Please find attached a letter from the VCAA regarding COVID-19 related Health Directions and communication to students for the safe delivery of the GAT. This information is only relevant for Year 11 and 12 students sitting the GAT on Tuesday 5 October. If you have any questions about this, you can call the Department of Education and Training’s hotline on 1800 338 663 (8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday).
As you know, the General Achievement Test (GAT) will be held on Tuesday 5 October.
In order to ensure the safety of all the students and staff who will be participating in the GAT next Tuesday, if you are currently a resident in one of the following postcodes you are requested to have a COVID-19 test on either Saturday 2 October or Sunday 3 October and have received a negative test result before attending the GAT:
3021; 3023; 3029; 3030; 3037; 3046; 3047; 3048; 3059; 3060; 3061; 3064; 3073; 3074; 3075; 3076; 3082; 3338; 3750; 3752; 3754; 3977
If you are not a resident in one of these postcodes, there is no need for you to get tested unless you are feeling unwell or have any COVID symptoms such as a sore throat or runny nose.
To minimise your wait time please check the Department of Health Covid-19 Testing website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19 to find your closest testing location and to view current wait times.
You can get tested at any testing site as advised on the website and the following testing sites will have extended hours and dedicated lanes for GAT students:
– Melbourne Showgrounds – Drive Through Site – Gate 3, Langs Road, Ascot Vale – Old Master Site Coolaroo – Drive Through Site – 1550 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo
When you arrive at any testing site, please inform the testing team that you are a GAT student. This will ensure your test result will be given appropriate priority. You can pre-register prior to attending the site for testing using the following link testing registration form It is possible that wait times will be high at some testing sites.
You can check wait times as per above advice, but if this is the case, please be patient, or alternatively you are able to attend any other site that has lower wait times. You will not be required to isolate after you get tested if you do not have any COVID symptoms.
If the result of your test comes back negative, you can attend the GAT and no further action is required. If the result of your test is positive, you will be advised via text message and contacted by the Department of Health, who will provide instructions for you and your Dare, Connect, Learn family. Please note that due to the current high positive cases in the community, you may not receive a phone call before the GAT.
If you do test positive, you will be required to isolate and will not be able to attend the GAT. If that is the case, please be assured that you will be deemed eligible for an exemption from the GAT, and this will not impact on your ability to complete your other VCE exams. If you do not receive your test result back by the time you sit the GAT, please also be assured that you will still be able to sit the test. You will not be required to show evidence of a negative test to enter the assessment centre.
If you have any questions about this, you can call the Department of Education and Training’s hotline on 1800 338 663 (8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday).
Thank you for your cooperation and support. By getting tested, you will play a very important role in keeping our community and your families safe. And if you have not yet received or been booked in for your COVID-19 vaccinations, please do so as soon as you can! Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and fellow students against the spread of coronavirus.