Hi there.
VCM Perth Events want to ensure your ready for the New Year when attending our events as visitor, contractor or trader,
WA Health has released the final details on what we need to do to stay safe, and in business.
If you have any questions please use the link at the bottom of this post to contact the relevant authority directly.
Our online systems and booking forms from FEB 1st 2022 will be updated to reflect the new requirements.
Thank you for being a part of our VCM family. We look forward to seeing you at our next event.
COVID-19: EVENTS INDUSTRY UPDATE Produced by the Environmental Health Directorate (EHD) Circular 19: 31 December 2021
This email is current as of 31 December 2021. Please ensure that you refer to the latest COVID-19: Events Update for the most current information.
WA'S TRANSITION: EVENT REQUIREMENTS
WA will ease border restrictions as part of its safe transition from 12:01am on Saturday 5 February 2022. High vaccination rates and the implementation of public health and social measures, including good hygiene, cleaning regimes and physical distancing where possible will minimise serious illness. Key changes have been made to the COVID Event Guidelines to support WA’s transition. This includes the importance of considering ventilation provisions to reduce the infection risk in indoor spaces. Early guidance is also being provided on proof of vaccination requirements for large events (1,000+) and a proposed change to the definition of Category 1 and 2 events. These changes will not come into effect until 5 February 2022. This guidance is being provided ahead of time for broad planning purposes only, as it is acknowledged that events are organised many months in advance. When referring to this information, it will be important to remember that relevant requirements may change, should COVID-19 activity increase in the community. Event organisers will need to ensure their event complies with any COVID related Directions and Department of Health COVID Event Guidelines, current at the time of the event.
COVID EVENT GUIDELINES
Key changes have been made to the COVID Event Guidelines to support WA’s transition. Please refer to the latest version (Last revised: December) of the Guidelines when developing your COVID Event Plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions have been developed to assist event organisers understand their requirements under WA's safe transition: Who needs to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend large (1,000+) events? From 12:01am, Saturday 5 February, 2022, all patrons, staff, volunteers, performers and any other individuals attending large events (1,000+) will need to be double dose vaccinated against COVID-19. How will event goers demonstrate proof of vaccination or exemption? Visit Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for more information about how people can show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or medical exemptions. The State Government is developing a new integrated mobile app which will make proof of vaccination, use of SafeWA and G2G registrations easier. The app will be available early next year and provides safe, secure and convenient access to these State Government services and will provide a one-stop platform for additional services in the future. How will I check that staff, talent and volunteers are double dose vaccinated? It is recommended that staff provide employers with a copy of their vaccination status ahead of a designated large event. These are the easiest ways to show proof of vaccinations:
COVID-19 digital certificate shows proof of only COVID-19 vaccinations
Immunisation history statement shows COVID-19 vaccinations and all other vaccinations an individual has had.
The quickest way for people to access proof of vaccinations is through their Medicare online account through myGov, or through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Do children attending large (1,000+) events need to be vaccinated? People aged 16 years and older will be required to be vaccinated to attend large (1,000+) events. While children aged between 12 and 15 years are eligible to be vaccinated, they are not required to show proof of vaccination in order to attend a large event. Do patrons at both indoor and outdoor large (1,000+) events need to be vaccinated? Yes, the vaccination requirement applies to both indoor and outdoor events with more than 1,000 patrons. Is proof of vaccination required during bump in/out for large (1,000+) events? People associated with bump in/out for large events will not be required to show proof of vaccination if attending the site outside of the designated event time (i.e. before or after the event). However, if bump in/out crosses over with the designated event period, people will need to comply with the proof of vaccination requirement. Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with proof of vaccination requirements at a large event? The responsibility to ensure patrons are vaccinated at large (1,000+) events falls to both the event organiser and the individual. The extent to which an event organiser can reasonably be expected to check the vaccination status of patrons will depend on the event format (see specific FAQs below related to event types). I am organising an event with a managed entry, what am I reasonably expected to do to comply with the proof of vaccination requirements? For all indoor and outdoor events that have managed entry points, whether ticketed or un-ticketed, it is expected that event staff will take reasonable steps to sight acceptable proof of vaccination or a medical exemption on entry. If an individual is unable to provide the appropriate certification, event organisers will take reasonable steps to deny entry to patrons. They will also take reasonable steps to report non-compliance with denial of entry or suspected false documents to the appropriate public authority. Do I need to fence my outdoor event to ensure patrons are vaccinated? There is no expectation to change the format of any event in order to comply with the proof of vaccination requirement. Event organisers are simply asked to take reasonable measures to ensure patrons are vaccinated – see below. I am organising an unfenced outdoor event, what are my obligations to comply with the proof of vaccination requirements? For all unfenced outdoor events, where it is not possible to manage entry, event organisers will need to undertake pre-event communication advising patrons that vaccination is a requirement to attend. This is a similar approach to that taken toward the contact register requirement at events of this nature. If the event involves an online registration/ticketing process, it is reasonable to ask patrons to check a box, declaring that they and all individuals they are purchasing tickets for have been fully vaccinated. I am organising a fun run/swim, what are my obligations to comply with the proof of vaccination requirements? Staff, volunteers and registered participants associated with any fun/adventure run or swim are required to be vaccinated. It is reasonable to expect participants to declare their vaccination status during the online registration process. If the ticketing process cannot accommodate this change, vaccination status will need to be checked on the day of the event. There is no expectation for event organisers to check proof of vaccination of spectators, as in many cases, it will not possible to ascertain whether individuals are present to observe the event, or simply in the near vicinity. However, events of this nature are encouraged to advertise that vaccination remains a requirement in order to attend as a spectator. I am organising an unfenced outdoor market, what are my obligations to comply with the proof of vaccination requirements? Staff, volunteers and individual stall holders of unfenced, outdoor markets are required to be vaccinated. It will be the market organiser’s responsibility to ensure staff and stall holders are vaccinated prior to the event. There is no expectation to check proof of vaccination of market goers, as in many cases, it will not be possible to ascertain whether individuals are attending the market or simply passing through. However, events of this nature are encouraged to advertise that vaccination remains a requirement in order to attend. What do I do if an unvaccinated patron attends a large (1,000+) event? Event organisers should take reasonable steps to deny entry to unvaccinated patrons to large events (1,000+) where vaccination is a requirement to attend. If the individual refuses to leave, the event organiser can report the incident to WA Police on 131 144. What requirements are there for events with less than 1,000 patrons? Events expecting 500 - 1,000 patrons will need to complete a COVID Event Checklist, but organisers are not required to ensure that patrons attending are vaccinated. Organisers must still comply with contact register requirements if required, by displaying the SafeWA QR code or a paper register for check-in.
EVENT CATEGORY UPDATE
The event categories will be updated at the time of transition to ensure patron numbers within each category align with the proof of vaccination requirements. From 12:01am, Saturday 5 February, 2022, the following will apply:
Category 1 (500 – 1,000 patrons): Event organisers will need to complete a COVID Event Checklist. There will be no requirement for proof of vaccination.
Category 2 (> 1,000 patrons): Event organisers will need to complete a COVID Event Plan and comply with the proof of vaccination requirement.
What do I need to do if my event changes from Category 1 to Category 2?
If your event is changing from Category 1 to Category 2 and you have not yet submitted your event approval documentation to local government, you will need to complete a COVID Event Plan, instead of a Checklist. If you have already submitted a COVID Event Checklist to local government AND your event falls within 21 days of the transition date (prior to Saturday 26 February, 2022), you will not need to resubmit anything further. You will however be required to comply with the proof of vaccination requirement, it just won’t be documented in your Plan. If your event falls more than 21 days after the transition date (on or after Saturday 26 February, 2022), you will need to resubmit a COVID Event Plan to local government to replace your Checklist. This 21-day grace period is being offered to provide event organisers with sufficient time to access the revised COVID Event Guidelines, update their documentation and implement any required changes. Despite this grace period, events falling within the 21 days are still obliged to comply with the proof of vaccination requirement.
EHD CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CLOSURE
The Environmental Health Directorate will be out of office for the Christmas/New Year break between 25th December 2021 to 3rd January 2022. The office will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022. The Public Events Team would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2022.
KEY CONTACTS
For all queries related to events in WA, contact the Public Events Team
Dedicated Police Number - 131 444 WA COVID-19 Hotline - 13 268 43
