Principles and Practices for Safe Worship, Witness and Service
This page was last updated on 1/07/20 with changes to general restrictions, links to current planning templates and disinfectant guide added
under Helpful Resources. We are awaiting updates from the ACT government on current restrictions.
Download Rev. Bronwyn Murphy's Associate Secretary letter on returning to worship and other activities here.
Download the Public Health Restrictions on Gatherings and Movement for NSW here.
Download the Public Health Restrictions on Gatherings and Movement for the ACT here.
5 Steps to COVID-Safe your gathering
- Select your activity
- Review related Covid-19 materials and communications
- Prepare and have your Church Council endorse a Covid-19 Safety Plan
- Send plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au and your Presbytery PRC
- Commence re-gathering when ready
Discerning a way forward to re-gathering
Click here to visit the FAQs page for more information.
Activities
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The Government Guidelines for Places of Worship are available here. This page has your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
2. Complete
- For NSW Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan: places of worship (Word Doc)
- For ACT Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (Word Doc)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Consult FAQs for more information about singing, contactless communion, greeting and pre and post cleaning.
Please note the Government Health Order states that Places of Worship may only be open to the public for weddings, funerals or for private worship.
Please Also Note that for contact management in the ACT, a congregation is legally required to “provide a visitors book in which attendees can voluntarily record their first name and phone number", if they choose.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
- Guidelines for Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
- Guidelines for Funerals, Memorial Services and Wakes
These pages have your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
2. Complete
For NSW Congregations fill in the:
- COVID-19 Safety Plan: Weddings, Ceremonies and Receptions (WORD Doc)
- COVID-19 Safety Plan: Funerals, Memorial Services and Wakes (WORD Doc)
For ACT Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (Word Doc)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Consult FAQs for more information about singing, greeting and pre and post cleaning.
Please note the Government Health Order states that Places of Worship may only be open to the public for weddings, funerals or for private worship.
Third Party Hall Hire falls under the government restrictions for Community Centres. Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The Government Guidelines for Community Centres available here.
Please note that until the 1st July classes or organised events must not have more than 20 participants, not including the persons conducting or assisting in the conduct of the class or event, or parents, guardians and carers of participants.
2. Complete
The Hall Hirer (third party) will need to complete their own COVID-19 Safe Plan and a copy should be sent to Church Council for approval. Hall Hirers are required to keep this plan.
- COVID-19 Safety Plan for community centres and halls (WORD Doc.)
- COVID-19 Safety Plan for gyms, dance studios and martial arts (WORD Doc)
- Normal hall hire insurance processes also need to be followed.
3. Send
Your Hall Hirer COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Consult FAQs for more information about greeting and pre and post cleaning.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The Government Guidelines for How to Make Your Retail Space Safe here. This page has your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
- Retail shops must comply with the 4 square metre rule.
- Retail shops should also seek to make sure staff and customers maintain physical distancing of greater than 1.5 metres.
- Find out more about how to make your shop COVID safe.
2. Complete
Fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan for Clothing & OpShop Ministries (Editable PDF)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Please Note that high risk and the vulnerable should be actively discouraged from volunteering at this time. Refer to information in the FAQ section.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The Government Guidelines for Restaurants and Cafes are available here. This page has your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
2. Complete
Fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan: restaurants and cafes (PDF, 225.22 KB)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
For risk management and insurance support, please contact the Head of Risk and Compliance directly to risk@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The latest Government Guidelines for Places of Worship now includes the provision for Children, Young Adult and Youth ministries available here. This page has your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
2. Complete
- For NSW Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan: places of worship (Word Doc)
- For ACT Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (Word Doc)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Consult FAQs for more information about singing, greeting and pre and post cleaning.
Please Note that for contact management in the ACT, groups are legally required to “provide a visitors book in which attendees can voluntarily record their first name and phone number", if they choose.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
1. Read This
The Government Guidelines for Places of Worship are available here. This page has your downloadable checklists for hygiene, physical distancing, wellbeing and record keeping.
2. Complete
- For NSW Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan: places of worship (Word Doc)
- For ACT Congregations fill in the COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (Word Doc)
3. Send
Your COVID-19 Safety Plan to covid19@nswact.uca.org.au
Helpful Resources
- Poster and Signage to display from the NSW Government
- Posters and Signage to display from the ACT Government
- Advice on Disinfection principles and How and what to clean
- Sample Attendance Register
Consult FAQs for more information about greeting and pre and post cleaning.
Small groups and essential meetings conducted in a private home are subject to the General Health Orders. As a minimum requirement a record of attendance should be maintained.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
Please note the Government Health Order states that Places of Worship may only be open to the public for weddings, funerals or for private worship. For this reason, counselling should continue online at this time.
Under Public Health Orders you must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for how you will keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.
Ministers shouldn't visit congregation members if they are unwell and the Public Health Order applies to number of people allowed in a home. Ministers have requirements in regard to hygiene and physical distancing.
Information forthcoming.
Information forthcoming.
General Planning Template
Church Councils may wish to make use of the COVID-19 Master Re-Gathering Control Plan to help create and maintain a big picture view of the breadth of worship, witness and service activities and respective Covid-safe preparations.
Download the COVID-19 Safety Plan General Activities (WORD Doc)
Mandated Practice for Physical Gatherings
General Community Gathering Restrictions
NSW
For current NSW Government restrictions on groups and gatherings click here.
- Gatherings of up to 20 people in homes/residences or up to 50 people for funerals/wakes.
- Work from home if it works for you and your employer
- From 1 July the number of people who can attend a religious service, a wedding or a funeral at a place of worship is limited to the 4 square metre rule whilst still maintaining physical distancing (1.5 metres apart).
- Regional and some interstate travel
- Every gathering must record contact details
ACT
For current ACT Government restrictions on groups and gatherings click here.
- There are no limits to the number of people allowed in homes
Summary to follow the update of the ACT Government website.
High Risk & Vulnerable
For current NSW Government information on vulnerable people click here.
- People aged 70 years and over
- People aged 65 years and over with chronic medical conditions
- People with a compromised immune system
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions