It is pleasing to see that several our Season 1 competitions are recommencing or starting shortened competitions in the coming weeks. Everyone must continue to stay up to date with the latest NSW Government COVID-19 information.

New Public Health Order
On Tuesday, June 30 2020, the NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research, The Hon Brad Hazzard MP, made the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) under the Public Health Act 2010. This Order revokes all previous Public Health Orders and, amongst other areas, provides the rules governing the conduct of sport and active recreation. The full Order may be viewed here. Attached is a brief of the Order and relevant sections.

While a return to play is allowed, there remains a limit of no more than 500 persons (participants, officials and spectators) at an outdoor sporting venue at any one time. Social distancing measures are also to be maintained at all times.

It is also important to note that a COVID-19 Safety Plan is mandatory under the Public Health Order and must be kept at the venue/clubhouse with the Committee aware of its location for access and inspection by an authorised officer if required. The NSWTA staff are available to assist all our affiliates with their Safety Plans, and we also provide this link to the Safety Plan developed in conjunction with TFA.

NSWTA Staff
We realise that with the Return to Play now active that the affiliates, in a COVID-19 environment do require extra support from us. We certainly appreciate the patience shown by all our affiliates and regions with current response times due to all NSWTA staff on reduced hours. We recognise now that the sport is being switched back on in NSW that affiliates are planning for recommenced or upcoming competitions. Also, the transition to MySideline is occurring, implementation of the new Affiliate websites is underway, development of COVID-19 Safety Plans is a priority, and the impending representative season is upon us. The NSWTA Board understand that our Affiliates, Regions, and members are going to require a higher level of assistance. Therefore, they have agreed to bring back all NSWTA staff to fulltime hours commencing on Monday, July 13 to help provide this support to the membership.

The General Manager is also looking to transition staff back into the office from July 20.

Victorian Situation
With the current outbreak in Victoria and the border lockdown, the government has provided the following public health advice for people who have travelled from Victoria or Melbourne in the last 14 days.

If a person who has been in a hotspot location within the last 14 days is already in NSW or arrives in NSW, they must self-isolate for 14 days from the time they were last in a COVID hotspot location.

The NSWTA Actions for both Return to Train and Return to Play:

• If you have had contact in the past 14 days with a known or suspected case of COVID-19 or from a hotspot including Melbourne in the last 14 days you must not attend a competition or training & seek medical clearance before returning.
• Participants- if returned from Melbourne in the last 14 days are to remain at home and self-isolate.

Further information will be published on the NSWTA COVID-19 page as it becomes available.

Best wishes, and stay safe

Dean Russell
General Manager