After an extra week of school holidays, prep to year 10 students in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire returned to flexible and remote learning on Monday, 20 July 2020. Year 11 and 12 students, as well as year 10 students undertaking VCE or VET/VCAL subjects and government specialist school students returned to school for Term 3 on Monday, 13 July 2020. This arrangement will continue until at least 19 August.
As was the case during Term Two, we recognise that many of our employees at Monash Health perform key frontline roles that cannot be carried out at home, and therefore the changes to the school operations will have an impact. For others, there may be more flexibility with the ability to continue their duties at home. Please read the information below carefully so that you understand the support available and your leave entitlements during this time.
Onsite supervision will be available for students when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made – including children whose parents cannot work from home, vulnerable children and children with a disability. Health care workers can send their children to school for supervised online learning if you cannot work from home.
We may be able to consider working from home arrangements if they are practical and appropriate.
If you are unable to work your full shift because a before or after-school care program is closed, you may take your accrued annual leave. You may also wish to apply for flexible working arrangements per your Enterprise Agreement.
If your children are learning at home, you may choose to speak to your manager about temporary, flexible working arrangements to help you balance work with your children’s school arrangements. For example, arrangements could include temporary changes to your work hours, such as working in blocks, working shorter hours over more days, or reducing your hours.
Special leave is available in limited circumstances only. Special leave does not apply where:
- Your child or children have access to on-site learning at their school, but you choose not to send them to school. You should speak to your manager about taking annual leave or long service leave.
- Another member of your household is present to care for your child or children.
- It is the school holidays.
Please speak to your manager to discuss your specific situation and ways you can be supported during this time.
Find learning from home support from the Department of Education and Training here.