Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

• DVC (Students) update: 31 March
  
• DVC (Students) update: 27 March
  
• Changes to Library spaces: 25 March
  
• International students update - PVC (International): 25 March
• DVC (Students) update: 24 March
• Campus retail and services update: 23 March
• DVC (Students) update: 23 March
• Positive COVID-19 notification at Flinders University: 18 March
• Vice-Chancellor update: 16 March
• DVC (Students) update: 16 March
  

How long are the changes in delivery of academic curriculum to online as a result of COVID-19 situation estimated to last?

Currently the timeframe of disruption caused by COVID-19 is unclear due to the changing political and health care environment. As a result of this, the move to online delivery of lectures and restrictions delivery currently in place will continue until there is a direction from the Federal Government that restrictions can be lifted.

As of right now we do not attend campus?

All Flinders University campuses are still open, however, from Monday 30 March all classes will be held online.

Can we still attend the library and computer lab to study? Is campus on full lock-down?

Campuses are open, albeit Flinders University Library branches at Central (Hub), Sturt and Medical, will be closed from 8pm, 25 March, until further notice. Read more about changes to the library spaces.

Everyone using our campuses and facilities is reminded to pursue a high standard of personal hygiene including:

• Frequently cleaning hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, or where unavailable an alcohol-based hand rub.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue – throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your face as much as possible.
• If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention early and share your recent travel history with your health care provider when making your appointment.

Does the University response apply to all Flinders' campuses?

Yes. All updates from Flinders University on COVID-19 apply to all campuses across Australia and regional areas.

Will class commencement dates be delayed?

Regular classes are continuing as normal at Flinders. If you are required to self-isolate based on the criteria outlined in the Department of Health advice, you will not be penalised.

We have also extended the last date when students from mainland China can arrive for semester one to 31 March and we will provide additional classes for these students when they arrive.  

In many courses we are providing access to online study and providing help to students and staff to do so.

In some courses we are able to offer students an intensive study period starting in late April in which they can complete all of their semester one study before the start of semester two.

Is Flinders going completely online due to COVID-19?

From Monday, 30 March, all classes will be held online.

Our campus facilities are still available for you, in particular our computer laboratories and study spaces.  And staff will still be on campus – albeit in smaller numbers – to ensure these facilities are available for you, and the campus stays safe.

Unfortunately, our physical library spaces are now closed, but access to materials and librarian support are available online. Computers have been moved into other spaces, including into the ground floor area by Flinders Connect so that you can continue to use these.

Importantly, we are moving more and more of our services online. You can check these out through the Flinders Support Network.

What happens with regards to the attendance at compulsory tutorials and grades for participation - are there any special considerations for this and if so, what are they?

Central examinations will of course not be able to be held as normal this semester, and alternate arrangements are being made. Other assessments may also need to be amended. Academic staff are currently reviewing the Statement of Assessment Methods for each topic to ensure that assessments for each topic can be completed without students attending campus. These will be reviewed by each College for approval and communicated by email and on FLO as a matter of priority. 

Any face-to-face classes which cannot be run online will be deferred until later in the year when we have moved past this current crisis.  If necessary, topic grades will be held over and students will be allowed to progress as if they have passed the topic. No student will be disadvantaged in terms of progression due to this decision.

Can I get special provisions if I'm in an 'at risk' group and my course isn't available 100% online?

Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of our students and staff, and you can rest assured that every effort will be made to provide the safest possible environment for study and for work. If you’re unwell or you’re ‘at risk’, please speak with your course coordinator about special considerations during this period.

Will placements still be going ahead?

Arrangements for students who need to undertake their placement activities and research students (e.g. Honours and PhD students) who need to undertake their studies in a campus laboratory or similar will be advised on specific situations in regards to placements.

Students in topics being taught by another institution will also be advised of alternate arrangements.

If you’re unsure as to whether you will still be required to undertake your placement, please speak directly to your course coordinator.

Is Flinders Sport and Fitness open?

Flinders Sport and Fitness is now closed. This is in line with the advice and actions of the Federal Government.

Are there any prayer rooms open?

Oasis and the prayer rooms at Tonsley, Sturt and McHughs are now closed. This is in line with the advice and actions of the Federal Government.

Can I receive a refund for my parking permit?

The University will reimburse the balance of parking permits from Monday, 30 March for those students who are no longer coming to campus by car. If you want the balance of this semester’s or this year’s permit refunded please email parking@flinders.edu.au before 30 April 2020 – requests after this date will not be accepted.

Do remember that if you cancel your permit you’ll need to make sure you have a valid parking session when coming back to campus – visit our parking webpage for more options.

Will attendance policies regarding compulsory attendance at various classes be changed to allow for challenges in accessing doctors for medical certificates?

Flinders staff are reviewing all practical classes, assessments (including exams) and work-integrated learning activities which cannot be done online to ensure these can be conducted in line with recommendations from health authorities relating to social distancing or other requirements, if these cannot be conducted online. More information will be made available as soon as possible.

Should I still enrol in my courses if my arrival will be delayed?

If you have not already, please enrol online and call our International Student Services on +61 8 8201 2717 or email coronavirus@flinders.edu.au so we can assist you.

Our Colleges and International Student Services are providing advice to affected students about specific arrangements for them, including online study.

View further information for international students.

The Office of Graduate Research recognises that each HDR student has a different story, research project, discipline, motivation and methodologies. Therefore, there isn’t a single strategy that can be deployed for all students. Flinders University has enabled a digital doctorate to provide all the candidature architecture you need.

How can I connect with my supervisor and other key people for my HDR?

You can hold digital meetings with your supervisors or follow the recommendations from health authorities relating to social distancing. Some options for digital meetings include:

• WebEx Meetings is an online meeting space that allows you to meet with other people, without having to leave your home or office. You can meet anywhere, anytime, from any device.
  
• Microsoft Teams is part of the University’s Office 365 package. So, there is no special permission required to access it. There are 2 ways of accessing Teams, one way is through your web browser but we encourage you to download the app via the IDS Support portal icon on your desktop. For more information go to the student computing website.
• Skype is another easy option you could use. Go to the Skype website for more information.

How can I connect with Office of Graduate Research (OGR) staff for my HDR?

The OGR remains open and eager to assist any students in this difficult time. However, in light of the current circumstances, appointments and meetings are to be held online or over the phone wherever possible. Individual appointments with OGR staff members can be booked online through the OGR Appointments Scheduler in the REST FLO site. These will be held via Zoom.

From Monday 23 March until 27 March 2020 from 8.30-9.30am, the Dean of Graduate Research will be implementing an hour-long Question and Answer session with students. Come along to “Coffee with Tara” at the Facebook Live session by visiting Tara’s Facebook page. These sessions are in place to address the social isolation of students and enable support structures.

Where can I find information about candidature management?

Please refer to the HDR students website for all your candidature needs.

How can I connect with College research librarians for my HDR?

You can book an online appointment with a Research Librarian to discuss your research or how to access resources. The library has a remarkable series of databases for you.

View more information about the Flinders University Library’s response to COVID-19.

How can I get help with Inspire?

The Inspire website has a quick reference guide for all the functionality currently available: degree management; milestones; examination; skills development; and career planning and goals.

If you require technical issues and support relating to Inspire please submit an Assyst request and an IDS Service Desk representative will be in touch to resolve your request.

I’ve just started my HDR candidature, what should I be working on?

Early in the candidature, you can create research design and research questions. These often lead into a literature review or systematic review, depending on your methodologies and epistemologies and ontologies. Your supervisor can offer you the best advice to ensure a successful candidature. This is the time of minimal disruption for you.

I’m at mid-candidature, what should I be working on?

This is a good time for writing thesis chapters, working on literature reviews, ethics applications, undertaking reference checks or research plans for the next phase of your work. Your supervisor can offer you the best advice to ensure a successful candidature.

Take some time to review the research plan that has been already put in place for January-June 2020, map progress so far and document what is still planned for this period. Prepare an updated summary of your research and plan how you may spend your time if the location of your research is changed. You should work with your supervisor to identify components of your project that could be performed at home or an alternative location if there are prolonged candidature disruptions.

I’m in my final year of candidature, what should I be working on?

This is a good time for reviewing thesis chapters, proof-reading, undertaking reference checks and finalising your thesis for examination. Your supervisor can offer you the best advice to ensure a successful candidature.

At Flinders, the submission of thesis for examination is online via Inspire. For more information refer to the HDR students examination and completion website.

How can I achieve my Milestone presentation?

The OGR has enabled University-wide Milestone Presentations to allow HDR students to present their research in preparation for their Annual Milestones. These can be delivered online and successfully completed

Any Flinders University HDR student is able to book in a timeslot for their HDR Milestone Presentation via the REST FLO site. Prior to booking, please confirm the date and time with your supervisory panel and ensure that an assessor is able to attend, in person or online (please check College Milestone guidelines for further information).

OGR support will be available during the allocated timeslots to assist with any technical requirements

What if my research needs to be undertaken overseas or with vulnerable people during this time?

We recognize it is important that the university support you to undertake research overseas or with vulnerable populations in Australia, and encourage you to adjust timelines for the research or their research design, to ensure both their own health and safety and also that of their research collaborators. Discuss this with your supervisors, and if Ethics is in place, report any changes. Find contact details.

Fieldwork – how it can be transitioned during this time?

The Dean of Graduate Research has had discussions with many students about putting the problem into the work. Interviews can be done at a distance, but still face-to-face via technology.

The Deans of Research in the Colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences and Business, Government and Law have provided the information below to assist you with your data collection activities:

Consider whether your data collection activity can take place without in person contact.

You may wish to consider moving to online activities or phone calls. If so, it would be prudent to seek ethics approval for a modification to your protocol (consider privacy issues, data storage issues, implications for any costs incurred by participants).

Prepare the research space (be it on campus, or elsewhere)

1. Ensure you can provide social distancing of at least 1.5 meters for the entire data collection activity (including travel to and from the data collection activity).
2. Ensure hand sanitisers are available and used by all parties (including researcher, participant, carers, onlookers) frequently (i.e., at the very least they should be used before and after data collection activities).
3. Ensure any equipment used is able to be fully sanitised after use by each researcher and each participant.

For more information about changes to fieldwork refer to this article.

Can a candidature extension be granted due to COVID-19?

The University is monitoring the situation closely. Each student’s case will be individually assessed in line with national legislation. These are governed by the Higher Degrees by Research Policy Sections 4.5 and 4.6, and HDR Admission and Enrolment Procedures Section 6. For more information refer to the degree management website.

Can a scholarship extension be granted due to COVID-19?

The University is monitoring the situation closely. Scholarship and candidature extensions are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Six-month scholarship extensions are available – and granted – on the basis of disruptions to a research schedule. For more information refer to the higher degree by research scholarship information website. Or contact Student Finance on rhdscholarships@flinders.edu.au.

Can I get an extension for my thesis corrections?

If the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on your ability to finalise examiners recommendations to your thesis, please email hdr.exams@flinders.edu.au  We will be able to review the situation on a case by case basis.

Will my thesis examination and completion be delayed?

Please continue to submit your thesis for examination as normal through Inspire.

The HDR exams team are working towards getting your thesis examination completed within the normal timeframes. If there is a significant delay we will email you individually to discuss this. You can continue to email hdr.exams@flinders.edu.au for any enquiries.

Can I still undertake HDR student professional development activities?

Yes, the Research and Employability Skills Training (REST) FLO site has topics on every aspect of candidature and numerous online options available within the topics.

All scheduled workshops will be going ahead, in an online format. As of next week, all of our workshops will be made available either through Zoom or Collaborate, and everyone is welcome to attend. Please keep registering for workshops in Inspire as usual, and you will be provided with the Zoom or Collaborate details before the session.

What steps is the University taking for HDR students currently undertaking an international experience as a part of their studies?

The University is taking steps to ensure all Flinders students undertaking an international experience as a part of their studies are safe. Please ensure you check your University email address as updates will be communicated as they become available.

On Wednesday, 18 March 2020, the HDR Progression Team will be in touch with individual students who we are aware are currently undertaking an international experience (field trip for data collection, conference or Cotutelle) during 2020 to advise of next steps. If you’re currently overseas and haven’t heard from the HDR Progression Team by Friday, 20 March 2020, please complete this survey so the Office of Graduate Research can make contact.

I'm an HDR student and will be unable to arrive on time. What should I do?

Please call our International Student Services on +61 8 8201 2717 or email coronavirus@flinders.edu.au so we can assist you.

Where can I get support?

We understand the current uncertainty may cause some concerns and if you’re experiencing extreme distress, hardship or complexities throughout this time, please contact us so we can determine the best support possible.

The Yunggorendi Student Engagement team are available to speak to you about your academic needs, social needs or if you would like to have a chat during this difficult period.

Please call 1800 641 811 or email yunggorendi@flinders.edu.au

Other services are available to you as follows.

Indigenous Student Support Officer

Contact an Indigenous Student Support Officer for advice on course enrolment support, progress advice and advocacy, cadetships, scholarships, grants, referrals to other services and pastoral care.

• Colleges – Business, Government and Law; Nursing and Health Sciences; Medicine  and Public Health
  Foundation Studies
  Alisha Uswatte
  Phone: 08 8201 5540
  Alisha.uswatte@flinders.edu.au
  
• Colleges – Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Education, Psychology and Social Work; Science and Engineering
  Asami Huynh
  Phone: 08 8201 2668
  Asami.huynh@flinders.edu.au
  

Yunggorendi Tutorial Program

Contact us for free additional tutoring for any of your topics.

Michelle Ah Matt
Phone: 08 8201 3199
yunggorendi@flinders.edu.au

To apply for additional tutoring, please complete this form.

Academic Study Skills Advisor

Contact us for general academic skill development and advice.

Katie Maher katie.maher@flinders.edu.au
Melanie Clark melanie.clark@flinders.edu.au

Is the Yunggorendi Mande building still open?

Unfortunately, the Yunggorendi Mande building is now closed for face-to-face services, as well as the Tjilbruke Student Lounge, and 24/7 access will be suspended for students until further notice. Staff are now working remotely and the support services through Yunggorendi Student Engagement are still being offered.

How does COVID-19 impact semester 2, 2020 entry?

Flinders University is accepting applications for our undergraduate and postgraduate courses for semester two entry.

The University is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and we are aligning our actions with advice from the Australian Government. 

The University has put in place the following processes based on this advice:

•  Teaching staff will deliver and record their lectures for you to watch online through Flinders Learning Online (FLO).
• All other classes, including tutorials, workshops and seminars, will be moved online as soon as possible and will be available online for Semester 2, 2020.
• Any class activity which cannot be moved online is being reviewed to ensure these are conducted in line with recommendations from health authorities relating to social distancing.
  
• Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of our community. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among our students or staff and Flinders campuses are still open and operating.

This will be updated as per advice from the Australian Government. Effective 20 March 2020.

Are April graduation ceremonies going ahead?

In line with Federal Government and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer advice, Flinders University has made the difficult decision to not hold the April 2020 graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We understand that this will be disappointing for many of you, and for those family friends and staff members who were looking forward to celebrating your wonderful achievement, however the health and safety of our community is paramount.

The University is currently considering alternative options for our graduating students and we will communicate these with the graduating students once known.

Will academic dress payments be refunded?

Yes, applicants will receive a full refund for their academic dress payment. Graduation Services are currently in the process of arranging refunds for students who applied to attend in April and have paid. All refunds will be processed automatically, therefore you will not be required to request this service. Please note that the process of refunding the fee will be lengthy, if you have not received a refund for your payment within ten (10) business days please contact Graduation Services.

When will students be conferred?

All applicants will be conferred in the next Absentia Conferral they are eligible for. Majority of students will be conferred by the end of March.  However, those awaiting completion may be conferred in April (date to be decided).  Once conferred, digital graduation documents will be produced and made available.

Graduation documents, when and how will these be issued?

All completed applicants will be issued with their digital documents (Testamur, Transcript and AHEGS) within the My eQuals portal by mid-April.

All conferred students will receive an email from My eQuals when their documents are available.

Students should not register with My eQuals prior; they should wait for the email with the link to register.

Information regarding when and how graduating students can receive their physical, paper Testamur (parchment) will be advised in within the next week or two.

Will a ceremony be held in the future?

The University is currently considering options and will advise once known.

All future options will need to take into account directions from the Federal Government and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer as to when events are safe to be held again.  Noting that this could be weeks or months away.

Can I hire academic dress from the University?

The COVID 19 pandemic is an unprecedented and serious community situation and therefore to keep all students and staff safe in this current environment we will cease all academic dress hire services with immediate effect. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is of utmost importance and we wish to ensure that we have a safe environment for all at this time. We regret the inconvenience and will advise as soon as this service is available again.

Am I covered by travel insurance if I have to cancel my flights or book flights out of a high-risk country?

The University’s travel insurers have advised that COVID-19 is now considered a ‘known event’ for all countries, which means claims for costs relating to COVID-19 are unlikely to be covered by the University’s travel insurance.

Australia’s borders are now closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. There is also a ban on all overseas travel, with few exceptions.

For staff and students’ personal travel, the University’s travel insurance does not apply. Check with your travel insurance provider and contact your travel agent or airline for refunds, rebooking fees, etc.

• Students - further information about travel insurance.
• Staff - further information about travel insurance.

More information about student travel insurance.

What if a student is unable to return from abroad?

There are currently unprecedented numbers of Australians trying to make their way home. Most countries still have arrangements in place to allow Australians to leave. But in many cases, the window of opportunity to do so is closing.  If you want to come back to Australia, and commercial flights are available, take them as soon as possible.  

Does the decision that the University will not charge Student Services and Amenities Fees for any topic in the first half of 2020 apply to all students?

Yes. This decision applies to domestic and international students, studying in any mode, and in any University degree, program or topic.

When will the University credit my account for Student Services and Amenities Fees charged in the first half of 2020?

There are several challenges in order to credit SSAF for the first half of 2020. We expect that all the actions required to make this happen will be completed by the end of April 2020.  Obviously, we hope that we can achieve this a lot sooner.

How will the University refund the Student Services and Amenities Fees that I have already paid for the first half of 2020?

We will refund the money directly into your nominated bank account. In preparation you should enter your Australian Bank details into the Student System. This can be accessed securely through Okta. Once you have entered the Student System, please click ‘My Finances’ in the top menu bar, and then click ‘Enter Bank Account Details’ in the menu on the left side within that window. Please ensure you follow the instructions on the bank details page carefully.

When will the University refund the SSAF that I have already paid?

As you would appreciate, there are a lot of transactions that need to be processed and we are working as quickly as we can to refund you. We expect that all student refunds can be completed by the end of April 2020.

I have already had some of my SSAF for 2020 deferred using a SA-HELP loan. How will you manage this?

We will reverse the SA-HELP deferral transaction on your account and then waive your SSAF Fees. If your SA-HELP debt for 2020 has already been reported to the Australian Taxation Office, we will also cancel this advice.

I am an international student. The University has advised that I will be credited with the equivalent amount of SSAF.  Will I receive a refund, or will I have a credit against my future fees?

Our intention is to credit the equivalent amount of SSAF to your student account. If you have other fees that are outstanding and overdue, we will use this credit against these fees before refunding any balance to you.

To receive a refund, you will need to enter your Australian Bank details into the Student System. This can be accessed securely through Okta. Once you have entered the Student System, please click ‘My Finances’ in the top menu bar, and then click ‘Enter Bank Account Details’ in the menu on the left side within that window. Please ensure you follow the instructions on the bank details page carefully.

I am an international student who is sponsored under an arrangement between Flinders University and my sponsor. Will I be credited with an equivalent amount of SSAF?

No, however, your sponsor will be provided with the equivalent credit. We will contact your sponsor to discuss this.

I have a sanction for outstanding Student Services and Amenities Fees from the first half of 2020. Will this be removed?

Yes. We will remove all outstanding SSAF sanctions for students as a priority. You do not need to contact us in order for this to be actioned on your account.

Youth Allowance changes for students

We are pleased for our students that the Federal Government has announced new measures to make students receiving Abstudy, Austudy and youth allowance payments eligible for the coronavirus supplement on the same basis as the other jobseeker payments announced on Sunday. Current advice is that the expanded access will begin 27 April 2020 and the information will be on the Centrelink website once it is available.