Toolkit launched to help guide return of community sport

3rd RS Aero World Championship © RS Aero Australia Class Association

The Morrison Government has welcomed the launch of a toolkit aimed at ensuring community sporting clubs and associations have a clear path to competition as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

The suite of practical resources, provided by Sport Australia, focus on giving grassroots organisations a roadmap for the safe return to sport at all levels.

Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck said the Return to Sport Toolkit, was a comprehensive checklist that complemented the National Principles for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities, endorsed by the National Cabinet on 1 May

"Sporting clubs and organisations across Australia will play an enormous part in getting the nation back on track as we recover from the impact of COVID-19," Minister Colbeck said.

"The Sport Australia toolkit provides the resources and guidance local clubs need to ensure a streamlined process.

"The safe return of competition relies on a responsible rollout where everybody follows advice and takes precautions."

The Toolkit encourages clubs and associations at every level to document their own COVID-19 Safety Plan and appoint a COVID Safety Co-ordinator to implement and oversee it.

As part of the toolkit, checklists provide practical and progressive steps such as relevant government and national sporting organisation approvals, facility management, training behaviours, hygiene protocols and appropriate communication with members.

The National Principles along with the Australian Institute of Sport's framework will be used to guide the staged return of activity as efforts to stop the spread of the virus continue.

The States and Territories will be responsible for sport and recreation resumption decisions, both at the professional and community level and will determine progression through the phases, taking account of local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability.

"We have a big challenge ahead of us - but together the National Principles, the AIS framework and Sport Australia's toolkit offer tangible advice to ensure community sporting groups are prepared to control and deal with the virus in this new era," Minister Colbeck said.

Sport Australia's Return to Sport Toolkit can be found here.

The AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment can be found here.