The latest updates from QLD Regional Manager Ben Callard:

1. Yachting Queensland AGM

The Yachting Queensland Annual General Meeting will be held at 6:30pm on the Thursday 29^th October 2020. The meeting will be conducted in a hybrid form with options to participate both in person and online.

The AGM will be followed immediately by a General Meeting.

Please click here to register your attendance and to receive further information.

Please click here for a copy of the Agenda’s and required documents.

Action item for clubs:

1. Ensure your club is represented.
2. Ensure your Club Delegates are up to date and registered with Australian Sailing.

2. Child Safety

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.

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:

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

There continues to be changes to the COVID Safe requirements for sporting events and activities to take place. Further amendments are being made to the Industry plans.

I encourage you to read the latest advice from the Queensland Government and ensure you and your club are fully compliant.

Return to Play - Industry Plans updates & easing of restrictions

Action item for clubs:

Remain vigilant. Strong emphasis in personal hygiene and collection of contact tracing details.

If you are unwell, stay home.

4. Queensland Sailing Awards & National Awards.

On Thursday 10^th September the presentation of the 2020 Queensland Sailing Awards took place in an online format. Close to 100 participants took part in the first of its kind for the Queensland sailing community. The event was great and importantly provided a unique opportunity to acknowledge, thank and celebrate a number of our outstanding individuals and clubs for their contribution to our sport of sailing in Queensland.

Please click here to read the full article and learn who the winners where.

Impressively for the 2020 Australian Sailing National Awards Queenslanders make up finalists in 11 out of 14 categories. Good luck to all our Queensland finalists. Queenslander!!!

Australian Sailing announces National Awards Finalists.

5. Welcome to our Playground

Australian Sailing is excited to release a new Discover Sailing marketing campaign: “Welcome to our Playground”.

This campaign focuses on sailing’s major point of difference: its amazing on-water locations and natural field of play.
The goal is to amplify a simple message:

Sailing is a safe, friendly sport which takes place on the most beautiful playground on earth
Aimed at helping clubs as they get back out on the water, the campaign is designed to:
1. Provide clubs with a fresh message to use when promoting and advertising the strengths of sailing in a changed recreational landscape
2. Grow awareness of and interest in sailing, with a key message of getting down to your local sailing club to discover the sport
3. Provide clubs with templates and imagery to help amplify the message

Click here for the full article.

Click here for Marketing Resources.

Action item for clubs:

Your club is encouraged to embrace and use the “Welcome to our Playground” marketing resources.

Schedule your next Discover Sailing Day and let your Australian Sailing Club Services Officer know.

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