Ausdance NSW is committed to the safety of our staff, artists, members and associated organisations. We have been and will continue to monitor the issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and how to minimise the spread of the virus.

Restrictions Specific to Dance in NSW

Rules for people and businesses in NSW 

These restrictions are in place from 8 to 27 January

Stay up to date with the evolving rules and restrictions, helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 as NSW opens again

LATEST UPDATE:

From saturday 8 January 2022, singing and dancing is not permitted at a hospitality venue, entertainment facility, nightclub, or major recreation facility. Exemptions apply for weddings, performance students and instructors, and performancers.

Current Public Heath Rules are as followed:

Masks

All people over the age of 12 must wear a face mask: 

• in indoor areas (e.g. while shopping, when at a library) 
• in indoor areas of common property of apartment buildings 
• at a public transport waiting area  
• while on public transport (including in taxis and rideshare services)
• if you are working at a hospitality venue and dealing directly with members of the public 
• on an aircraft when the aircraft is flying above NSW and in the airport.

Masks are strongly encouraged in settings where you cannot physically distance.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in

COVID-19 Safe QR check-ins are required at:

• retail premises
• food and drink premises
• pubs, small bars and registered clubs
• hairdressers, spas, nail, beauty, waxing, and tanning salons, tattoo parlours and massage parlours 
• gyms (except dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics, and martial arts studios)
• hospitals (except patients of hospitals or hospitals with an electronic entry recording system that records sufficient information that can be used for contact tracing)
• residential care facilities or hostels (except in relation to the residents)
• places of public worship, like churches, mosques, temples, meeting houses and synagogues
• funeral, memorials and gatherings afterwards
• nightclubs
• casinos
• indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.

Occupiers of premises are required to continue to take reasonable steps to ensure people can check-in or provide their contact details when they enter these premises. 

Vaccination evidence

Most premises in NSW are now open to everyone, regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not.

You no longer need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated at most premises.

However, you still need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated if you: 

• attend an indoor music festival with more than 1000 people
• if you work in certain industries.

Occupiers of premises

Some premises may choose to require people to be fully vaccinated or to wear a mask as a condition of entry.

It is a matter for the occupier of each premises to exercise judgement on what is appropriate for their premises and the well-being of their staff and customers. 

If you want to enter premises where an occupier has chosen to require you to be fully vaccinated, the occupier may ask to see your vaccination evidence. You do not have to show the occupier your vaccination evidence, but if you do not, the occupier may not let you in.

Sport, exercise and outdoor gatherings

Anyone can participate in sport, exercise, and outdoor gatherings. 

• You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.
• COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except at gyms).
• Face masks are not required.

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can operate with no person or capacity limits in place, including group fitness classes.

Libraries, museums and galleries

Information and education facilities, including art galleries, museums and libraries are open. 

Anyone can visit an information and education facility. 

• You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.
• COVID-19 Safe check-in is not required.
• Face masks are required, subject to exemptions.

Financial Assistance

MICRO-BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT

• A fortnightly payment of $1,500 for small businesses and sole traders with a turnover between $30K and $75K that have experienced a revenue decline of 30% or more. Eligible businesses also must provide the primary source of income for a person associated with the business. Applications are made through the NSW Government.
  More information and applications can be found here >>

BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT

• A one-off grant of up to $15,000 is available for NSW businesses and sole traders who had a turnover of more than $75K per annum for the year ending 30 June 2020. Different grant amounts are available depending on the decline in turnover experienced during the restrictions. Applications are made through the NSW Government.
  More information and applications can be found here >>

JOBSAVER

• A fortnightly payment is available to help maintain employee headcount and provide cashflow support to businesses with a turnover between $75K and $50 million that have experienced a revenue decline of 30% or more. The fortnightly payment amount is determined for employing businesses by 40% of their weekly payroll (minimum payment of $1,500 and maximum payment of $10,000 per week). For non-employing businesses, the fortnightly payment is $1000 a week. Applications are made through the NSW Government.
  More information and applications can be found here >>

COVID-19 DISASTER PAYMENT

• The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a one-off cash payment for each period of lockdown, from the federal government (Services Australia). If you’ve lost from 8-20 hours of work, you can now receive $450. If you lost 20 hours or more of work, you can now receive $750. Previously, this was only available to people for people with less than $10K of liquid assets and people from the Greater Sydney but this threshold has now been waved and is now available to anyone in NSW losing hours of work. You just need a centerlink account attached to your mygov account (you can set this up if you don’t have one already).
  More information on claiming a payment from Service Australia here>>
  If you have lost hours of work you can call Service Australia on: 180 22 66

NSW PERFORMING ARTS SUPPORT PACKAGE

• The aim of this package is to provide urgent financial support to performing arts venues, producers and promoters impacted by the cancellation or postponement of performances resulting from the NSW Government COVID-19 Public Health Orders from 26 June 2021. The package is also designed to provide certainty to performing arts venues, producers and promoters of what assistance will be available if further COVID-19 Public Health Orders result in further cancellation of performances or restrictions in audience numbers. An eligible venue, producer or promoter of an eligible performance can apply through Create NSW Smarty Grants.
  More information and applications can be found here >>

SUPPORT ACT – COVID-19 CRISIS RELIEF GRANTS

• • With continued funding support from the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts, Support Act is offering cash grants of $2,000 ($2,700 to families with dependent children) to music and performing arts workers called COVID-19 Crisis Relief Grants (formerly known as MusicKeeper/CrewKeeper). These grants are not a wage subsidy but a one off payment to help pay the rent/mortgage, put food on the table, keep connected by paying power or phone bills, registering or servicing the car, paying medical expenses and so on.
    More information on this grant including eligibility and applications>>

SMALL BUSINESS FEES AND CHARGES REBATE

• • • • • A rebate worth $1500 is available from the NSW Government to help small businesses and sole traders pay for government fees and charges. To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must have a total of Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-2021 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million and have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW. Only one $1500 rebate is available for each ABN. You can apply for this rebate through Service NSW.
          More information and application processes can also be found online here>> 

Health Information and links

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – CURRENT STATUS

• • • Coronavirus (COVID-19) news and media
    • Launch of the coronavirus (COVID-19) campaign
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources – A list of resources in English about COVID-19, including fact sheets, guidelines, and other publications.
    • For daily reports of reported COVID-19 cases, go to the current situation and case numbers.
    • Government response to COVID-19

KEY HEALTH INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

• • • The National Disability Insurance Agency has published Easy Read advice and information about COVID-19 that’s relevant for people with disability or who are Deaf. Click here for the NDIS response>>>
    • Accessible Arts are the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales Head to their website here Accessible Arts or you can contact them at info@aarts.net.au

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• • • We can all help to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.
    • Read protect yourself and others for advice on good hygiene, self-isolation, and social distancing.
    • To help protect people most at risk, follow our advice on public gatherings and visits to vulnerable groups.
    • Information Hotline: Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 1800 020 080.
    • The advice for travellers provides information on airport and in-flight biosecurity measures, travel restrictions and other arrangements that apply.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT