Byron Bay woman allegedly sacked by wellness clinic Church of Ubuntu for getting COVID jab

A Byron Bay woman is taking legal action after she was allegedly sacked for getting the COVID jab.

Key points: Woman working for alternative health group gets COVID jab

Woman working for alternative health group gets COVID jab Alleges she was sacked as a result

Alleges she was sacked as a result Unfair dismissal claim lodged in her behalf

Lainie Chait was working as a client care consultant for the Newcastle-based Church of Ubuntu (COU).

The group promotes and sells alternative health remedies including hemp products.

Ms Chait said she lost her job in October, when it became known she was vaccinated.

"For the past 25 years I've been going 'I don't want, I don't need the Western approach', but in this particular scenario I did," she said.

Ms Chait said she supported freedom of choice in healthcare and was shocked to learn she was being dismissed for making a personal decision to be vaccinated.

"It seems extremely hypocritical and I think there are a lot of people in the wellness industry that are hypocrites," she said.

"Because really, you're in the industry to help people, not judge them.

"A lot of the customers that come to them are vaccinated, so why are you still serving customers that are vaccinated and not employing people that are vaccinated?

"That part I don't get, and that's the hypocrisy that pisses me off the most."

The Ubuntu Wellness Clinic sells medicinal cannabis products in Newcastle's CBD. ( ABC News: David Marchese )

The ABC has seen a letter sent to Ms Chait when she was dismissed.

It laid out the reasons behind the decision, describing Ms Chait as a highly valued subcontractor with the Ubuntu Wellness Clinic Newcastle, who was also recognised as a full member of the Church of Ubuntu.

It cited frustration with the NSW Government's "enforced medical apartheid" and "a highly disproportionate response to the Sars Cov 2 virus".

"As a consequence of this ... the Church Of Ubuntu has taken a position that no committee members or full members can be accepted if they consciously chose to, and then complete injections, with any of the current or future planned injections purported to protect from the COVID-19/Sars Cov 2 virus. "It is the position of the COU that to receive the COVID-19/Sars Cov 2 injection consciously and deliberately with intent is in contradiction with our Constitution and contrary to our position on what is required of us by our Lord God and Creator. "As a consequence Lainie can no longer be a full member of the COU. She can however in keeping with the Ubuntu Philosophy still remain as an associate member if she chooses.

Mark Swivel, from Barefoot Law, said the decision went completely against the current trend of vaccine mandates.

He said the case might hinge on whether his client was classified as an employee or a contractor.

"The upshot of it is that we're in the Fair Work Commission," Mr Swivel said.

"The dispute about whether someone is an employee or a contractor is a really common one that the Fair Work Commission deals with, so that's a perfectly normal part of it.

"Then the question of whether the dismissal was fair, well I think it's a fairly open and shut case.

"We were supposed to have a conciliation recently but the organisation did not appear, so we're now looking for a new date.

"If they don't turn up again, then we can take the matter to the Federal Court."

The Church of Ubuntu said its position was as outlined in the letter to Ms Chait, and that she was offered alternative work with an affiliate but declined.

The federal government urges all eligible Australians to vaccinate against COVID-19. For evidence-based information on coronavirus vaccinations, see here.

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