UC issuing travel advisories

This morning the University of Canberra’s insurance manager issued a travel warning to all staff.

He listed three sets of places — the first that no staff can travel to except in special circumstances which are accepted by the Vice Chancellor, the second that staff can go to after seeking the Vice Chancellor’s approval and the third which are just generally to be avoided.

This advice is apparently based on DFAT’s travel advisories. On my first reading of the email I just scanned the list of countries and though it odd the Solomon Islands was not listed in any of the categories, given recent events (plus DFAT updated its advice yesterday to say that non-essential travel should be deferred).

But re-reading it I noticed Mr Middleton said the Solomons had been added to category 2. Hopefully he will re-issue his list soon with it actually in the list because, knowing uni lecturers, I expect many would just do what I did first and scan his list of the three categories.

The list of countries is below.

From: David Middleton
To: UC Staff
Subject: Travel Advisories
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:58:49 +1000 (EST)
Subject: Overseas Travel Warnings

Good morning,

You will be aware from Staff Notice No. 08/2004 issued from the
Vice-Chancellor’s Office, that I have been charged with periodically
advising all staff of countries to which authorised UC travel will be
restricted.

This is the latest of such advices. Changes from the previous list include
the movement of Mauritania from Category 1 to Category 3, the addition of
the Solomon Islands to Category 2, and the addition of Sri Lanka and Tunisia
to category 3.

Recently (23 November) the Vice-Chancellor sent an information e-mail to all
staff and students on the subject of Avian Influenza, including advice on
precautions which could be taken before travel to affected areas of the
world. The Commonwealth Government, in association with Health Services
Australia, has released a web site giving more information of the disease.
If you are interested in looking at this go to www.avianinfluenza.com.au.

Category 1 threat countries – “defer all travel” – UC travel not authorised
(special consideration may be requested from V-C)

Afghanistan
Bolivia (in part)
Burundi
Chechnya
Indonesia (Aceh and Maluku)
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Liberia
Somalia
West Bank and Gaza Strip

Level 2 threat countries – “defer non-essential travel” – travel requires
V-C’s approval

Angola Central African Republic
Colombia Congo (Democratic Republic
of)
Haiti Indonesia

Israel Nepal

Pakistan Saudi Arabia

Sudan Yemen

Category 3 – other countries where travel should be avoided to specific
areas – check DFAT advice

Albania Algeria Armenia
Azerbaijan Bangladesh Bolivia
Burma Cameroon Ecuador

Egypt Eritrea Ghana

Guinea India Iran

Israel Kenya Kosovo

Laos Lebanon Libya
Macedonia Malaysia Mali
Mauritania Moldova Morocco
Myanmar (Burma) Nicaragua Niger
Nigeria Panama Peru
Philippines Russia Rwanda
Senegal Sierra Leone Sri Lanka

Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand
The Gambia Tunisia Turkmenistan
Turkey Uganda Uzbekistan
Venezuela Zambia

David Middleton
Insurance Manager