The Academy of Music Dance Drama focuses on keeping all teachers, students, families, and visitors safe when visiting our studio and associated venues. The following document is based on the Australian Government Department of Health, Health NSW and Safework Australia recommendations.
Unlike a school classroom with multiple students, we are fortunate to have controlled environments where 1 on 1, 1 on 2 and up to 10 in groups. Safe social distancing is encouraged, and if the restrictions allow, our groups will be able to meet in a venue that can maintain safe distances. Rooms/ venues will be allocated according to these requirements.
As you may know, there are no guarantees to keep a 100% safe environment; however, this document will allow a much less risk of any transmitting of Covid19 may occur.
Keep well and stay safe
Brett Lucas
Covid Plan Updates
January 2022
If you are a low risk, casual or close contact, please let the director Brett know on 0415375155. We will respect confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of contact and that this is a requirement from Health NSW.
Covid Plan
Subject to instructions from Health NSW
- No parents if possible to enter the studio. Please drop your students off at the outside doors.
- Unless a parent enters, no QR code is required for younger students. We have records of attendance if needed.
- Please do attend a lesson unwell for any reason. We will continue Zoom lessons if required. If anyone displays symptoms, we will refuse entry to the studio.
- No food and only enclosed water bottles. Kitchen will not be used.
Drama
- Classes will be at the Bulli Community Center
- Only parents that are fully vaccinated are allowed to enter Bulli Community Center
- Unvaccinated Parents can drop their child outside the venue
- Parents must QR code when arriving
- No need for students QR. We will have these records available.
- Mandatory 1.5 metre distance and no body contact
Movement
- Classes will be at the Bulli Community Center
- Only parents that are fully vaccinated are allowed to enter Bulli Community Center
- Unvaccinated Parents can drop their child outside the venue
- Parents must QR code when arriving
- No need for students QR. We will have these records available.
- Mandatory 1.5 metre distance and no body contact
Venues/ External Sites
- We align/ integrate with the host venue requirements
- QR codes will be required by the venue
- The Academy provides students and teacher lists as a requirement to support the venue compliance.
- The Academy provides sanitising products & workplace procedures to maintain safe environments
Masks
January 2022
- Teachers/ Staff: Masks mandatory
- Students: Primary – recommended Secondary – Mandatory
- Parents/carers/ adult students: Masks mandatory
We do have an health order from the Heath minister for exemption whilst rehearsing or performing.
Vaccination
Recommended that all visitors to the studio will have been vaccinated unless exception circumstances are provided.
Please advise or contact the Academy for more information.
Attendance (face to face)
If you or your child is sick, you cannot attend the studio. You must keep yourself and/ or your child at home and away from others.
- Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms, even if mild.
- Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of taste or smell. Other reported symptoms include fatigue, acute blocked nose (congestion), muscle pain, joint pain, headache, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unexplained chest pain and conjunctivitis.
- To get tested, visit a COVID-19 clinic, call your GP or call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 (24-hour helpline).
Remember to maintain physical distancing (min 1.5m) from other parents and teachers when attending the studio, including when dropping off and picking up your children.
The most significant risk of transmission in the school environment is between adults. It is of utmost importance that teachers and parents alike maintain physical distancing between themselves and each other at the studio; therefore, no parents within the studio unless unavoidable. I.e. Student needs
Upon arrival
- Students must wait outside until let in just before the lesson commences. Someone will escort them in.
- Students must immediately leave the studio when the lesson concludes
- QR scan is mandatory for students and parents. Our timetable is also used as evidence of attendance.
- Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser when entering the studio and at regular intervals as required
- Cover coughs and sneezes with ones elbow or a tissue
- Place used tissues straight into the bin
- Avoid touching one’s eyes, nose and mouth
- No food or opened cup drinks. Visitors including teachers to bring own filled water bottle.
Environmental cleaning
Coronaviruses, including COVID-19, can survive on surfaces for many hours but are readily inactivated by cleaning and disinfection.
To reduce the spread of viruses or germs, the studio will:
- Clean and disinfect frequently used high-touch surfaces such as microphones, amps, instruments, desks, doorknobs, taps, and handrails at regular intervals throughout the day with a detergent solution or detergent/disinfectant wipes
- Clean and disinfect frequently used objects such as computers, printer and other equipment with detergent solution or detergent/disinfectant wipes
- Increase the amount of fresh air available indoors by keeping the Studio Doors opened or adjusting air conditioning
- Provide bins in every classroom for used tissues, and empty them regularly throughout the day
- Clean toilet/bathroom and kitchen at the end of the day.
Wellbeing - For young people
- eHeadspace – phone, online and email support for young people between the age of 12-25, including work and study support programs for 15-25 year olds.
- #YouCanTalk – national suicide prevention campaign which aims to empower and increase confidence when it comes to talking about suicide.
- Smiling Mind – mental health and meditation app for young people to boost calmness and contentment.
- Youth Beyond Blue – Beyond Blue’s dedicated site for youth. Information, resources and support for young people dealing with depression and/or anxiety.
- Bite Back – online positive psychology program aimed at improving overall wellbeing and resilience.
- QLife – a nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for LGBTIQ+ people.
- ReachOut – practical digital support tools, resources and tips for young people and their parents.
- Kids Helpline – phone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
- The Butterfly Foundation – free and confidential phone, text and email counselling and treatment referral for eating disorders, disordered eating, body image and related issues
- 1800RESPECT – national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service available 24/7.
Wellbeing - For parents, teachers and carers
- Relationships Australia – support services for individuals, families and communities.
- ReachOut – tailored practical resources for carers, parents and teachers to help them support young people.
- Black Dog Institute – evidence-informed school resources, presentations and programs.
- Emerging Minds – online education resources for professionals who work with children and families to help them identify, assess and support children (0–12 years) at risk of mental health difficulties.
- The Brave Program – a free online psychological program for the treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety with resources for parents and children.
- Child Protection Helpline – 132 111 – call if you are concerned that a child or young person is demonstrating suicidal or self-harming behaviours and their parent/carer is neglecting their mental health care.
- Mental Health Carers – has a range of supports for carers of people with a mental illness.
- SANE Australia – information about mental illness, treatments, where to go for support and help for carers.
- Carers Australia – short-term counselling and emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families.
If our Academy is linked to a COVID-19 case
The Academy may become aware a case has been linked to them by:
- being notified by public health authorities
- an employee or other contractor notifying them that they have been diagnosed.
The privacy and confidentiality of the person diagnosed must be maintained.
With diagnosed employees, or otherwise concerned they may be linked to a COVID-19 case, should seek advice from their local Public Health Unit (PHU) by calling 1300 066 055.
If a COVID-19 case has been linked to The Academy, NSW Health public health authorities will conduct a risk assessment to consider the level of exposure and interaction.
Depending on the outcome of the risk assessment, cleaning of the workplace and/or some communications and media outreach may be required.
If a large number of people may have been exposed or it is difficult to individually identify all contacts, a generalised message will be broadcast stating that anyone who had attended the premises on a certain date would need to self-isolate.
What you need to do if a confirmed COVID-19 case has been linked to our Academy
- Support public health authorities with contact tracing as directed:
- This will include sharing of visitor and customer logs and staff information.
- Public health authorities are responsible for providing relevant advice to all contacts identified by the public health investigation, including information on self-isolation and testing. NSW Health is following national guidance on the definition and management of contacts.
- Public Health Unit staff may request that employees require immediate testing even though symptoms may not be present.
- Advise staff, visitors, contractors and customers of the general situation. This might be via posters, letters or other communication channels as appropriate and in partnership with public health authorities. Information provided should include:
- symptoms of COVID-19 that staff, visitors, contractors and customers should monitor themselves for
- where to seek advice and help
- reminders to staff, visitors and customers to not enter the premises if they are unwell
- advice on physical distancing and personal hygiene measures (e.g. hand hygiene and cough etiquette)
- what infection control measures the business operator has put in place, including cleaning
- any other specific advice provided by public health authorities.
- Implement infection control measures as directed by public health authorities. Employers should be aware that they also have obligations under Workplace Health and Safety legislation, that may require employers to notify SafeWork NSW of accidents and incidents that have occurred at that workplace (such as a COVID-19 case that might be associated with that workplace). SafeWork NSW and the relevant Public Health Unit (PHU) would work collaboratively on such cases.
Closing down the premises or venues
Businesses do not necessarily have to close following detection of a confirmed case on the premises. Closure depends on a few things:
- Public health risk assessment undertaken by the Public Health Unit.
- Cleaning requirements. Premises must be appropriately cleaned following attendance of a confirmed case. This can be done overnight so as not to disrupt normal business hours.
- Staffing implications. If staff are identified as close contacts and need to self-isolate, the business may not have enough staff available to remain operational.
- Timing of the notification. If premises are notified during business hours they may need to close to undertake cleaning.
Cleaning guidance
All areas used by any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 should be cleaned and disinfected.
For hard surfaces, either:
- use detergent and water for cleaning followed by disinfectant solution (2-step clean)
- use a combined detergent and disinfectant solution (2-in-1 clean).
For more information on cleaning, visit Safe Work Australia.
NSW Health does not require that a specialist cleaning company be used, but you can if you want to.
Learn more about routine cleaning and disinfection in the workplace.
Responsibility of workers
- Staff are to monitor for symptoms.
- Staff are not to enter the studio or any venues hosted by the Academy if they are unwell.
- Staff are to follow physical distancing, mask wearing and hygiene measures as updated.
How a business will find out that a worker tests positive for COVID-19
A business owner or employer might be notified that a worker who has attended the workplace has tested positive for COVID-19 by:
- the worker who has tested positive
- an employer of a worker who visits the workplace
- public health authorities.
The privacy and confidentiality of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 must always be maintained.
The actions described below apply to situations where a worker has attended the workplace. Business owners or employers are not required to notify that a customer with COVID-19 has visited the workplace.
What to do if a worker who tests positive for COVID-19 has been in the workplace
- Tell the worker who has tested positive for COVID-19 to return home directly and follow the advice from NSW Health.
- Ensure the safety of the workplace and workers, for example by cleaning and disinfecting all areas used by the person who tested positive for COVID-19. See further information on cleaning the workplace.
- Businesses should assess how much contact other workers had with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, while that person was infectious in the workplace. If you need assistance with this process, call SafeWork NSW on 131 050.
- Advise workers and contractors of the situation in your workplace. Consult with workers about the identification and management of any remaining health and safety risks.