In preparing the below Frequently Asked Questions, we have reviewed Victorian State Government guidelines and consulted with experts both internally and externally. The safety of our Youth and Adult Members and the wider community is at the forefront of all decisions.
We encourage all Girl Guide members to conduct their Girl Guide activities in the spirit of the Guide Promise and Law to serve our community and be respectful and considerate, while also being optimistic and courageous.
If your question isn’t answered here please email it to the Joyce Price Centre (JPC) team via covidsafe@guidesvic.org.au. If your question is urgent, please call the 24/7 COVID Hotline on 1800 675 398.
Helpful resources:
- COVID Principles Poster (to be updated with new guidelines ASAP)
- Can I go to Girl Guides if…? (updated as of 22 April 2022)
- What happens if a positive case attends a Girl Guide activity? (updated as of 22 April 2022)
The below FAQs were reviewed on 22 April 2022. They are subject to change at any time.
Looking for the COVID-19 Safety Plan? Check out the COVID-Safe Resources
Questions about Current Restrictions for Girl Guiding across Victoria
Questions about Unit Meetings for Unit Leaders
Can my Unit hold regular indoor Unit Meetings? 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.
Can my Unit participate in outdoor activities, like hiking? 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. Â Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food. The COVID-19 Safety Plan must be implemented for all activities.
Do we have to wear masks at Girl Guides? Masks are recommended if physical distancing is not possible and when preparing food.
Do we have to use electronic record keeping? No, electronic record keeping like QR codes are no longer required.
My Unit isn't comfortable with, or isn't able to, hold in-person Girl Guide meetings right now. What should we do? 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.
A Girl Guide in my Unit needs to isolate. How can I support her? 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…?
Can parents and other special guests come to an award ceremony? 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.
Can parents/guardians enter the Hall to drop-off and pick-up their Girl Guide? 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):
One of my Girl Guides requires an adult carer. How does this work? 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.
My Girl Guide meeting was attended by someone who has now tested positive for coronavirus. What should I do? 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
One of my Girl Guides tested positive for coronavirus but has now recovered. What does she/her family need to do before returning to in-person Girl Guides? 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…?
Can we have food at a Girl Guide activity, such as a cooking night? 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:
Can my Unit sing together? Yes, you can. Singing indoors and outdoors is permitted with the following recommendations: What will change for Girl Guides when restrictions ease? 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. Questions about Camps & other activities for Unit Leaders Can my Unit go on an excursion? 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. Can my Unit hold overnight events like sleepovers and camps? Yes, activities at a Girl Guide overnight event can take place with the below recommendations: 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. Can Girl Guides share a room or a tent at camp? 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. Can my Unit go on an inter-state trip? 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. Can my Unit go to a cafĂ© or a restaurant together? 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. Can my Unit travel together to an activity in a minibus? 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. Can my Unit travel together to an activity using public transport? Yes, providing the Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles are followed and everyone aged 8 years old and up wears a mask. My overnight event was attended by someone who has now tested positive for coronavirus. What should I do? 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 Questions for Trefoil Guilds & Olave Peer Groups Can my Trefoil Guild, Olave Peer Group, or adult Volunteer Team return to normal meetings? 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. Can my Trefoil Guild or Olave Peer Group meet at a cafĂ© or a restaurant? Yes, Girl Guide groups may meet at a hospitality venue. They must follow venue guidelines, and the Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles. Questions about Halls & Fundraising Is my Guide Hall/Scout Hall/Community Centre etc. a 'private venue'? No, your Guide Hall is not classified as a private venue. Private venues refer to homes, and includes front and back gardens. Can we hire our Guide Hall out to an external group, such as a dance group? Yes. Girl Guide Halls can be opened for hire for external groups. 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. Can we host a fundraising activity such as a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle? 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). Questions for Girl Guides & families Do we have to wear masks at Girl Guides? 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. I'm not feeling well, but my Girl Guide is fine. Can she attend Girl Guides tonight? Please use this resource to help decide when to attend in-person Girl Guide activities. What will change for Girl Guides when restrictions ease? 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. It is not the policy of Girl Guides Victoria to mandate that Leaders or youth members are vaccinated. However, Public Health directions prohibit unvaccinated Leaders and parent helpers from participating in some aspects of in-person Girl Guiding. For the purposes of the below advice regarding vaccinations, ‘fully vaccinated’ refers to a person who has received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. The below advice will be reviewed and revised as advice from the Victorian State Government is released, and is subject to change at any time. More information about which venues across Victoria require vaccination against COVID-19 is online here. General questions Are vaccinations now mandated for Girl Guides Victoria members? 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. Are any Girl Guide activities exempt from the vaccine mandate? 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. How do I inform Girl Guides Victoria of my vaccination status? 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. Do Girl Guides aged 5-17 need to be vaccinated to attend in-person Girl Guide activities? No, not at this stage. Can Girl Guide Units still have mixed ages? Yes, there is no need to change the age ranges of our current Girl Guide Units. How do I apply for a medical exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine? 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’. Are religious exemptions to receiving the COVID-19 vaccination available? No, not that this stage. This is subject to evolving DHHS advice. Questions for Adult Members What is the timeline for me to get vaccinated? From Friday 15 October 2021, in order to participate in in-person Girl Guiding activities, all GGV Volunteers must: How will I know if the Volunteers in my Unit/District/Region are vaccinated? 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. How can I support the Girl Guides in my Unit to receive their vaccination? 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: I'm a Girl Guide Volunteer who isn't vaccinated yet. What happens? To attend in-person Girl Guide activities, from 15 October 2021 all Girl Guide Volunteers must: 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. I'm an adult volunteer who is only partially vaccinated. Can I attend Girl Guides while I wait for my second dose? No, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend in-person Girl Guiding activities. We do not have enough vaccinated Girl Guide Volunteers to meet ratios. What do we do? 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. There are unvaccinated adults in my Girl Guide's household. Can their Girl Guide still attend in-person Unit meetings? Yes. Questions for Girl Guides & families There are unvaccinated adults in my Girl Guide's household. Can my Girl Guide still attend in-person Unit meetings? Yes. Download the COVID Principles Poster
These principles are applicable to all in-person Girl Guide activities, when and where these are permitted to occur.
Questions about vaccinations
Girl Guides Victoria COVID-Safe Principles (to be updated with new guidelines ASAP)
Do I need to conduct a Risk Management when planning outdoor activities? 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: A few things to consider when conducting your Girl Guide meetings outdoors are:
Are there resources to help keep my Unit's Girl Guide activities COVID-safe? 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.
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