Charles Sturt University, TAFE NSW prepare crisis plans amid COVID-19 fears

As of March 3, nine cases of COVID-19 had been reported in NSW, forcing education centres like Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW campuses to have their crisis plans ready to activate.

Complete closure of on-campus facilities is a possibility for Charles Sturt, including its Wagga campus, should the virus spread to the Riverina.

"In the event of an outbreak, we are prepared for additional cleaning, self-isolation and to close residences, or if necessary an entire campus," Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said.

"Our staff will also have the ability to work from home if required."

Professor Vann said CSU has mechanisms in place to "ensure continuity for our students and staff across all of our campus locations should a COVID-19 outbreak occur".

"As an experienced provider of online learning, we will enable our students to switch to online modes if face-to-face is not available," he said.

"We have student support services and processes to request extensions or special consideration.

"As a multi-campus university it is really important to us that we have the mechanisms in place to ensure continuity for our students and staff."

The university has also considered the potential for residences to be required by health services in the instance they are needed by the community, according to Professor Vann.

Charles Sturt has deployed extra sanitiser stations and communications on campus to encourage hand hygiene.

TAFE NSW has also "stood up" its crisis management team to finalise a plan addressing the potential for a viral outbreak, which would effect its Wagga campus students and staff.

"TAFE NSW has developed a range of measures in consultation with NSW Health and relevant Commonwealth agencies which are leading the national response," a TAFE NSW spokesperson said.

"These measures are being implemented in line with the latest advice from health authorities, and are aimed at maintaining the safe, orderly operation of TAFE NSW campuses, and providing important information to students and stakeholders."

The spokesperson said an extended period of disruption to operations would see it "assess whether impacts can be minimised through changes to delivery".

"The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is the highest priority for TAFE NSW," the spokesperson said.