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ON CAMPUS
Photo: Czarek Sokolowski
from this LANTITE virus by a program of
inoculation instigated by the previous Labor
government, but unfortunately Education
Minister John Gardner retrospectively
introduced measures that annulled any
grandfathering procedures that would have
protected this cohort of students.
In essence, there appears to have been a
faulty batch of LANTITE vaccine allegedly
tampered with by the Liberals! These
students have now been in self-isolation for
many months not knowing what the future
holds for them.
Their general wellbeing and mental
health is of paramount concern, for they
have given up four years of their lives to
study for a degree that they will never be
awarded. It is a degree filled to the brim
and overflowing with frustration, anger,
bitterness, disappointment and anxiety.
These students are similar, too, to the
cruise ship passengers ferried from port
to port with no country allowing them
to disembark. These students embarked
on their journeys of study with eager
anticipation, shining enthusiasm and aims
to hopefully fulfil lifelong held dreams, but
sadly their journeys were interrupted by a
dark, sinister and abhorrent unforeseen set
of circumstances: LANTITE-19.
These students, like the cruise ship
passengers, have done nothing wrong but
are treated like lepers.
While no vaccine presently exists for
COVID-19, there is anecdotal evidence
that a rapid and effective antidote for
LANTITE-19 exists in Minister Gardner’s
arsenal of biological weapons, but he
steadfastly refuses to release it to ease the
suffering of those afflicted.
It is in his power to rapidly and
expeditiously make it freely available to this
affected cohort so that they can rapidly
recover from this nightmare that has
engulfed their lives.
Minister Gardner along with Premier
Steven Marshall could have easily
implemented ‘disaster response plans’ as
done in response to COVID-19 at the very
beginning of the LANTITE crisis but failed to
do so, which appears to suggest a serious
lack of leadership on this issue.
These silent, insidious, covert assassins
have been allowed to infiltrate our borders
with no safeguards to protect the most
vulnerable in the community.
Where COVID-19 is of particular concern
to the elderly and those with existing
chronic medical conditions, LANTITE-19
has largely affected those from the opposite
end of the age spectrum, i.e. aspiring
young graduates in the prime of their
teaching careers.
The majority of these people would
no doubt have most likely gone on to
rewarding and productive careers as
inspiring, wonderful teachers and positive
role models for the next generation of
school children.
While both viruses attack the respiratory
system, virulent LANTITE-19 also attacks
the very heart and soul of afflicted
individuals. It also robs them of their dignity
and self-worth!
While it is too early in the process, current
thinking appears to suggest that those who
successfully combat LANTITE-19 develop
antibodies and cannot be re-infected at a
later stage, but the evidence concerning
COVID-19 reinfection is not clear-cut as
mutations of the virus are plausible.
For many having been through the initial
trauma of LANTITE-19, a second trauma
of COVID-19 will further exacerbate the
accumulative risk for this cohort of students
and may lead to lifelong health problems
including post-traumatic stress disorders
and deep psychological trauma.
The fear and isolation associated with
both viruses will also contribute to mental
health risks among those afflicted. The
mental health symptoms associated with
both viruses will be reflected by imminent
warning signs such as irritability, fatigue,
headaches, dizziness, insomnia, irrational
behaviour, inability to concentrate, mood
swings, and increased anxiety including
mathematics anxiety (MA).
The federal government has announced
a $74 million mental health support
package for COVID-19, but no support
for LANTITE-19 has been forthcoming,
apart from some token offers of minimal
counselling.
The catch-cry for COVID-19 has
become “We’re all in this together”, but
for LANTITE-19 none exists, for this group
has been largely forgotten and relegated
to the dustbin of serious educational
administrative bungles.
While testing for COVID-19 appears to be
widespread and results are notified rapidly,
testing for LANTITE-19 by ACER is slow,
unreliable, inconsistent and only available
at select times, i.e. February, May, August
and November, with results not known for
many weeks.
There is also the added danger that
LANTITE-19 may most likely mutate during
these testing periods, adding to further
trepidation and anxiety among candidates.
Both viruses share a similarity, for they
have also resulted in panic buying of tissues
and toilet paper primarily because the
affected individuals suffer severe flu-like
symptoms and diarrhoea. A spokesperson
for the LANTITE-19 group reported that it
literally “gives them the shits”.
In summary, this coronavirus is the crown
jewel of viruses that has now infiltrated our
shores and subjugated the inhabitants of
our continent Terra Australis, now perhaps
more aptly referred to as Terror Australis.
A new dawn has emerged where the
pre-existing threat of ISIS has been largely
obscured, forgotten and replaced with a
more sinister, silent and apocalyptic force. ■
Don Deieso is a former adjunct
postdoctoral fellow at Curtin University.
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