Update for Regional Artists and Arts Organisations in Response to Covid-19

Posted in Communities on 16/Sep/2021 14:00

16 SEPTEMBER 2021

Restrictions update

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has recommended some modest easing to restrictions from 11.59pm Friday, 17 September in lockdown areas of metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat:

  • ‘outdoor social interaction’ has been added as one of the reasons to leave home
  • one person may meet another person not from their household for a picnic, a walk, or another outdoor activity
  • up to five adults (plus dependents) from two households will be able to gather outdoors if all adults present have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • the time permitted for exercise will increase from two hours a day to four hours
  • the distance you can leave home for shopping for necessary goods and services, exercise and outdoor social interaction will increase from five kilometres to 10 kilometres
  • up to five people will be able to attend an entertainment venue or physical recreation facility to broadcast a performance, class, or concert

In regional Victoria, excluding Ballarat:

  • gyms and outdoor and indoor pools (excluding spas, saunas and steam rooms) will reopen with limits and hydrotherapy and swimming lessons can occur
  • tour buses can operate up to 10 people

To read the Premier’s Statement in full, head to: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-freedoms-when-70-cent-first-dose-target-reached. A full updated table of restrictions is available at the bottom of the page at this link as well.

15 SEPTEMBER 2021

Seven day lockdown in Ballarat

The Victorian Government has announced the City of Ballarat will tonight enter a seven day lock down to slow the spread of COVID-19. From 11.59pm tonight, 15 September, the City of Ballarat will have the same restrictions as metropolitan Melbourne, but without a curfew. This will last for seven days, until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 22 September.

This mean that for the Ballarat Community, there will be only five reasons to leave home:

  • shopping for necessary goods and services;
  • authorised work and study;
  • caregiving or compassionate reasons;
  • exercise; and,
  • getting vaccinated.

Exercise and shopping will be limited to five kilometres from your home. If there are no shops within that radius, you can travel to the shops closest to you.

You can read the Premier’s Statement in full here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/ballarat-lock-down-week-slow-virus-spread

Funding

Resources

8 SEPTEMBER 2021

Eased restrictions

Today the Premier announced eased restrictions for regional Victoria, with the exception of metro Melbourne and Greater Shepparton (love you, Shepp). This means that for regional Victoria from 11.59pm Thursday 9 September:

  • the five reasons to leave the home will be removed;
  • there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne;
  • the Authorised Worker list will no longer apply in the regions, meaning most businesses and venues can reopen with capacity and density limits (see below for link to info);
  • regional Victorians will return to the rule ‘if you can work from home, you should work from home’ but office workers will be able to return up to 25 per cent or up to 10 people, whichever is greater;
  • regional schools will reopen for onsite learning for Prep to Grade 2 and Year 12 students who live in regional Victoria, while remote learning will remain for all other levels;
  • restaurants and cafes can reopen for seated service with patron caps;
  • retail, hairdressing, entertainment venues and community facilities will also open in line with density limits and patron caps (see table of restrictions below);
  • masks will continue to be required indoors and outdoors, apart from private residences, unless an exception applies;
  • businesses that are open in regional Victoria must check the IDs of everyone they serve; and,
  • Victorians who have been residing in a NSW Local Government Border Area for at least the 14 days from Wednesday, 25 August to Wednesday, 8 September will be able to apply for a new permit exemption category: ‘Victorians in the cross-border community’ to come home at the Service Victoria website: https://service.vic.gov.au/

You can read the updated Table of Restrictions here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-09/210908%20-%20Table%20of%20Restrictions_0.pdf

You can read the Premier’s statement in full here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-restrictions-lift-regional-victoria-0

Funding available

Survey

  • The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions is undertaking work to get a better understanding of measures that might be of assistance to different sectors during lockdowns and early phases of restrictions easing. This survey is seeking to understand the benefits of streaming and broadcasting on your live performance: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GH6GCMZ

4 SEPTEMBER 2021

Support extended

The joint Victorian and Federal Government support program was extended across Victoria today. It comprises the same elements as recent announcements for the four week period ending September 30, with some updates:

Business Costs Assistance Program: businesses in Victoria who have already qualified for support through the Business Costs Assistance Program will automatically receive additional payments for each week they are unable to operate due to lockdowns, with weekly payments now dependent on payroll:

  • $2,800 a week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000;
  • $5,600 a week for businesses with an annual payroll of $650,000 to $3 million;
  • $8,400 for businesses with an annual payroll of $3 million to $10 million.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund: Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week will be made to licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs.

  • Payment amounts are based on the capacity of premises: $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons, $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons and $20,000 for a capacity of 500 or more. 

Alpine Resorts Winter Support Program: a targeted program that will provide top-up payments of between $10,000 and $40,000, depending on business type and location. 

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund: grants of $20,000 are available to small and medium sized businesses across the state that have been ineligible for business support programs and have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 per cent. Those who have already received $14,000 through this fund will receive and automatic top-up of $6,000. Applications close September 10.

COVID-19 Disaster Payments: Eligible workers who lose work due to the lockdown will be able to access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment, as will individuals who are sole-traders and do not qualify for Victorian Government support programs. The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is administered through Services Australia.

  • The payment is set at $450 for people who have lost 8-20 hours work over seven days and $750 for 20 hours or more.
  • People who receive certain Commonwealth income support are eligible to receive a $200 payment where they have lost eight hours work or more due to the lockdowns.
  • Victorian micro-businesses and sole traders who wish to apply for the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment can receive assistance in making their application via the Business Victoria Concierge Service on 13 22 15.

More information about the business support programs is available at business.vic.gov.au.

You can read the joint statement at: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/extended-support-victorian-businesses

1 SEPTEMBER 2021

Lockdown update

The Premier announced today that the current lockdown will be extended until 70% of Victorians have had one dose of vaccine (estimated to be 23 September). There are some minor adjustments to restrictions, however:

  • From 11.59pm Thursday 2 September, playgrounds will re-open for children under 12, with one parent or carer
  • In home care will be expanded to school aged children if both parents are authorised workers
  • The Premier also flagged that parts of regional Victoria may have restrictions further eased from next week
  • The Premier’s Statement in full is available here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/slowing-spread-and-keeping-our-state-safe. Scroll to the bottom to download updated restrictions.

Resources and support

Surveys

As always we’ll be sure to pass on more information as we have it, but don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re having trouble finding answers to your questions.

22 AUGUST 2021

Regional support package

The joint Victorian and Federal Government support program for regional Victoria was announced today, and comprises the same elements as those for recent metro areas (as well as targeted Alpine Resort support):

  • Business Costs Assistance Program: businesses in regional Victoria who have already qualified for support will automatically receive payments of $5,600 ($2,800 per week).
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund: Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week will be made to licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs. Payment amounts are based on the capacity of premises: $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons, $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons and $20,000 for a capacity of 500 or more. 
  • Alpine Resorts Winter Support Program: a targeted program that will provide payments of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 per week, depending on business type and location. 
  • Small Business COVID Hardship Fund: grants of $14,000 are available to small and medium sized businesses across the state that have been ineligible for business support programs and have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 per cent.
  • COVID-19 Disaster Payments: Eligible workers who lose work due to the lockdown will be able to access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment, as will individuals who are sole-traders and do not qualify for Victorian Government support programs. The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is administered through Services Australia. The payment is set at $450 for people who have lost 8-20 hours work over seven days and $750 for 20 hours or more.
  • People who receive certain Commonwealth income support are eligible to receive a $200 payment where they have lost eight hours work or more due to the lockdowns.
  • Victorian micro-businesses and sole traders who wish to apply for the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment can receive assistance in making their application via the Business Victoria Concierge Service on 13 22 15.

More information about the business support programs is available at business.vic.gov.au.

You can read the joint statement at: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/support-businesses-regional-victoria

21 AUGUST 2021

Restrictions in regional Victoria from 1pm today, Saturday August 21 (and some changes to Melbourne restrictions)

The Premier has announced all of regional Victoria will enter lockdown from 1pm today, Saturday August 21. This means there are only five reasons to leave home in regional Victoria:

  • to get the food and the supplies you need;
  • exercise for up to two hours no more than 5km from your home;
  • for care or caregiving;
  • authorised work or education if you can’t do it from home; or,
  • to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.

With the exception of the curfews, this means regional Victoria is effectively at the same level as metro Melbourne, including:

  • Playgrounds, basketball hoops, skate parks and outdoor exercise equipment will be closed.
  • Masks will also not be able to be removed to drink alcoholic beverages.
  • Exercise will be limited to just one other person, plus dependants if they can’t be left at home.
  • No visitors to the home.

In addition, all childcare centres across Victoria will be closed except to children whose parents are authorised workers and cannot be supervised at home. Vulnerable children can still attend. A permit system will apply, and further details will be published soon.

You can read the Premier’s Statement in full here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/lockdown-across-regional-victoria-keep-us-safe

The Table of Restrictions can be read here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/210821%20-%20Table%20of%20Restrictions.pdf

Mental health resources

  • A reminder of: The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, a completely confidential and free of charge 24/7 phone counselling service. Simply phone 1800 959 500 to speak with an experienced, qualified clinician about any aspect of your mental health and wellbeing. Support Act also have COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants: https://supportact.org.au/
  • Resources are also available through the Arts Wellbeing Collective: https://artswellbeingcollective.com.au/

Archives - Update for Regional Artists and Arts Organisations in Response to Covid-19

Regional Arts Victoria has been providing regular updates to our Members as we become aware of new announcements and information relevant to the arts and creative industries. We will post these here.