Queensland's Education Department is docking the pay of 900 school staff who did not get the COVID vaccine, saying that ignoring the mandate put others at risk.
Staff members including teachers, teacher aides, administration staff, cleaners and school officers will have a "small-scale temporary reduction of one increment of pay" for 18 weeks, the department said.
"Approximately $25-$90 per week gross, proportionate to the normal pay that a staff member receives," a spokesperson from the department said.
"The disciplinary penalty imposed on staff are individualised to each person's circumstances."
The staff received a letter this week informing them about the decision, however a 20-week period had been flagged with them.
The letter stated the action was "appropriate" for the severity of the matter and hoped staff would follow future directions.
A direction from the state's Chief Health Officer required school staff to be vaccinated against COVID from November last year, but the decision was revoked in June and staff have since returned to the workplace.
"Your conduct in failing to comply with the direction posed a risk to the health and safety of your co-workers, students and members of the public, which was mitigated only by the steps taken by the department to suspend you from duty," the letter said.
"The disciplinary action reflects the seriousness of the matter, but as you remain an employee of the department, affords you the opportunity to continue to perform your duties, and display modified behaviour, by complying with directions in future.
"I acknowledge that the disciplinary action will have a financial impact on you. However, I consider that the seriousness of the disciplinary action and its impact on you is proportionate to the seriousness of your conduct."
Majority of teachers compliant
The Education Department said 99 per cent of about 54,000 teachers had complied with the requirements.
"School staff were given ample opportunity to follow the lawful direction or provide evidence as to why they should be exempt," a department spokesperson said.
"Staff subject to disciplinary processes have received individual consideration of their circumstances, and decisions about appropriate disciplinary penalties have been made."
Teachers Professional Association of Queensland secretary Tracy Tully said impacted teachers had been informed earlier this year they would face disciplinary action for not complying.
"Whilst they were on suspended leave without pay, they received a letter saying that they are advising that there would be some disciplinary action, but they weren't sure what it would be," she said.
"By doing that, it actually puts people into a high state of alert and fear."
Ms Tully said the teachers had already been penalised financially.
"The teachers have already been disciplined by being stood down without pay," she said.
Ms Tully said some teachers would appeal the decision with the Industrial Relations Commission.
University of Sydney social scientist specialising in vaccines Professor Julie Leask said the vaccine requirements were important to the COVID situation late last year, but were now "outdated".
"It is unlikely to achieve what these policies should be trying to achieve, which is either to encourage vaccination or to ensure that others are protected from transmission," she said.
Professor Leask said these policies only "alienate and drive mistrust".
"This policy appears to be more of an anger-based policy than an evidence-based," she said.
Queensland Teacher's Union president Cresta Richardson said less than one per cent of union members expressed concerns over the COVID-19 mandates.
"Statistically, state school educators lead the professional workforce in vaccine uptake, continuing the selfless, hard work QTU members have delivered through the pandemic," Ms Richardson said.
