Coronavirus

Last Updated
03 Dec 2025 at 11:30am

Charles Sturt University is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students, staff, visitors and communities.

Current requirements

  • Vaccination: There is no general vaccination requirement to attend our campuses or events. However, we strongly recommend staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination (including recommended boosters) and the flu vaccine prior to attending our campuses or events.
  • Placement and specific settings: You may still need to meet vaccination requirements in specific circumstances, such as
    • working in health clinics on campus
    • attending work-integrated learning placements (particularly in science, health or education)
    • entering facilities such as the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn or the Wangaratta Regional Study Centre.
      Evidence of vaccination may be required before you can commence placement or activities in these settings.

What to do if you test positive

If you test positive for COVID-19:

  • Stay home while you have acute symptoms. NSW Health strongly recommends you avoid contact with others until symptoms have gone and avoid high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities for at least 7 days.
  • Tell your contacts — notify household members, your class coordinator or supervisor, and any placement hosts.
  • If you are at higher risk of serious illness (for example, older age or underlying health conditions), seek medical advice promptly. Antiviral medicines may be available and are most effective within 5 days of symptom onset.
  • Use masks if you need to leave home for urgent reasons.
  • Do not attend placement until you have met your host organisation’s requirements.

How we can all help

Together we can reduce the spread of illness on campus and in our communities. Please:

  • Stay home if you are unwell
  • Keep up to date with vaccinations
  • Wear a mask if you wish, or in crowded spaces where distancing isn’t possible
  • Practise good hand hygiene and cough etiquette
  • Use the hand sanitiser provided across our campuses

Campus operations and services

Some campus services may be limited at times due to staff shortages from COVID-19, influenza and other illnesses. Any changes will be communicated as soon as possible via social media and signage on campus, or personalised contact if any appointments or workshops need to be rescheduled.

International students

International students must meet the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act), which include studying at least two-thirds of your subjects on campus.

Specific situations

You’ll continue to have access to all your online resources and set readings even if you need to isolate with COVID-19 or another illness. Let your Subject Coordinator know if you will miss classes.

If you’re too unwell to complete assessments, you should contact your Subject Coordinator in the first instance to request an extension. You may be asked to apply for special consideration, and may need to provide details supporting evidence (e.g. a medical certificate or positive COVID-19 test result).

If you miss work-integrated learning or an intensive (residential) school due to illness, you should also apply for special consideration.

You should let Residence Life know if you test positive to COVID-19 by lodging a report in Protecht. The university will respond on a case-by-case basis, including daily contact to check on your wellbeing. Campus security is available 24/7, and you should follow NSW Health advice for medical assistance.

While recovering on campus, you should minimise use of  shared facilities and wear a mask in common areas where possible. You will need to arrange  your own food, however Residence Life may be able to advise you on delivery of fast food or online orders.

Where appropriate, Residence Life will work with residents to implement risk mitigation, such as extra cleaning, in line with NSW Health guidance.

Charles Sturt University strongly encourages all students to stay up to date with  COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. This remains particularly important for science, education and health students completing placements in the community.

Vaccination requirements may still apply in certain workplaces, such as residential aged care, disability care, schools and early childhood settings. Requirements can differ depending on the state, sector or organisation. Your Faculty Work Integrated Learning team will provide details specific to your placement.

Some host organisations may continue to require vaccination or other health clearances. You must comply with the requirements of your placement site to participate.

If you are unwell or have symptoms, you should not attend your placement. Please notify your Faculty Work Integrated Learning team and your placement supervisor, and follow health advice before returning.

Vaccination is no longer a requirement to leave Australia, but the  Australian Government strongly recommends staying up to date with COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

You should  carry proof of vaccination, as some airlines, program hosts or countries may still require it. Entry requirements vary between destinations, so you must check the rules of the country you are visiting, as well as those of your host organisation.

If you cannot meet the requirements of your host or destination country, you may not be able to participate in your international program.