AEU lobbies for education professionals to have priority access to COVID vaccination

The Australian Education Union (AEU) is calling on the Federal Government to make the education workforce a priority for COVID-19 vaccination, saying that those who are working closely with children and families are frontline workers, and need to be protected. 

“Teachers and education support personnel in early childhood settings, schools and TAFEs are frontline workers, providing an essential service in our community; the education of our children and young people,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.

The AEU has previously written to the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt calling for teachers, principals and support staff across all education settings, including early childhood, to be included in the COVID-19 vaccination priority groups.

“Education workers around the country are ready to roll up their sleeves and get the jab because they know it’s the best way to protect themselves and their communities,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“It is proper that vulnerable groups have been prioritised for vaccination,” she added.

“However, the Federal Government must now make the timetable for vaccinating education staff clear…this would help protect staff, (children) and families from the risks of contracting COVID-19 and mitigate the risk of further closures.”

Education professionals, she continued, “are dedicated professionals. They will continue to do the job the community rightly asks them to do. In return, the Federal Government must move to immediately ensure principals, teachers and support staff are as safe as possible from COVID-19 by prioritising their vaccination.”