We support the ambition to get people vaccinated as soon as possible but we are concerned that without paid time off many higher education workers will be left struggling to find time to get vaccinated on weekends and before/after work.

At the time of writing, only 26% of the population over the age of 15 is vaccinated. A key factor in lifting Australia’s low rate of vaccination will be whether we overcome the difficulties facing working people who want to be vaccinated.

Our casual colleagues do not have access to paid sick leave, they are required to get the vaccination on their own time. If the only appointment they can get is at a time when they would have been working, they lose pay. No staff member should have to choose between getting vaccinated and paying the bills.

We appreciate the efforts universities have made to keep staff safe during the pandemic. But with the threat of lockdowns continuing throughout 2021 in NSW, now is the time to provide all NSW university staff, including casual staff, with best practice entitlements of up to two days paid authorised absence for each jab so that they can be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The benefits of doing so are immense. COVID-19 is a key risk to the University. By providing paid time to get vaccinated, you would be sending a message to staff that you care about their wellbeing. You would also be sending a powerful message to the community that we are in this together, setting an example for other organisations.