COVID Compliance Frequently Asked Questions

Under the current pandemic orders Girl Guide Youth members, parents/guardians and supporters can participate in face-to-face Guiding if they are not vaccinated for COVID-19. 

Girl Guide Volunteers are no longer required to be vaccinated for COVID-19,  unless their role provides disability or health care services.  Disability or health care workers are still mandated to be vaccinated and will be required to provide evidence to GGV that they have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid proof of medical exemption before attending a Guiding event in a designated first aid role. This means that any volunteers performing the First Aid role at a camp, sleepover or adventure-based activity (where an OUT.01  is required) and aged 18 or over will need to provide evidence to GGV that they have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid proof of medical exemption.

The Victorian Government strongly recommends all Victorians should be vaccinated. This aligns with the requirement for all GGV members to follow our Infectious Diseases Control Procedure that outlines the benefits of vaccination for all Adults in Guiding.  

You can learn more about COVID-19 vaccines including how to book, vaccine eligibility and where to get your vaccination at the Victorian Government’s Coronavirus website.  You can learn more about Influenza vaccines including how to book, vaccine eligibility and where to get your vaccination at the Victorian Department of Health’s website.  

Current adult and youth members who have not been attending Guides due to COVID-19 restrictions and now wish to return to face-to-face Guiding should contact their relevant Unit Leader or Manager directly to let them know they plan to return.

Former adult and youth members who let their membership lapse during restrictions and now wish to return to Guiding will need to reactivate their membership. You can reactivate your membership by contacting the Girl Guides Victoria membership team on (03) 8606 3500 during business hours or emailing membership@guidesvic.org.au at any time.

Participating in face-to-face Guiding is a choice and at any stage, and for any reason, you may withdraw from this role and support GGV in a different capacity.  This does not impact your GGV membership. Should you have concerns or questions regarding this please discuss with your District or Region Manager or contact the JPC team on covidsafe@guidesvic.org.au.

Everyone aged 8 and over is encouraged to wear a mask for all indoor events, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Regular hand washing, hand sanitising and good personal hygiene practices is recommended.

Regular cleaning and disinfecting of halls, facilities and equipment, particularly high tough areas, is recommended.

Improving ventilation by opening doors and windows, using fans or purifiers and gathering outside where possible is recommended.

The Victorian Government Coronavirus website is a useful resource with information on how to stay safe and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Indoor Guiding activities may take place in a Girl Guide Hall or a community venue. The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

There are no COVID-19 related limits on the number of participants who can attend indoor events and there are no density quotient restrictions.

QR Code check-ins are no longer required for COVID-19 purposes. As always, attendance records must be kept.

Face masks are no longer required to be worn at indoor events unless you are a close contact. Face masks are still strongly recommended for everyone aged 8 and over in all shared indoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible.

Parents/carers may enter Guide Halls and venues to drop-off and pick-up their Girl Guide. Where possible and safe, it is recommended parents/carers continue to drop-off and pick-up outside venues.

Parents, Carers, Families and special guests may attend indoor events such as Promise Ceremonies and Award Ceremonies.

Outdoor Guiding activities may take place. The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

There are no COVID-19 related limits on the number of participants who can attend and there are no density quotient restrictions.

QR Code check-ins are no longer required for COVID-19 purposes. As always, attendance records must still be kept.

Face masks are no longer required to be worn at outdoor events and activities, but are strongly recommended where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Appropriate approval (including an OUT.01 application) must be sought for all camping and adventure activities as per GGV policy.  Those in the First Aider role at these events will be required to be vaccinated as per the current pandemic order.

Sleepovers, camps and other overnight events may take place. The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

Face masks are no longer required to be worn unless you are a close contact. Face masks are still strongly recommended for everyone aged 8 and over in all shared indoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible.

There are no COVID-19 related limits on how many members can share accommodation or a tent. GGA Adult:Child ratios and Child Safe Guidelines must still be met at all times.

All participants attending an overnight event (such as a camp or sleepover at a hall) will be requested to report a negative result from a COVID (PCR or Rapid Antigen) test within 48 hours prior to the event starting. A COVID test undertaken as part of work or school surveillance is acceptable to demonstrate a negative COVID test.  If you have been in isolation after testing positive to COVID in the previous 4 weeks, you are exempt from taking a COVID Test.

Close contacts cannot attend an overnight event at this time.

QR Code check-ins are no longer required for COVID-19 purposes. As always, attendance records must still be kept.

Appropriate approval (including an OUT.01 application) must be sought for all camping and adventure activities as per GGV policy, with those volunteering in the First Aid role required to be vaccinated.

Face masks are required on public transport for everyone aged 8 years old and up, unless they have a valid exemption.  

Face masks are still required on buses (including minibuses at Girl Guide activities) for everyone aged 8 years old and up, unless they have a valid exemption.  

There are no COVID-19 related limits on the size of GGV or external campsite bookings.  

There are no COVID-19 related restrictions on sharing of campsite facilities.  

There are no requirements for campsite attendees to show their vaccination status.  

Girl Guide groups may go on excursions, meet at external venues or hospitality venues and host fundraising activities such as a sausage sizzle, as long as activities comply with the Victorian government guidelines, and any specific venue or host requirements.  

Appropriate approval (including an OUT.01 application) must be sought for all adventure-based activities as per standard GGV processes.  

All adventure-based activities require a Risk Management document to be conducted and submitted to Girl Guides Victoria. A list of these activities is on Guidelines for Girl Guides. Non-adventure based activities do not require a Risk Management document, however as with all Girl Guide activities you should ask yourself three questions:

1. What are we doing?
2. What could go wrong?
3. How can we make it safe?

A few things to consider when conducting your Girl Guide meetings are:

• Can this activity be conducted in an open space?
• Identifying ‘boundaries’ for outside spaces,
• How to stay safe when going to the bathroom (e.g. Do Girl Guides go in pairs? Does a Leader need to accompany the pairs?), and/or
• Stranger danger in public spaces,
• I have considered or I have filled in a COVID Safety Plan for our venue.

Girl Guide Halls can be opened for hire to external groups.  

There are no COVID-19 related limits on the number of participants who can attend Girl Guides halls and no density quotient restrictions.  

Hall Hirers are responsible for ensuring that their workers/volunteers have been vaccinated if the vaccination requirements still apply to them.  

Face masks are no longer required to be worn in Girl Guide Halls. Face masks are still strongly recommended for everyone aged 8 and over in all shared indoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible. 

QR Code Check ins are longer required for Hall Hires.  

Lessor restrictions (e.g. council leased property) may also be in place, you should confirm with your lessor whether there are additional restrictions to accept hall hires at your leased property. 

Girl Guides should bring their own water bottle to all Guiding activities.  

Wearing face masks while preparing food is strongly recommended.  

It is recommended that one person (or a small team) serves the food.  

Girl Guides should be provided with their own serving (eg no platters).  

Hands should be washed before and after eating and serving.  

Utensils and crockery should be thoroughly cleaned before and after use.  

Dish washing should be supervised to ensure correct washing procedure.  

Dishes should be left to dry rather than using a tea towel.  

Close contacts can attend Guiding as long as they are not showing any COVID-like symptoms and have received a negative Rapid Antigen Test result on the day of attendance. 

Close contacts must also wear a face mask indoors unless they have a valid exemption.

Close contacts cannot attend overnight Girl Guide events.

If someone becomes unwell at Girl Guides

If a Guide or volunteer shows symptoms of COVID-19 or seems unwell after arriving at Guides, they should be provided a face mask to wear, isolated in an appropriate space with suitable supervision and collected by a parent/guardian/carer as soon as possible. They should be encouraged to get tested and isolate at home until they get their results.

Hand hygiene and physical distancing should be followed, and masks should be worn. Consider using additional PPE (such as eye protection and gloves) if the person with symptoms cannot be collected straight away. A thorough clean to sanitise all common surfaces and where the Guide or volunteer isolated should be completed.

Unit Leaders/LICs must still notify families if a positive case has attended a Girl Guides event or activity. Please see ‘What happens if a positive case attends a Girl Guide activity’ for detailed information and email templates.  

Interstate camps and trips will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case by the Executive Committee.  

Please work through the regular approval process, including submitting an online OUT.01 application and Risk Assessment online no later than 6 weeks prior to the event start date. Approval will be informed by the most up-to-date COVID rules regarding inter-state travel.

Information about inter-state travel for Victorians can be found online here. 

Girl Guides Victoria will continue to deliver Guides Online each Wednesday evening during school terms, for Girl Guides who are required to isolate or cannot attend in-person Guiding.