Seasonal workers must be vaccinated – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Select workers (including contractors, volunteers and students on placement) will be required to show evidence of their full vaccination, or medical exemption, to their employer from Friday 26 November 2021 in order to continue working outside their home. Agriculture and forestry workers, and those who do seasonal work on farms and orchards must be vaccinated as per the directions of the Victorian Government.

Seasonal workers must be vaccinated

From 26 November 2021, select workers in Victoria must provide evidence to their employer that they have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (unless they have a medical exemption) to attend work.
All seasonal workers in horticulture and agriculture are included in these rules and must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Anyone doing seasonal work in Victoria must be vaccinated – it does not matter whether you currently or usually live in Victoria, or are staying over the state border from where you are working in Victoria.

COVID-19 vaccines are free and safe

The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone in Australia
Anyone aged 12 years or older can receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine
All vaccines are carefully tested to make sure they are safe before they are approved for use in Australia
Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines do not contain milk, egg, latex, or pork products.
Women who are pregnant are encouraged to get vaccinated at any stage of their pregnancy.

Getting vaccinated protects you, your family and your community

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine:

reduces your risk of getting COVID-19
protects you against becoming very sick or dying if you do get COVID
helps protect your family, friends, workmates and community.

As more people get vaccinated, the virus can’t spread as easily. This also protects people who can’t get vaccinated.

You do not need a Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier to get vaccinated

Everyone aged 12 years and over in Victoria can get a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of visa status.
You do not need a Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you do not have a Medicare card, you can choose to get an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) number.

Individual Healthcare Identifiers are used to match the correct record to the person being treated
Having an Individual Healthcare Identifier makes it easier to get proof of your vaccination

When you get vaccinated, no identifiable personal information will be shared with external agencies such as housing or immigration.
Being vaccinated for COVID-19 will not impact your visa status or eligibility for government payments.

You should get vaccinated even if you have had COVID-19

People who have had COVID-19 should get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are feeling better.
If you have been treated in hospital for COVID-19, discuss vaccination with your doctor first.

Get your vaccine doses locally

You do not need to have both doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the same clinic or even in the same state
Your vaccine doses will be recorded in the national record system (Australian Immunisation Register)
Use the same identification (e.g. Individual Healthcare Identifier, passport) for each dose to make sure both doses are linked to you

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.