| We have a move in the right direction for term 2.
Outdoors SA was advised by the Department for Education today (12 April) that a notice will be distributed tomorrow (13 April) informing education department schools that they may proceed with full camping, unrestricted starting in week 3. Restrictions would be limited to intrastate travel only and current health advice about masks on buses etc.
UPDATE – the correspondence from the Department for Education reads:
“Arrangements from week 3, term 2
After the holidays, we’ll continue to closely monitor the transmission of COVID-19 in schools, preschools and the broader community.
Our intent is to remove restrictions to allow the following to resume from week 3, term 2:
- overnight, intrastate camps with shared indoor spaces (ie dormitory accommodation) with no restriction on travel time within the state
Further information will be provided during week 2.”
Ongoing advocacy
Outdoors SA have requested that these changes begin as of week 1, and encourages providers to work directly with schools that are having increased cases. This will enable 100% occupancy in dorms and removal of the travel distance etc. It will also allow schools to manage their own HR and classroom requirements from the beginning of term 2, instead of continuing with blanket rules that are impacting everyone.
Outdoors SA is continuing to work with the Department for Education, CESS and AISSA to advocate with SA Health to remove the close contacts rules for people on camp and enable the normal school setting rules to apply. We are also seeking exemption for camp staff to receive similar exemptions for close contact rules as there are many shortages in the industry at the moment.
Whilst we all wanted this news to come sooner, it is a giant step in the right direction to help us begin rebuilding from the huge impact that has been felt in SA. A support package request was sent in February to the previous Treasurer and two requests and updated packages have been sent to the new Treasurer seeking compensation for this prolonged restriction of trade. We have been informed by the ABC that the Treasurer plans on meeting with the sector to discuss these options.
In addition to a rebuilding package for the industry, we are seeking for the Department for Education to advocate the benefits of going on camp and going forward, how this will be supported in school in general.
We would like to sincerely thank our national partners who have supported Outdoors SA in advocating for our sector as well as our local members and partners to see these packages come to fruition and ensure a strong and united outdoor sector in South Australia.
Thank you to the support of all the state members and the Australian Camps Association, Christian Venues Association, OEASA – Outdoor Educators’ Association of South Australia, Outdoor Council of Australia, Outdoors WA, Outdoors Victoria, Outdoors NSW & ACT and Outdoors Queensland.
The following article was published by ABC today, highlighting the need to support our industry.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-12/sa-outdoor-educators-in-crisis-as-school-camp-shutdown-continues/100983916
You can find the recent advocacy work of Outdoors SA on the Media Engagement & Advocacy page. |
