Current News

Effective 06 December 2020

• You must carry a face mask with you when you leave home. 
• Wearing a face mask is only mandatory on public transport, while in taxis or ride share vehicles, or when going to large retail venues, including shopping centres, supermarkets and department stores. 
• Face masks must be worn indoors (for example, in the supermarket or on public transport). A mask is not required outdoors if you can keep 1.5 metres distance from others. Face masks must be worn by all Victorians when they leave home, unless they have a lawful reason not to wear one or are outside and can keep 1.5 metres distance. 
• Record keeping continues to be an important tool for helping Victoria to stay safe and stay open. Businesses that are required to record the details of visitors should use electronic record keeping or QR codes. The Victorian Government has a free QR code service. 

Visit the Coronavirus website for other updates and further information.

Effective 22 November
There are a number of significant changes to the COVID Safe requirements for seasonal horticulture workplaces which has previously been emailed out to FGV Members. Please see below relevant updates for hort:

• Removes certain obligations from the listed industries such as having a High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, cleaning logs and PPE training plan
• Removes the requirement for surveillance testing for seasonal horticultural work
• Removes the requirements for employers to supply face coverings to seasonal workers and ensure that all seasonal workers at the seasonal Work Premises wear a face covering at all times
• Removes the requirement on all industries (except for care facilities, hotel quarantine and ports of entry) for employers to require workers to make declarations at the start of each shift
• Retains the requirement for record keeping, separation of workers through bubbles, and increased cleaning.

A copy of the updated Workplace Additional Obligations Directions No 14 can be downloaded here.

Useful Links
Record keeping for contact tracing
Learn the record-keeping requirements for a COVIDSafe workplace, which businesses need to keep records, how long they should be kept and other important advice and information. Find out more. 

Updated Guidelines for cleaning and disinfection in workplaces
Workplaces need to clean and disinfect surfaces - both steps are essential. The Victorian Government has released updated cleaning and disinfection guidelines including information on:

• factsheets for workplaces, workforces, supervisors and building owners and managers
• checklists for engaging and monitoring routine cleaning services
• checklist for engaging cleaning services for a COVID-deep clean
• training completion register template

Posters & Templates for your COVIDSafe workplace
Your workplace can use this free collection of templates, questionnaires, signage and posters to promote a COVIDSafe workplace.
The templates include:

• record sheet - visitor and patron contact log
• staff health questionnaire
• social media tiles to share information to your clients and colleagues

You can also find links to translated information about coronavirus (COVID-19). - Check out the resources

Victorian Government QR Code Service
The Victorian Government QR Code Service is free for all Victorian businesses and venues. These records help contact tracers in the event a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) is identified. The QR code service is free for businesses or venues to use to help with contact tracing. There are no ongoing costs for businesses, venues, or visitors who check-in. Visit the Coronavirus website for more information.

COVID Marshals
The COVID Marshal is a new and important role, aimed at ensuring workplaces are COVIDSafe at all times. They are responsible for monitoring a site’s compliance with their COVIDSafe Plan and additional industry obligations. They play a vital role in supporting workers to follow COVIDSafe principles, and look for ways to continually improve the execution of a business’s COVIDSafe Plan or High Risk COVIDSafe Plan — including entry screening, physical distancing, PPE, workplace bubbles, hygiene, cleaning and record-keeping requirements. 
COVID Marshals are recommended for supermarkets and chilled distribution facilities located in regional Victoria as well as other high-risk industries including horticulture operations using seasonal workers for seasonal horticultural work. Visit the Coronavirus website for more information. 

Seasonal Workers information brochure
Available for download is this handy brochure which can be distributed to workers prior to arriving or upon their arrival. It outlines safe work practices, information on getting tested if symptoms are present, and what to do if you have symptoms. Download the brochure here.

Drought Community Support Initiative up to $3,000 per household (tax free)
Closing December 31st
If you are currently living in an eligible drought affected area in QLD, NSW, Vic, SA, Tas or WA please feel free to reach out. A list of the eligible local Government areas can be found here. The Salvation Army is working together with St Vincent de Paul Society to deliver the Drought Community Support Initiative – Round 2 (DCSI) for eligible drought affected households. If you're a farmer, farm worker or farm supplier/contractor who is struggling financially because of the drought, you may be entitled to receive a one-off payment of up to $3,000 funded by the Australian Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative – Round 2 (DCSI). Visit the Salvation Army website for more information.

New Agriculture Strategy & Funding from the Victorian Government
Minister Symes has announced a new Agriculture Strategy to position Victorian agriculture to help drive Victoria’s recovery from COVID-19 and support economic growth. $65 million in new initiatives was also announced to support its delivery, please see here for details www.premier.vic.gov.au/backing-agriculture-victorias-strong-future.  Below is a breakdown of the funding:

• $15 million to access leading AgTech, innovative farming methods and new skills so farmers have the tools and expertise they need to deliver more high-quality products to more local and global consumers
• $20 million for the Food to Market and Pathways to Export programs, which will support infrastructure and business development projects and dedicated agriculture export resources for Victorian farmers
• $30 million investment to extend the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, which helps farmers reduce their energy costs, and be more energy efficient and productive
• The above is in addition to the $50 million recently announced by the Minister last week for the Agricultural College Modernisation Program  which will directly benefit the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus in the Goulburn Valley, please see here for details https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/skills-and-support-next-generation-victorian-farmers

Global Victoria- Programs and initiatives
The Global Victoria Intellect Program (GVIP) is a virtual, two-week program enabling Victoria-based exporters to gain market research intelligence from teams of international and domestic university students currently studying in Victoria. GVIP gives you the opportunity to tap into Victoria's vast network of smart and diverse future leaders who will provide a robust understanding of international markets.

Each participating company will be allocated a group of students (hand-picked by us) to work on delivering valuable market research for their organisation. Students are guided through an online structured market research process, which will generate valuable insights and data relevant to your company brief.
Registering your Victorian business to take part in GVIP is a simple and easy online process: Visit the Global Victoria website for more information.

Facemasks in Victoria
From 11:59pm Sunday 22 November, there are changes to the rules around the wearing of face masks. 

• Face masks are no longer required when you are outdoors and where it is possible to stay more than 1.5 metres away from people.  
• Use of face masks remain mandatory if you are unable to stay further than 1.5 metres away from people not in your household, such as when waiting at public transport stations, outdoor markets, walkways and thoroughfares.  
• Face masks remain mandatory when indoors – for example, in shopping centres or at a hospital. 

Visit the DHHS website for a more detailed list of updates relating to masks in Victoria.

There are a number of significant changes to the COVID Safe requirements for seasonal horticulture workplaces for you to be aware of. Effectively, in the context of continuing zero COVID case days, the Additional Obligations Directions and Workplace Directions have been wound back significantly.
 
Two new Workplace Directions were issued and became effective on 22 November 11.59 pm – Additional Obligations No 13 and Workplace Directions No 10.
 
The new Workplace Additional Obligations Directions No 13 replaces the previous Directions:

• Removes certain obligations from the listed industries such as having a High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, cleaning logs and PPE training plan
• Removes the requirement for surveillance testing for seasonal horticultural work
• Removes the requirements for employers to supply face coverings to seasonal workers and ensure that all seasonal workers at the seasonal Work Premises wear a face covering at all times
• Removes the requirement on all industries (except for care facilities, hotel quarantine and ports of entry) for employers to require workers to make declarations at the start of each shift
• Retains the requirement for record keeping, separation of workers through bubbles, and increased cleaning.

While seasonal horticulture businesses do not have to have a 'seasonal horticulture worker COVIDSafe Plan', all businesses must have a COVID safe plan in place that addresses the COVID related risks of the business and the requirements of the Additional Obligations Directions.
 
DHHS may still look to undertake some voluntary surveillance testing of seasonal horticulture farms. We are seeking some further information on this.