COVID-19 student communication

As you will be aware, the Springfield and Ipswich campuses of the University of Southern Queensland are closed until the end of the current lockdown in Southeast Queensland.

Due to the heightened restrictions of the current lockdown, this means that only essential personnel are allowed on campus, and that no one can attend campus at Springfield or Ipswich for any reason unless it is deemed to be critical and essential work. I understand this may create difficulties for some of you who may have left important work items on campus, or who have experimental work that you wish to complete. However, for the duration of this lockdown people cannot attend campus to collect any items or conduct experimental work.

There may be some extraordinary situations that require attendance on campus, in which there is a critical piece of equipment or an experiment that needs attention for health and safety reasons, or to protect an expensive item of equipment. If you believe that there is a need to attend to critical work on campus, then you will need to make a request for approval to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation). You will not be allowed on campus unless your request has been approved and the USQ Security team has been advised by me of this approval and the justification for your attendance on campus. Your visit will then need to be arranged with USQ Security prior to attending campus, otherwise you will not be permitted onto the grounds.

Please remember, as per the current QLD Health directive, it is not permitted to travel more than 10km from your home during this lockdown, so you may need to demonstrate a need to travel to conduct essential work to the police, not just to our USQ Security staff.

This is a difficult time for everyone in the affected areas, and more broadly, and the University will seek to support you wherever possible, and to ensure that your progress in your degree is not significantly or adversely impacted. USQ offers a range of support services for students and I encourage you to access these. And, of course, you can contact the Graduate Research School team for further advice about how to manage your candidature and your personal circumstances during this challenging time.

Yours sincerely

Professor John Bell
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

Following the announcement from the Queensland Government this morning, Monday, 2 August, 2021, the lockdown affecting 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) is extended through to 4.00PM, Sunday, 8 August 2021. This includes our Springfield and Ipswich campuses.

This means that our Springfield and Ipswich campuses are closed for the duration of the lockdown, and only Campus Security Officers will be permitted on campus.

This lockdown applies to anyone, including members of the same household, who have been in any of the LGAs since 1:00AM, Saturday, 31 July 2021.

This means that if you, or a member of your household, have been in any one of the 11 LGAs since 1.00AM Saturday morning, which includes Brisbane, Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley, the lockdown restrictions also apply to you and you will also be unable to attend the Toowoomba campus.

In addition, if you have been in one of these LGAs at any time since 1.00AM, Tuesday 29 June 2021, requirements for wearing face masks have changed. Find out more on the updated mask requirements.

On-campus learning activities at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich

As stated previously, scheduled on-campus learning activities at our Springfield and Ipswich campuses will be transitioned to online for the duration of the lockdown. Some Toowoomba learning activities will also move online due to teaching staff being affected by the lockdown.

Arrangements for practical laboratory sessions, residential schools, and other impacted learning activities will be communicated to you as required through StudyDesk by the teaching staff for your individual courses or via your student email.

Students should also follow any additional advice received from their placement provider, including students currently on placement.

On-campus facilities and services at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich

The USQ Ipswich and USQ Springfield campuses will be closed for the duration of the lockdown period.

The USQ Library is closed across both USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich campuses, however will still be providing an online service during normal library operating hours.

The inter-campus shuttle buses will not operate during the lockdown period.

Only Security will be on the Springfield and Ipswich campuses during the lockdown due to the heightened restrictions in this lockdown period. These staff will be required to wear masks and follow Queensland Health directives.

Stay updated

Please ensure that you keep checking your student email (UMail) and the Queensland Government Health website for information. Please also keep checking the list of contract tracing sites.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

You can also complete the  online form to help our USQ support team understand your situation and provide the best possible support.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

We appreciate your understanding and ongoing flexibility during the current situation.

Please continue to look after one another and if you have any symptoms at all, get tested and follow the directions of Queensland Health. 

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the announcement from Queensland Government this morning, a three-day lockdown will apply to a number of local government areas (LGAs) in Queensland from 4.00PM today, 31 July 2021. This includes our Springfield and Ipswich campuses.

The lockdown will apply to anyone who has been in any of the LGAs since 1:00AM today, 31 July 2021, and will be in place until at least 4:00PM on Tuesday.

This means that if you have been in any one of the 11 Local Government areas since 1.00am Saturday morning, 31 July 2021, which includes Brisbane, Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley, the lockdown restrictions also apply to you and you will also be unable to attend the Toowoomba campus.

On-campus learning activities at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich

 Scheduled on-campus learning activities at our Springfield and Ipswich campuses will be transitioned to online for the duration of the lockdown.

Arrangements for practical laboratory sessions and other impacted learning activities will be communicated to you as required through StudyDesk by the teaching staff for your individual courses. Please note that some Toowoomba classes may be impacted as a result of this.

Students should also follow any additional advice received from their placement provider, including students currently on placement.

On-campus facilities and services at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich

The USQ Library is now closed across both USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich campuses, however will still be providing an online service during normal library operating hours.

The inter-campus shuttle buses will not operate during the lockdown period.

Only Security will be on the Springfield and Ipswich campuses during the lockdown due to the heightened restrictions in this lockdown period. These staff will be required to wear masks and follow Queensland Health directives.

Stay updated

We will continue to keep you informed as changes occur. Please ensure that you keep checking your student email (UMail) and the Queensland Government Health website for the latest information and updates.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Thank you for your cooperation today as we swiftly moved to close the campus as a precautionary measure to enable cleaning to be completed.

Please stay safe and continue to look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

The Springfield campus will reopen tomorrow, Saturday, 31 July 2021.

The precautionary cleaning of the campus will be completed by the end of today.

Over the weekend, the USQ Library and gym will be open during their usual operating hours and normal university activity will return Monday, 2 August 2021.

Please remember to follow Queensland Health guidelines and wear masks when on campus in Springfield or Ipswich in support of the current restrictions in our local government area.

Please remember if you have any symptoms at all, get tested and immediately isolate until a negative result is received.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Thank you for your cooperation today as we swiftly moved to close the campus as a precautionary measure to enable cleaning to be completed.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

The University will be closing the Springfield campus from 10.30am Friday 30 July 2021 following the announcement from the Queensland Government this morning that a student at Indooroopilly State High School has tested positive to COVID-19.  

Members of our Springfield University community were engaged with the school this week and as a precaution we will be closing the campus until Monday morning. This closure will enable a precautionary clean of the campus while we await further information from the Queensland Government.

If you have used the shuttle service to leave or go to Springfield campus and need this service to return to your usual destination, please contact Campus Security to discuss arrangements.

The USQ Library remains open online, and on the Toowoomba and Ipswich campuses. For more information about available services visit the Library website.

Only USQ Security will be on the Springfield campuses during this closure and they will be required to wear masks and follow Queensland Health guidelines.

We will continue to keep you informed as changes occur. Please ensure that you keep checking your student email and the Queensland Government website for the latest advice.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Please stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Yesterday the Queensland Government updated their announcement regarding, continued mask requirements for South East Queensland local government areas. All staff and students from these affected areas attending Toowoomba campus, Mt Kent or Stanthorpe must wear a face mask when visiting - except when able to comfortably distance from others and while eating/drinking.

A reminder that to keep our regional community safe, Queensland Health requires any travellers from the Toowoomba campus, Stanthorpe or Mt Kent who have been in South East Queensland local government areas since 29 June 2021, to wear a mask for the duration of the public health direction - even when they return to Toowoomba or other local government areas. The direction is set to ease Friday 30 July 2021.

Don’t forget that it is a requirement to check in when visiting any USQ campus. You can check in using the Check In Qld app and scanning the QR codes available around the campuses or by manually checking in at iconnect. Find out more about the Check In Qld app and their privacy policy via the Check In Qld app website FAQs.
Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to keeping our University community safe.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

As per Queensland Government direction, from 1.00AM Friday, 9 July 2021, the Check in Qld app will be mandatory for a number of new sectors including universities.

In preparation, all persons entering a USQ location as of today, Monday, 5 July 2021, are required to use the Check in Qld app.

There will be a unique QR code for each USQ location so please check in again as you move between Toowoomba, Springfield, and Ipswich campuses, as well as Mt Kent Observatory and the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe.

You are required to check in once per visit when you arrive to each location.

By using the Check in Qld app you will be:

• able to check in without having to enter your details each time
• helping make contact tracing faster, more reliable and complete.

Information about how the department collects, stores, uses and discloses your personal information can be found in the privacy policy which is also linked from the privacy policy section of the app.

Signage with the respective QR code will be readily available at each USQ location.

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

Thank you for helping to keep our campuses safe.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the Government announcement, lockdown restrictions will be lifting at 6.00PM today, Friday, 2 July 2021, at our Springfield and Ipswich campuses.

For the local government areas no longer affected by the latest lockdown, including our Springfield and Ipswich campuses, additional measures, including the wearing of masks, remain in place for 14 days until 5.59PM on Friday, 16 July 2021.

Lockdown restrictions for City of Brisbane and Moreton Bay region Local Government areas are extended until 6.00PM Saturday, 3 July 2021.

Mask requirements at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich

You will still be required to wear a mask when visiting our Springfield and Ipswich campuses as per Government advice. We are also extending the requirement for masks for all users whilst on board USQ's shuttle buses.

Remember if you have any symptoms at all, it is important that you do not come on campus, get tested and immediately isolate until a negative result is received.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Please stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the announcement from Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk this morning regarding a three-day lockdown, our Ipswich and Springfield campuses will be closed as of 4pm today, 29 June 2021, until 6pm Friday, 2 July 2021.

According to the Government announcement, everyone living in the identified Local Government areas is required to stay home over the three-day lockdown period. Anyone who has been in the affected areas on or since 6pm Tuesday, 29 June 2021 is also required to follow the lockdown rules even if they are no longer in those areas.

Students and staff will not be able to attend either the Ipswich or Springfield campus until 6pm Friday, 2 July 2021 and will also not be permitted to leave the affected Local Government areas, which includes travel to the Toowoomba campus, QCWT or Mt Kent Observatory.

Any students with Residential Schools, placements, or other on-campus learning activities who are impacted by the lockdown, will be notified of any changes as necessary. Students should also follow any additional advice received from their placement provider, including students currently on placement.

The inter-campus shuttle buses will not be operating as of Wednesday 30 June.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to keep you informed as changes occur. Please ensure that you keep checking your student email as well as the Queensland Government and Queensland Health websites for information.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Please stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the announcement from Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk this morning, from 1.00am tomorrow morning, Tuesday 29 June 2021, a number of new restrictions will be in place.

Masks will be required in the following Queensland local government areas: Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan City, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, and Somerset.

As a result, masks must be carried on your person at our Springfield and Ipswich campuses. Masks must be worn where you cannot physically distance unless you have a lawful reason not to and I encourage you to commence wearing masks today.

The inter-campus shuttle buses will continue to operate however I encourage students to reconsider travel between campuses for the next two weeks. Masks will be mandatory on the shuttle bus.

All travellers to the Toowoomba campus from the affected local government areas are required to follow the same mask restrictions that apply to those affected local government areas.

A reminder to monitor hotspots and follow the necessary directions provided by the Queensland Government.

Masks will be available from iConnect if you have not brought one to campus.  Please remember that if you have any symptoms, to go and get tested and continue to monitor the current situation.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Thank you to all of you for your response and care for each other.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the  announcement from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning, we are pleased to advise that the  celebration events planned for Monday 12 April - Thursday 15 April 2021 are scheduled to go ahead.

The safety of our students, staff, guests and community remains our priority and we are closely following the advice and requirements of the Queensland Government.

As per Queensland Government's advice, all attendees will be required to wear a mask inside the venue as well as outside the venue where physical distancing is not possible.

You will be able to remove your mask just prior to crossing the stage for your individual stage photographs, but your mask must be placed back on as you leave the stage.

We will provide a further update to you regarding the details of your event via email next week.

Should there be any changes to the Government's advice or restrictions in the meantime, you will receive an email to your UMail in the first instance.

Please continue to look after yourself and your loved ones.

Should you have any questions regarding your celebration, please reach out to our Graduations Team on + 61 7 4631 1647 or + 61 7 4631 1741 or via graduations@usq.edu.au.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Following the announcement from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning, a three-day lockdown will apply to the Greater Brisbane area from 5.00pm today.

Any impacted students must follow the Government advice. For example, student residents in the Greater Brisbane area cannot travel to the USQ Toowoomba campus.

On-campus activities at USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich Monday 29 March 2021

Scheduled on-campus learning activities at our Ipswich and Springfield campuses will be transitioned to online as of 3.00pm today, Monday 29 March 2021.

All classes scheduled to conclude by 3.00pm today will proceed, unless otherwise communicated through your StudyDesk. Other learning activities scheduled to conclude after 3.00pm will be transitioned to online today, where practical, or rescheduled.

Course-specific information will be communicated through StudyDesk by the teaching staff for your individual courses.

Students should also follow any additional advice received from their placement provider, including students currently on placement.

Arrangements for the rest of this week

If you live in or visited the Local Government areas of Brisbane, Logan, Moreton, Redlands and Ipswich including Springfield, you are required to stay home over the three-day lockdown, in accordance with Queensland Government advice.

For the balance of this week, Ipswich and Springfield staff and students will be working and learning from home.

Students with scheduled practical laboratories, Residential Schools, placements, or other mandatory on-campus learning activities, will receive specific information about changes to planned activities from their course teaching staff through StudyDesk.

Inter-campus shuttle bus

The inter-campus shuttle buses will continue to operate today, Monday 29 March.

If you have travelled on the campus shuttle bus this morning, you are encouraged to return to your point of origin using the earliest bus. See the inter-campus shuttle bus timetable for more information.

The inter-campus shuttle buses will not be operating from Tuesday 30 March – Thursday 1 April 2021, inclusive.

Getting Tested

If you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result. You can find your nearest testing facility on the interactive map available on the Queensland Health website.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School  team at grs@usq.edu.au.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will be providing regular updates via email, and Studying during COVID-19 website, to keep you informed of the University's response to the Queensland Health advice.

Please stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

We look forward to welcoming you to Semester 1 2021.

For those of you studying on campus, preparations are underway for on-campus learning activities. Our online offerings continue as usual.

With restrictions lifted last week, Greater Brisbane will again align with the rest of Queensland and COVID safe measures will be consistent across all University of Southern Queensland campuses. This will greatly assist our goal of providing a high-quality on-campus experience.

Studying in Semester 1 2021

• As on-campus learning activities continue to be finalised, it is important to regularly consult your timetable within your Student Centre for confirmation of the delivery mode and location of your learning activities. How your course is delivered is based on your individual discipline and this information is reflected in your timetable and StudyDesk.
• If you have an on-campus activity scheduled, this will be on campus. On-campus activities may take various forms including practical classes, workshops, residential schools, tutorials and studios. They may be compulsory or optional. In some cases, you may be able to choose to undertake a particular learning activity on campus or online. Consult your course StudyDesk site for details.
• International students who are in Australia must meet visa requirements regarding attendance of on-campus classes.

Staying safe on campus

The University of Southern Queensland is committed to providing a safe environment for learning. Physical distancing should be observed to the extent possible.

Queensland Health strongly encourages everyone to wash their hands regularly and always carry a face mask to provide added protection if you are in a situation where you cannot maintain physical distancing. If you feel more comfortable wearing a face mask, you are of course welcome to do so.

It is not mandatory for staff and students to wear a mask when travelling on the inter-campus shuttle. However, we strongly encourage wearing a face mask, especially when entering, exiting, or moving through areas where people are gathered.

Please remember if you have any symptoms at all, get tested and immediately isolate until a negative result is received.

Support Services

You can find answers to your questions online, any time, through Ask USQ FAQs, live chat, or connect with the iconnect team, your first point of contact when you need information, 7 days a week. You can also join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

Semester 1 starts on February 22 and enrolment is open now. If you would like to discuss your options, contact us now.

Stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you to a new year of learning in 2021.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

Welcome to the University of Southern Queensland in 2021. Continuing to make your education a priority in these uncertain times isn't easy, and I congratulate you for choosing to do so this year. 

I know that this year may not run to plan, however I want to share with you the principles that will help us all to navigate whatever this year has in store, and ensure that your year of study is a successful one.

Our commitment to you

The University of Southern Queensland is committed to providing a safe environment for learning and to support this we have developed the following principles: 

1. The University's priority continues to be the health and safety of our students and staff.  
2. The University will maintain COVID-safe Campus Plans. Key elements of the Plans include: 

• All members of the USQ community sharing responsibility for the safe use of University facilities, including abiding by social distancing protocols, maximum room limits, maintaining personal hygiene practices, wearing masks where and when requested, and supporting cleaning protocols as appropriate.
• Encouraging students and staff to download the COVID-Safe app and SafeZone app, which can be used to check in and out when attending classes on campus.
• Making reasonable adjustments for vulnerable students to continue with their studies.

What can I expect this year?

Your learning experiences in 2021 have been designed to include opportunities for student-teacher, student-student and student-industry interaction and collaboration, regardless of whether you are studying online or on-campus. You can find the latest information on our Studying during COVID webpage.

Lectures

All lectures will continue to be delivered online, recorded and available on StudyDesk, your online learning platform. There will not be any on-campus or face-to-face lectures in 2021.

When do I need to be on-campus?
You will be required to attend on-campus activities where they are necessary to successfully complete your course. These may include practical classes, residential schools, labs or studios. In addition, some courses will provide optional and additional on-campus learning activities to give you opportunities to engage with course content, teaching staff, and your student colleagues.

Exams

Exams will be conducted online. in 2021. Practical, professional and performance-related assessment may be held on-campus. Oral assessment may be conducted face-to-face or online. 

All online assessment conducted during the formal examination period will be timetabled. 

Placements

Placements will continue to be managed with our placement providers and considering your safety as our first priority. If you are, or likely to be impacted by any changes, we will advise you as necessary and encourage you to regularly check your emails for advice.

Support Services

You can find answers to your questions online, any time, through Ask USQ FAQs, live chat, or connect with the iconnect team, your first point of contact when you need information, 7 days a week. You can also join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

Semester 1 starts on February 22 and enrolment is open now. If you would like to discuss your options, contact us now or make an appointment.

Stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you to a new year of learning in 2021.

Regards

Professor Josh Pienaar
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) 

The Queensland Government has today announced the easing of COVID-19 restrictions for residents living in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands areas from 6.00pm Monday 11 January 2021. As a result, USQ Springfield and USQ Ipswich will reopen tomorrow Tuesday 12 January 2021.

Face mask requirements

In an effort to minimise the risk of community transmission of COVID-19, the Queensland Government has mandated the use of face masks in indoor areas. In line with the latest restrictions, when visiting either USQ Springfield or Ipswich, you will be required to wear a face mask.

In addition to the reopening of campuses, the USQ Shuttle Bus will resume services on Tuesday 12 January, however all passengers will be required to wear face masks while on the bus.

For more information and advice on the use of face masks, along with detailed information on the current restrictions in place, please see the Queensland Government's recent COVID-19 update.

While this is great news for Queensland, we remind all students that if you have any symptoms, you are required to get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result. You can find your nearest testing facility on the interactive map available on the Queensland Health website. 

Support for you

We will continue to provide updates to the University's response via our Studying during COVID-19 website. If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat. This is also a great time to join the USQ iconnect Facebook group to keep up to date.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the  Graduate Research School at grs@usq.edu.au with any questions.

We thank you for your continued efforts to keep the USQ community safe throughout this period.

Regards

Belinda Reimers
Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

The Queensland Government has announced today that residents living in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands areas will be required to stay home from Friday 8 January 6.00pm until Monday 11 January 6.00pm.

This is to minimise the risk of community transmission of the UK strain of COVID-19.

As a result of this advice, the University's Springfield and Ipswich campuses will be closed from today, Friday 8 January 4.00pm, and will re-open on Tuesday 12 January, unless otherwise advised by Queensland Health.

Please note that the inter-campus shuttle buses will not be operating on Monday.

Any impacted students must follow the Government advice. For example, student residents in the Greater Brisbane area cannot travel to the USQ Toowoomba campus.

Students with scheduled Residential Schools, placements, or other on-campus learning activities commencing next week, will receive specific information today about any changes to planned activities. Students should also follow any additional advice received from their placement provider, including students currently on placement.

If you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result. You can find your nearest testing facility on the interactive map available on the Queensland Health website.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will be providing regular updates via email, and Studying during COVID-19 website, to keep you informed of the University's response to the Queensland Health advice.

Support for you

If you have questions or need advice, the iconnect team is here to support you via Zoom and chat, or you can join the supportive USQ iconnect Facebook group.

The Health and Wellness Team are also available to support you at this time with a range of resources.

Research students are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School team at grs@usq.edu.au.

Please stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Regards

Belinda Reimers
Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)