Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 20 October 2021
Updated Events Framework
Today the Tasmanian Government has released the revised Events Framework which will come into effect on 1 November 2021.
The updated Framework provides greater clarity for event organisers about how to run a COVID-19 safe event in Tasmania.
Maintaining COVID safe practices at large gatherings is particularly important to help reduce the risk of spread of COVID in our community, even as our vaccination rates increase.
This revised Events Framework provides clear guidance to event organisers about the application process, and advice on the sorts of events that must be registered. The changes have been made based on feedback from stakeholders and applicants who reported that the existing framework is complex and difficult to use.
We want to support event organisers to plan and hold COVID-19 safe events that protect participants and the community in a changing COVID-19 risk environment.
The Framework document, and the application process and forms, have all been improved.
The main elements of the Framework include:
- All events with more than 250 people gathering indoors; or 500 people gathering outdoors must be registered
- Events with more than 2,000 people must have a COVID-19 Safe events plan developed, submitted and approved
- Free-moving and mixing events are capped at 5,000 patrons at any point in time. This means that multiple sessions can be conducted on an event day to enable larger numbers of people to participate, capped at 5000 at any time.
- Outdoor seated events in stadiums and arenas are capped at their seated capacity
- Face masks must be worn at all events with over 1,000 people.
- Staff, volunteers and contractors are not included in the overall crowd size – allowing more people to attend events.
As we work towards opening up and living in a COVID vaccinated community, we will continue to review how the events of summer can be safely and successfully enjoyed.
These improvements aim to support the social and economic recovery of the community through participation in Tasmania’s vibrant and unique events.
Business Tasmania is available to help support event organisers to plan for and hold events in the safest way possible. The revised framework is available online at: https://www.business.tas.gov.au/coronavirus_information/event_framework.
Media release – Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, Secretary, Department of Health & Joe Acker, Chief Executive, Ambulance Tasmania, 20 October 2021
Learning from our people to improve culture
Ambulance Tasmania is implementing a range of measures designed to improve workplace culture and provide additional support for employees following the organisation’s first ever ‘resilience scan’.
Ambulance Tasmania Chief Executive Joe Acker said the resilience scan allowed employees to provide feedback and information anonymously, enabling Ambulance Tasmania to examine and improve areas to better support staff and ultimately deliver the highest-quality service to the Tasmanian community.
“Without doubt, the scan has provided us with information that is a concern, and we acknowledge that we need to do better in supporting employees, many of whom are doing a job that can be extremely challenging. We want our staff to feel valued, and that they are providing value; to have the access they need to all levels of management, including the executive team, to raise issues and have a genuine conversation; and to have access to thorough and timely communication, including information relating to Ambulance Tasmania’s decision-making processes.
“As the chief executive of Ambulance Tasmania, I do not shirk from that responsibility, which is why I made improving our culture one of my top priorities when I was appointed in July. The resilience scan represents a first step in a journey that all of Ambulance Tasmania must make as an organisation. Like any organisation, we cannot improve our culture if we aren’t brave enough to look at where we could do better. Understanding the problems allows us to shine a light on solutions.
“I have moved immediately to implement actions identified by the resilience scan including having AT’s executive team meet with staff members; scheduling a series of facilitated workshops around the State for Ambulance Tasmania employees to identify and define ways we can improve culture, processes, and leadership; and stabilise senior leadership positions by the end of the year to improve decision-making and give staff greater confidence in the accountability of management.
“These steps build on other measures we have put in place to better support employees, including ensuring managers have the skills they need to properly manage and guide our people, even if that means having difficult but appropriate conversations.
“Ambulance Tasmania also places a heavy focus on mental health and wellbeing of staff, with workshops being held to provide all levels of management with the tools they need to not only identify potential mental health issues and assist staff accordingly, but also to promote self-care.
“We’ve also taken measures to strengthen structures within the organisation, ensuring that managers are taking responsibility for their staff and the decisions they make.
“The staff at Ambulance Tasmania do an amazing job – they all help save lives every single day or night they go to work. I want to create an organisation that supports our people to keep doing that in the very best way it can, and in turn deliver the best possible service to the Tasmanian community.
“We are taking these steps not because we have to, but because we should, and because I want every employee of AT to feel they are fully supported in their role, whatever that is.”
Department of Health Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said she fully supported Ambulance Tasmania’s executive team in its efforts to improve the organisation’s culture.
“Asking these questions and implementing solutions based on the answers isn’t always an easy thing for organisations to do. I commend Ambulance Tasmania’s executive team for having the mettle to want to make a serious difference and improve their employees’ workplace,” she said. “I also thank our committed and hardworking Ambulance team for their support for this process and their honesty to dig deep and share their personal stories so that we can take the steps we need to improve our culture now and in future.”
Media release – Dale Webster, Commander Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre, 20 October 2021
Bid to boost George Town vaccination numbers
The George Town community is being urged to turn out en masse this Friday for a special COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Everyone aged 12 years and over is invited to roll up their sleeve and get their free Pfizer jab – no appointment required.
Hundreds of places have been made available and the amazing vaccination team is hoping to see as many of the George Town community as possible turn up for this clinic.
The first dose vaccination rate in the George Town LGA is slightly lower than the state-wide average. As of 18 October 75.9% of people in George Town aged 16 or over have received a first dose compared to 83.8% in Tasmania.
The lockdown in southern Tasmania this week is a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be vaccinated.
Vaccination is the most important way of protecting yourself, your family, friends and others in the community against COVID-19.
The more people who get vaccinated the more chance we have of beating coronavirus and returning to a more normal way of life. The message is clear: Don’t wait, vaccinate.
Media release – Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, Secretary Department of Health, State Health Commander, 20 October 2021
Health employees’ vaccination obligations
Department of Health employees have 10 days to report their COVID-19 vaccination status and comply with a Public Health Direction.
The Direction, issued by the Director of Public Health, requires that all health workers are sufficiently vaccinated against COVID-19 on and from 31 October.
This is a legal requirement of our employees, and we are urging all of them to ensure they have reported their COVID-19 vaccination details, or their inability to be vaccinated due to medical contraindication or exemption, as a priority.
I have today advised staff, volunteers and people currently engaged with the Department through placements, that should they fail to provide evidence of sufficient vaccination or exemption by 30 October, on 31 October they will no longer be paid and the Department will commence processes to terminate their employment, volunteer engagement or placement.
While I am confident that staff will comply, for those that fail to provide evidence, the Department will be unable to maintain their employment or engagement as they will be unable to perform any work or volunteering in a health or medical facility under the Direction from 31 October 2021.
Vaccination is our best protection against COVID-19. The Department of Health’s patients and staff include people who are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19, many of whom are not able to be vaccinated. As health workers, we need to set the strong example to the rest of the community about how important it is to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
