The latest updates provided by QLD Regional Manager Ben Callard:

1. Changes to the Working with Children Blue Card System.

There are important changes coming to Queensland’s blue card system. Most importantly, the new laws will help keep kids safe in our community. From 31st August, everyone will need to have a blue card before they start work with kids and not just have an application pending.

Clubs must ensure that all employees and volunteers hold a valid card before they start working with children.

Please click here to read the full article and requirements.

Action item for clubs:

Check your clubs Child Protection Policy, ensure your club is compliant with the new laws regarding Blue Card’s.

If you require assistance, please contact your Australian Sailing Club Services Officer.

2. Mandatory requirements for Child Protection Policies

All organisations who run activities for children and youth are required to have a Child Protection Policy. It is critical that your club or class association has one in place. These are a legislated requirement of operating and conducting activities for children. There is no acceptable excuse for not having the correct policy in place.

Please visit this fact sheet to ensure your Child Protection Policy is up to date and compliant with the law. CLICK HERE.

Action item for clubs:

Check your clubs Child Protection Policy, ensure your club is compliant with the new laws regarding the mandatory requirements.

If you require assistance, please contact your Australian Sailing Club Services Officer.

3. Club Conferences – Queensland Update

Every year the Club Conferences bring together clubs from across the state and are a great way to engage with other clubs and Australian Sailing. Given COVID19, the conferences went online this year with a national agenda. I will be hosting a webinar providing an update specific to Queensland on August 27^th 6pm here:

Join webinar here -  Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Should you have any questions about our webinar please don’t hesitate to contact me. For more information on the Club Conferences and to watch previous sessions visit https://www.sailing.org.au/community/club-conferences/. Looking forward to seeing you online.

Action item for clubs:

Register your attendance to receive the information.

Circulate the above link to your Club’s committee members and encourage them to attend.

4. COVID Safe Sailing

Just a friendly reminder to ensure your club is following with strict compliance the Aquatic Industry COVID Safe Plan. Despite our lack of COVID case in Queensland and our relatively relaxed compliance requirements it is critical that our clubs and sport are doing our very best to maintain compliance with the highest standards. Health Officers are conducting audits of sporting facilities, including sailing clubs so there is also the financial and negative publicity incentives to be doing the right thing.

Of absolute importance is the requirement for contact tracing details to be collected. It is a requirement that these be captured for all attendees to your facilities and events. These details are required to be able to be provided to Queensland Health within one hour.

If your club is intending to host a large event, I encourage you to get in contact with your Club Services Officer to assist and ensure you are following the COVID Safe requirements.

Action item for clubs:

• Ensure your club has adopted and implemented the requirements of the Aquatic Sport Industry plans.
• Ensure your club has appointed relevant COVID Safety Officers. Free training is available for these people at https://www.aqia.org.au/covidsafety/
• Ensure you have a means to collect contact details for all participants, members, visitors to your club.
• FACT SHEET – How to create a QR Code
• FACT SHEET – How to set up a contact tracing log through Revsport
• CHECKLIST – Learn to sail checklist
• POSITION DESCRIPTION – COVID Safety Officer PD
• INFORMATION – QLD Return to sailing – Stage 3
• Return to Play - Industry COVID Safe Plan website

5. Queensland Youth Championships.

Hosted by the Keppel Bay Sailing Club.

2020 Queensland Coaching Clinic and Queensland Youth Championships will be conducted from the 21-26 September 2020.

Please note, this event is not just for those hoping to win the championships. A strong and growing Green Fleet program is included to cater for all our young sailors who are just starting to race or for those who want to have more fun.

This is a great first regatta for anyone – Entries are OPEN!

We have reduced the entry fee – Click here.

All the information can be found here - https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/qld-state-champs/

Action item for clubs:

Please pass on this information to your junior and youth sailors and encourage them to participate.

If you are interested in volunteering as a race official or would like to learn more about the event, please contact us.

If you have any questions about these items or more, please contact one of our Queensland team members below.

Contact:

Ben Callard – Regional Manager – ben.callard@sailing.org.au

Annie Watson – Club Services Officer – annie.watson@sailing.org.au

Grant Willmott – Club Services Officer – grant.willmott@sailing.org.au

Alison Turner – Club Services Officer (P/T) – alison.turner@sailing.org.au

Office phone: (07) 3393 6788