Mullumbimby Steiner school loses 40 staff over COVID-19 vaccination deadline

Principal James Goodlet is bracing for the loss of staff. (Supplied)

A third of all staff at a school in the Byron Bay region have not met a government-imposed vaccination deadline to continue teaching.

From Monday, only staff who are fully vaccinated will be able to work at schools in New South Wales.

James Goodlet, principal of Shearwater, a Steiner school at Mullumbimby, said 40 of his staff were not vaccinated, including 30 teachers.

"We have some teachers who have been here for many years, served the school well and really created an incredible environment for learning."

Shearwater will rely on its casual staff to cover gaps in its roster. (Supplied)

Mr Goodlet is hopeful up to half of the affected staff will decide to get the jab before the start of the new school year, but, in the meantime, classes will continue.

Teachers brought in from interstate

Shearwater has called on its casual staff pool to fill in for the five weeks at the end of the year, recruiting educators from other states who are experienced in teaching the Steiner curriculum.

“To come in with suitably qualified, experienced teachers in Steiner education — that's a niche market,” Mr Goodlet said.

Leading the school through such a significant change has been a challenging experience.

Mullumbimby is an area recognised as having some of the lowest childhood immunisation rates in Australia.

Check Mullumbimby's vaccination rates here

Between 60 and 70 per cent of eligible residents in Mullumbimby are fully vaccinated, with 70 to 80 per cent having received a single dose, about 10 per cent below the rate of neighbouring postcodes.

Local preschools also bracing for staff losses

The Northern Rivers preschool sector is also bracing for significant fallout next week, when dozens of unvaccinated teachers will no longer be able to go to work.

Natasha Livock says the loss of preschool staff is greater in Byron Bay, the Tweed and Lismore. (Supplied: Facebook)

There are 42 community preschools across the region, and many will lose staff who have chosen not to get vaccinated.

Lismore-based preschool educator Natasha Livock says her centre is losing four of its eleven staff.

"There are preschools in certain areas where the loss is greater. Byron Bay, Tweed and Lismore ... [are] the areas that seem to be losing most staff,” she said.

The public health order will expire on December 22, but can be extended.

How to take a rapid antigen test