15 Dec 2021
As state borders have now opened Tasmania begins to operate in a COVID-19 vaccinated community. Landcare Tasmania would like to advise our community of our updated response as we enter this new phase.
We have updated the Landcare Tasmania COVID-19 Preparation, Prevention and Outbreak Management Plan for our office in Hobart, and we encourage all groups to update their plans if they have not already done so. Resources can be found here.
- Please do not visit the office if you are unwell or have any symptoms of COVID-19
- If you visit, please check-in using the CheckIn TAS App or the COVID-19 sign-in sheet
- Please use hand sanitiser on entry and maintain a physical distance of 1.5m at all times.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested
- Please consider getting vaccinated if you have not already done so.
What Is The Latest Department Of Health Advice?
- Find all the latest information here.
- Tasmanian Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738
- Fact sheets and resources here.
Can I continue group activities?
We would like to make sure all our members and volunteers are aware that different land managers have different requirements for volunteers on their land or within their organisation. Whether you work on Council, Crown, Parks, or other land, please contact your land manager representative before planning volunteer activities, as they all have different policies in place.
We would also like to remind our Member Groups that they have an obligation to protect the health and safety of their volunteers. The Department of Health has developed this set of case and outbreak management resources, to personally manage your risk related to COVID-19.
If your group feels daunted by what needs to be done to undertake volunteer activities safely, you may find this COVID-19 Support for Volunteers resource from Volunteering Tasmania useful.
Does The Landcare Tas Bulk Insurance Scheme Cover Members Affected By COVID-19?
No. Sickness is not covered under Voluntary Workers policies (only Accidental Injury), so any contraction of this or any other illness by Volunteers would not be covered. They would need to take the necessary steps of being treated by their GP and get testing (which would likely be covered through Medicare). We strongly encourage all volunteers to get vaccinated.
Can We Postpone Grant Commitments?
If you are unable to meet commitments under grants you have received, it is important you contact the funding body or us in the office for advice. Some grants deadlines have been pushed back and extensions will apply if your grant commitments cannot be completed due to the COVID-19 circumstances.
Landcare Tasmania administers the Tasmanian Landcare Fund (TLF), some of the Tasmanian Government's Landcare Action Fund Round 1 grants, and a number of grants under the Communities Environment Program. If your project is unlikely to be completed by the due date due to COVID-19 or other issues, please contact Landcare Tasmania as soon as possible. If requesting an extension to the project, provide details of the reasons the project may not be completed on time. Recipients are also encouraged to review the funding agreements relating to their project, as this provides further information about your obligations in relation to the funding. We are available to help if you need to postpone grant funded work that is affected by the COVID-19 restrictions.
We strongly advise all grant recipients to act early when any issues arise that might affect the delivery of grants on time and as specified in your funding agreement.
We will be reviewing the measures we are taking on an ongoing basis to ensure they remain appropriate and in line with public health requirements.
The Landcare Tas team are here to help. We are passionate and dedicated to helping your Landcare work continue safely. Please don’t hesitate to call or email us with your questions.
