All students should be aware that, commencing immediately, no overseas business travel for staff or students will proceed with effect from today, Friday 6 March, even if a booking has been approved, or a ticket has been issued.
This decision has been made in the best interests of the Curtin community, staff, students and visitors to campus.
In addition, we have been briefed by our insurer that they will no longer cover Curtin travellers for the impact of coronavirus. We will review this decision in four weeks time, on April 3.
Exceptions for “essential” travel may be considered, but will require the approval of the Provost or Chief Operating Officer.
Students and staff currently travelling overseas on Curtin business may be recalled to Australia on a case by case basis. Students in Italy are now being brought back to Australia as the COVID-19 situation in that country is worsening.
We have invoked our full Critical Incident Management Team and Pandemic Plan which you can access online. This is in response to this escalating situation and whilst the situation remains fluid, we are taking a cautious approach.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced new travel restrictions and other measures to protect the community from COVID-19:
- Foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents of Australia) who are in South Korea on or after 5 March 2020 will not be allowed to enter Australia for 14 days from the time they have left or transited through South Korea
- Australian citizens and permanent residents and their immediate family members will still be able to enter Australia, and will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days from the day they left South Korea.
- The current travel restrictions regarding mainland China and Iran will continue until Saturday 14 March 2020.
The Government has also announced enhanced health screening and temperature testing arrangements for people arriving from Italy.
If you have any questions or concerns about these arrangements, please discuss them with your line manager and Executive Manager. Curtin’s Travel Team will contact travellers to make the necessary changes to travel arrangements.
They may also be contacted directly by email. This email address is closely monitored and the Travel Team will respond to queries on a priority basis.
