COVID Compliance Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, indoor in-person Girl Guide activities may take place in a Girl Guide Hall or community venue. No COVID-specific capacity or density limits apply. QR codes and COVID Check-In Marshals are no longer required. Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

Yes, outdoor in-person Girl Guide activities may take place. No COVID-specific capacity or density limits apply. QR codes and COVID Check-In Marshals are no longer required.  Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

No, electronic record keeping like QR codes are no longer required.

There is no one-rule-fits-all in returning to in-person Girl Guiding. Some members or Units may choose not to hold in-person Girl Guiding for now. Consider continuing to run Virtual Unit Meetings.

Remember to communicate with your Girl Guide Unit – including girls, parents, and all Volunteers – to discuss your plan for Girl Guide activities.

If a Girl Guide is unable to attend your regular in-person Unit Meeting, you may also wish to email through activities for her to complete at home. Guides Online runs weekly during school term time on Wednesday nights for Girl Guides who would like a virtual option.

A handy resource for empowering families to decide when to attend Girl Guides is: Can I go to Girl Guides if…?

Yes. Participants at indoor and outdoor events (e.g. parents at a Promise Ceremony) are no longer required to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

The recommendation is for drop-off and pick-up to occur outside of the Girl Guide Hall or indoor meeting venue – that is, that parents/guardians do not enter the Hall.

If a parent/guardian does need to enter the Hall for pick-up and drop-off (for example, due to poor weather or other safety concerns):

• Only one parent/guardian enters the Hall.
• Sharing pens and devices for ‘signing’ girls in and out of each Girl Guide meeting is not recommended.

If an adult carer is required to assist an individual Girl Guide in your Unit (e.g. due to disability), the carer needs to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

If an attendee at your Girl Guide meeting (including parents completing drop-off or pick-up) has recently tested positive for coronavirus, or is classified as a household/primary close contact, follow the advice here.

Remember that the coronavirus hotline is available for advice 24/7: 1800 675 398

Individuals who test positive to coronavirus are able to leave isolate after seven days AND they are no longer experiencing symptoms.

A handy resource for empowering families to decide when to attend Girl Guides is: Can I go to Girl Guides if…?

Individuals can bring their own food for their own consumption.

Food can also be provided, including food prepared by Girl Guides, with the following recommendations:

• One person (or a small team) serves the food.
• Cooks and serves wear masks and wash hands regularly.
• Hands are washed before and after eating/serving.
• Utensils and crockery are thoroughly cleaned.
• Girl Guides must be provided with their own serving and not share food.

Yes, you can. Singing indoors and outdoors is permitted with the following recommendations:

• Maintaining a 2m distance between people.
• If singing indoors, doors and windows are open to allow for suitable ventilation.

Each time there is a confirmed change in restrictions from the Victorian State Government, the JPC team will communicate directly with Leaders and Managers how these changes affect Girl Guide activities.

Yes, providing the Girl Guides Victoria COVID Safe Principles are followed and the rules of the venue you are attending are also followed.

Remember that adventurous activities, including swimming, need the appropriate approval.

Yes, activities at a Girl Guide overnight event can take place with the below recommendations:

• The preference is still for food service to be conducted by a designated catering team wearing masks. If using a self-service buffet, use tongs for each food and wash hands before and after serving.
• Dish washing should be supervised to ensure correct washing procedure (e.g. using hot soapy water). Leaving dishes to dry is more sanitary than using a tea towel.
• Windows and doors in indoor areas should remain open where possible.
• Outdoor activities should be encouraged where possible.
• Masks are recommended when physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities, and appropriate approval (including an OUT.01 application) must be sought for all camping and adventurous activities.

Yes, Girl Guides or Leaders from different households may share a room or a tent at camp. It is recommended that you sleep ‘top to tail’, so that heads aren’t as close together. Masks do not need to be worn overnight while sleeping.

Anyone who shares a room or a tent at camp will be classes as a “close contact” if another member subsequently tests positive to COVID-19. More information about casual vs. close contacts is online here.

Due to constantly changing border restriction, interstate camps and trips will currently be reviewed on a case-by-case basis 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. Be prepared to have multiple review points along the way. Final approval may only be given days before the trip, and 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.

Yes, Girl Guide Units, including youth members, may meet at a hospitality venue. They must follow venue guidelines, and the Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles.

Yes. Please note that Girl Guides Australia adult:child ratios must be met and facemasks must be worn by members aged 8 years old and up.

Yes, providing the Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles are followed and everyone aged 8 years old and up wears a mask.

If an attendee at a camp or sleepover has recently tested positive for coronavirus, or is classified as a household/primary close contact, follow the advice here.

Participants at camp will be classed as “close contacts” if they shared a room or tent with the positive case, and/or spent four or more hours in an indoor space together. All other participants are “casual contacts”. More information about casual vs. close contacts is online here.

Remember that the coronavirus hotline is available for advice 24/7: 1800 675 398

Yes, indoor and outdoor in-person Girl Guide activities may take place. No COVID-specific capacity or density limits apply. Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.

Yes, Girl Guide groups may meet at a hospitality venue. They must follow venue guidelines, and the Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles.

No, your Guide Hall is not classified as a private venue. Private venues refer to homes, and includes front and back gardens.

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

• Commercial hirers must have a COVIDSafe Plan that is specific to their industry.
• Private hall hires must use the hall QR Code and provide a list of all attendees and contact details.
• There must be a nominated COVID Check-in Marshal in attendance for the Hall hire.

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.

Questions about Hall hire? Contact the JPC by emailing guides@guidesvic.org.au.

Yes, as long as your activities are compliant with the Victorian Government guidelines. The Girl Guides Victoria COVID-19 Safety plan must be implemented alongside any COVID-Safe requirements of the host organisation (e.g. Bunnings).

No, however Guides aged 8-years-old and up should bring one with them to Guides. Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.

Please use this resource to help decide when to attend in-person Girl Guide activities.

Each time there is a confirmed change in restrictions from the Victorian State Government, the JPC team will communicate directly with Leaders and Managers how these changes affect Girl Guide activities. Your Unit Leader should be able to give you more information.

On Friday 8 October 2021 the Victorian Government announced new COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions that require unvaccinated workers (including volunteers) do not work outside of their homes. It is a Government requirement for our Volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in in-person Girl Guiding activities. These new directions came into effect on Friday 15 October 2021.

Currently, participants at indoor and outdoor events (e.g. Girl Guides aged 5-17; and parents/guardians at a Promise Ceremony) are no longer required to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Regardless of location, all Volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in in-person Girl Guiding activities.

Currently, participants at indoor and outdoor events (e.g. Girl Guides aged 5-17; and parents/guardians at a Promise Ceremony) are no longer required to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Volunteers received a link in the first week of October 2021 to declare their vaccination status on their GGV profile.

Email covidsafe@guidesvic.org.au with any questions regarding this process.

No, not at this stage. 

Yes, there is no need to change the age ranges of our current Girl Guide Units.

From 6pm on Friday 29 October 2021, all medical exemptions from COVID-19 vaccines will need to use the Australian Immunisation Register’s medical exemption form. Only eligible health professionals can fill in a referral form and submit it on your behalf. This exemption can then be linked to your Service Victoria app so that when you check in to a venue, it will show that you have a ‘valid certificate’.

No, not that this stage. This is subject to evolving DHHS advice. 

From Friday 15 October 2021, in order to participate in in-person Girl Guiding activities, all GGV Volunteers must:

• be fully vaccinated; OR
• have a medical exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.

District/Region Managers can view whether the Volunteers in their local area are able to attend in-person Girl Guide activities on their District/Region Reports. 

Encourage your Girl Guide families to review the information available from the Victorian Government, including resources available in languages other than English.

The Education Department has also put out a resource directed at students aged 12-17, and the Australian Government has a number of factsheets including:

• How to speak to kids about the COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine information for teens and parents

To attend in-person Girl Guide activities, from 15 October 2021 all Girl Guide Volunteers must:

• be fully vaccinated; OR
• have a medical exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.

If you are unable to meet the above requirements, you will not be able to participate in in-person Girl Guide activities until you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or Government advice regarding vaccination mandates changes.

No, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend in-person Girl Guiding activities.

Girl Guide activities cannot run unless ratios can be met by vaccinated adults, including at least one qualified Girl Guide Leader.

Please meet virtually if possible, or reach out to your District Manager for assistance.

Yes.

Yes. 

1. If you have been in direct contact with COVID-19, please stay home.
2. Stay home if you are unwell.
3. Everyone must check in via the QR code.
4. Wash or sanitise hands on arrival, after coughing, sneezing, bathrooms visits & before eating.
5. Face masks must be worn according to Government regulations.
6. Follow hygiene & physical distancing signage.
7. Cough/sneeze into your elbow or a tissue & dispose of tissues immediately.
8. Tell your Leader straight away if you feel unwell at a meeting.
9. Please BYO water bottle (no sharing of drinks).
10. Follow rules & directions for common areas & bathrooms.
11. Ensure COVID-19 cleaning is completed after each activity.
12. Returning to in-person Guiding is a choice. Consider the risk to you, your family & your community.

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 outdoors are:

• How to maintain a safe 1.5 m apart from each other,
• 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.

Yes, the COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist and accompanying resources are designed to help you prepare your Hall/venue, Leaders, Volunteers, Girl Guides, and parents for returning to in-person Girl Guide activities while we live with COVID-19 as part of our daily lives. This will mean increased hygiene and cleaning processes, and means helping Leaders, families, and Girl Guides practice physical distancing while participating in Girl Guide activities.