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Covid-19 Information for the Sport North East Community

**PAGE UPDATED 09/07/2020**

How Can We help?

We know this is a hugely difficult time for everyone in the community and we’re continuing to monitor the current situation to get a fuller picture about the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on community sport.
Sport North East is working with our Regional Sport Victoria colleagues around two immediate priorities over this period:

  • Supporting the sector to ensure it comes through this period in as strong a position as possible 
  • Doing everything we can to encourage people to stay active, wherever possible, which we think is now more important than ever. 

We will continue to work with you to understand the ongoing and future impact of coronavirus and we want to make sure that whatever action we take has the greatest positive impact. So, we want to hear from you now about the issues you’re facing and to take on board these ideas and concerns to feed into our plans.

We know that:

  • It will be difficult for your club, league or association to run and host programs or events as planned and retain member engagement;
  • The timings of your season are uncertain;
  • People in your community are likely to be anxious, and will probably want to be continuing with their sport participation; and,
  • More generally, you may be interested in alternative operations to respond to the current situation and to keep your organisation going.

We are offering Sport North East as a point of contact for clubs, leagues, associations and individuals within North East Victoria.  We probably wont have the answer straight away, but will commit to helping try and navigate this situation as best we can.

Please contact us via sportnortheast@thecentre.vic.edu.au and let us know:

  • How coronavirus is impacting you or your organisation?
  • The type of help you think would be most beneficial?

Please keep in touch with us via the above email address as you or your club’s situation changes.


Resources and Links

Current Government Health Advice & Information

FAQs for Community Sport

Can our club keep operating?

Not how it has in the past. Community sport has been designated as a non-essential mass gathering. As such community sport is not able to operate.

On 30/03/2020 the Victorian Premier announced that Victoria was implementing Stage 3 restrictions. There is now the ability for clubs & individuals in breach of the State directions to receive on the sport fines.

It is recommended that all clubs refer to their State or National Sport Association’s position in the table we provided above. This will have the most up to date information around potential start-up dates. Club’s should also check with their Local Government as the recent tightening of restrictions has meant that Council’s have closed access to recreation reserves, parks & gardens.

Sport North East, with our Regional Sport Victoria colleagues, is in the process of developing a range of tools to help clubs stay connected, and utilise technology to function. Please contact us at sportnortheast@thecentre.vic.edu.au and we would be more than happy to help support your club through this.

What about informal club activity?

No this is not possible under the current Victorian directions. As per previous activities at your venue, operating a club activity, even if informal may void any insurance coverage your members are entitled to. Further to this, if people breach these directions, they face on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses. Larger fines can also be issued through the courts.

Can we do any sport or physical activity?

1. Compliance with social gatherings is adhered to. You can only exercise with people that live at your same premises, or alternatively one other person with whom you do not reside with but must maintain 1.5m & other social distancing guidelines.

2. You must not travel for exercise, only from your residence/premesis.

3. Please do not participate in activities which risks you getting injured which may distract medical services from the current community crisis.

Sport is exercise, so why can’t we keep playing?

All social sporting based activities must cease under the current restrictions. While there are being questions raised in the community around the applicability of these restrictions, the over arching message from the Victorian Government and peak health agencies is clear:

  • If you can stay home, you must stay home.
  • For exercise you can walk, run, jog, ride around the block or similar.
  • This exclusion is not intended for people to travel to a sport or recreation facility to play.
  • Under the current restrictions owners/managers of recreational facilities must not open/operate that facility. Victoria Police have been provided the power to issue on the spot fines of up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for organisations who do not follow the rules.

How long will community sport be impacted?

We don’t know.

The current Victorian State of Emergency is set until midnight 11 May 2020.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of this pandemic it is possible that this will be extended, there are positive signs that the State’s collective efforts are working.

Is there financial support available for my club?

Both our Federal and State Government have announced a range of economic stimulus packages to help survive the impacts of Covid-19.  We have collated a range of the stimulus announcements HERE that may be relevant for your club, league or association.


Here at Sport North East:

Our priority is the health and safety of our stakeholders, team members and our communities.   We have adjusted our service delivery and programs based on the current expert advice.

Keeping Active:

Physical activity matters during this period and we think it’s more important than ever right now.

Being active in a way that is right for you, can improve your physical health, help manage stress and anxiety and just generally make you feel better.

We are working with VicHealth and Sport & Recreation Victoria around identifying some great ways for people to stay active during this unprecedented time.

We recommend going for a run, a walk or a ride on your own or with an immediate family member.

Also, check out your State Sporting Association’s Facebook page. They’re sharing innovative ways that club members can stay in touch with their sport at home.

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