At the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, we pride ourselves on the incredible diversity and reach that our network has across regional, remote and rural communities and beyond.
As we approach 2022 and easing COVID-19 restrictions, we look forward to bringing this network together again. It is our obligation to make interactions as safe as possible and ensure that we give ourselves the best chance to continue our vital work across the country and limit further disruptions to program delivery.
We now require all our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s the most effective way to keep our staff and the people we interact with safe.
Just like our staff, our partners, associates, contractors and program participants have a role to play in creating safe programs and workplaces. Therefore, from 13 December 2021 onwards, we will require program participants, associates, partners and contractors wishing to attend our workplace or in-person programs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
We will request to view evidence of your full vaccination or a formal exemption prior to engaging with our programs in person. If you hold a formal exemption, we will assess your in-person interaction on a case-by-case basis.
What this means for current partners, associates and contractors
We will work with you to update your vaccination status and documentation as required. If you aren’t fully vaccinated or choose not to provide evidence of full vaccination, we will wherever possible, enable remote program participation.
What this means for current applicants and participants
We will work with you to update your vaccination status. If you applied for a program prior to 13 December 2021 and are not fully vaccinated or choose not to provide evidence of full vaccination, we will wherever possible enable remote program participation.
Visitors and volunteers, including guest speakers, caterers and venue staff wishing to attend workplaces and in-person programs are exempt from the requirements. Our staff will conduct an onsite risk assessment based on the location of the in-person engagement, the type of activities carried out and the risk matrix of other program participants.
As part of this, visitors and volunteers may be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to the in-person engagement.
Our new COVID-19 Policy ensures that our work doesn’t put vulnerable people and communities at risk of COVID-19. This particularly relates to our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities. The policy also gives us the best chance to continue our vital work across the country and limit disruptions to program delivery.
State and federal government health orders override this policy. For any questions or concerns with this policy, email info@rural-leaders.org.au
