The AFL has announced that its Victorian-based athletes will obey the Victorian Government’s laws regarding COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace. Authorized workers, including professional and high-performance athletes, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of next month, according to the Dan Andrews-led Labor leadership.
The AFL issued a statement in which they stated that its Victorian clubs and players agreed with the state government’s decision and that their vaccination policy would be announced soon.
“The AFL has this afternoon written to all Victorian-based clubs to provide an update following the Victorian Government announcement that all workers on the Authorised Workers list in Victoria will require their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October in order to continue to work onsite at their workplaces and will need to be fully vaccinated by Friday 26 November,” an AFL statement said.
“Under applicable Victorian Government directions relating to COVID-19, only Authorised Workers can attend their workplaces and are exempt from the general requirement that Victorian workers must work from home at this time.
“AFL and AFLW players and football program staff of Victorian AFL clubs are recognized as Authorised Workers and have been able to attend their clubs and other premises to work (including by training and playing) under that exemption.
“This new vaccination requirement for Authorised Workers will apply to all AFLW and AFL players and football program staff of Victorian AFL clubs, as well as a small number of other people in the AFL industry.
“The AFL is awaiting formal Government directions on next steps and the AFL will work with clubs, the AFLPA, and the broader AFL industry in the coming period so that we are ready for this important change, including with respect to the logistics of proof of vaccination.
“More broadly the AFL is continuing to work with clubs, the AFLPA, and the broader AFL industry to finalize and release its own vaccination policy for all AFLW and AFLW clubs, players, and staff nationally in the coming weeks.”