time. Find more info here.

It is normal to experience some worry or concern, but if those feelings start to affect your mental or physical wellbeing we recommend you seek support from a health professional. We’ve prepared a resource (PDF, 70.4 KB) to help you identify if you need help; find support, and get tips for managing stress and anxiety. Find more on our COVID-19 mental health resources page.

For UQ staff and their immediate families, free, confidential counseling and support are available through Benestar, UQ’s Employee Assistance Program. You may also wish to discuss your concerns with your immediate supervisor or local Human Resources contact.

UQ students, feel free to contact Student Services:  student.services@uq.edu.au | +61 (07) 3365 1704 | Australia toll free: 1800 512 391.

Other helpful strategies may include:

• Access accurate information from reliable sources such as the UQ COVID-19 web page, Queensland Health or Commonwealth Department of Health. 
• Avoid relying on unofficial social media posts! Remember to take a break from the news or social media if you are starting to feel overwhelmed.
• Maintain your usual routine and activities, where possible and appropriate.
• Stay connected with others.
• Reach out for support if you need it.

If you have students going on placement, you should be prepared for any possible impacts in the event of changing health advice. Visit the Staff WIL website for further information and supporting resources.

Domestic or interstate placements, work experience or field trips, where the student will be 50km or more away from their usual place of residence and where they will need overnight accommodation (minimum of one night) must be approved by Head of School or equivalent.

Students engaging in these activities must complete the Student Travel Declaration to ensure that they understand their responsibilities when travelling, and the implications of COVID-19 on UQ insurances. 

Student Traveller Declaration process for staff:

1. Provide the Student Enrichment and Employability Development team with a list of students that will be undertaking placements or field trips more than 50kms from their usual place of residence. The list should include students undertaking placements as part of a course requirement, as well as those undertaking placement for program milestone requirements.
2. Faculties or Schools request students to complete the online Traveller Declaration. 
3. The Student Enrichment and Employability Development team will provide Faculties and the Graduate School with a list of students who have NOT completed the Declaration on a weekly basis (Monday 5pm). Please advise employability@uq.edu.au who this list should be sent to.
4. Faculties and Schools are able to follow up with students who have not submitted a fully completed Declaration.
5. Schools / Faculty will then manage ISOS registration for individual placements, as currently is the case.

By encouraging students to complete this Declaration we ensure that our students are aware of their responsibilities at this time, as well as the support provided by UQ, and reiterate the requirement to complete the ISOS registration for each instance of a placement involving travel.

If you have any questions regarding this process contact employability@uq.edu.au

Head to the Library COVID-19 updates page for more information. 

The UQ Graduate School has communicated with advisors on possible options around gaining permission to travel to Australia, criteria for exceptional circumstances where remote commencement may be possible, and options for consideration in future scholarship rounds.

This advice and FAQs relating to this process are available on our commencements COVID-19 response page [login required]. If unsure, please contact graduateschool@uq.edu.au .