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All you need to know: answers to your frequently asked questions

UPDATE – Wednesday Feb 08, 2023:

Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler announced that a FIFTH Covid vaccination will be available from February 20 for all Australians aged over 30 who have not had Covid or a Covid vaccination in the past six months.

Australians aged 18-29 will be able to access their FOURTH Covid vaccination.

Mr Butler said people above 65 years remained at high risk of severe illness and death from the coronavirus and so urged them to take their fifth shot if they are eligible.

The rollout of the fifth shot will help “deal with what inevitably will be the next phase of the next wave of COVID sometime over the course of 2023,” Mr Butler said.

At its September 30 meeting, National Cabinet unanimously agreed to end mandatory isolation for most people who test positive to Covid19, effective as of October 14, 2022.

This means that the pandemic emergency response also officially ends as of October 14.

The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania will no longer be providing Covid19 advice on this website.

Synod’s Crisis Management and Communications teams thank everyone who had expressed their appreciation for our attempts to provide guidance throughout the past two-and-a-half years.

Please remember that Covid19 is still within our community. Just as with any other illness, please continue to take care of yourself and those around you, particularly if you or someone close is vulnerable.

For further advice on Covid19 we recommend consulting the federal government or relevant state government websites:

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10 Comments

  1. Rosemary Carter on May 28, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    Thanks for trying to keep us updated about COVID-19 and worship gatherings etc. It would be helpful, however, if you included the changes in numbers that have been announced for June 1 in Victoria. This is increasing to 20 people plus those necessary for the conduct of the worship – 4sqm space permitting. Church Councils and congregation leaders will need to know this to be able to prepare their spaces, as for some congregations it may actually be possible for them to recommence worship together. The information received today only indicates that it will change on June 1 in VIC and June 15 in TAS but not to what!

  2. Ian Phillips on June 5, 2020 at 8:09 am

    Regarding the COVID-19 FAQ released on 04 June – Please note the typo on page 2, column 1. The updated ‘Gatherings’ information refers to the maximum allowable number of people in paragraph 3 as 20, but the first paragraph in the italicised block points at the bottom of the column still refers to 10 people. Other references through the document appear to be correct as these all state 20 people.

  3. David Morgan on June 5, 2020 at 10:11 am

    The June 4 edition on page 3 requires 4sqm per person in private homes.
    DHHS at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/social-gatherings-covid-19#how-many-visitors-can-i-have-to-my-housenbsp
    does not include the 4sqm. (Below) Did I miss something on DHHS or did you miss the change among all the others n June 1.
    Thanks,
    David Morgan

    How many visitors can I have to my house?
    Under new arrangements that will come into effect at 11.59pm on Sunday, 31 May, you can have up to 20 people in your home at any one time, including those who normally live with you in the household. Children are counted in the total person limit.
    For example, if you are a household of five people, you can 15 visitors.
    If you are visiting someone’s home, you should ensure appropriate physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between you and others who are not from your household and practise good hygiene. If you or your friends, family or partner are feeling unwell you should not visit anyone or have visitors at your home.

    Victorians are being asked to use common sense when it comes to visiting friends and family, especially those who are more vulnerable. That means seeing those you need to – if you need to.

  4. Rob Jackson on June 11, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    HOT TIP: Preferably use the “Download” link within the “Related Documents” box to access the latest version of the FAQs.
    The “Click Here”s within the opening text may inadvertently point to previous issues (like they are currently doing)

  5. Annette Buckley on June 22, 2020 at 12:47 pm

    Hello,
    Thanks for helping us with these updates.
    It would be helpful if you could include the definition of ‘publicly accessible floor space’ for congregations to consider when measuring their worship spaces. The latest information from DHHS says “Note: the density quotient, also referred to as the ‘four square metre rule’ is to be calculated by measuring the area which the members of the public can access, such as the table area in a restaurant, but not the food preparation area or in a store room.” My understanding of this is that if a church building measures 100 x 100, but the front 20m is not used by the congregation, but taken up by the pulpit/organ/communion table, it is not part of the publicly accessible floor space. The publicly available space is 80 x 100. I think the FAQs lead to the impression that you just need to measure the space contained by the walls. Please could you clarify this?
    thanks, Annette

  6. David Morgan on June 29, 2020 at 7:59 pm

    Nominations and elections for Church Council are coming up soon. Are there approved procedures for this without a physical meeting of the congregation?

  7. Don Campbell on July 23, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    Thanks for your great information and tables, etc.
    Could you please design a Mask Poster to display at our shared premises – you must/should (and how to wear perhaps).
    BTW, based on the Government Directives the number who can attend a essential support group still remains the lesser of 20 or the spatial/density quotient. This has not changed for a couple of months, however your Victorian FAQ shows 10 instead. The rest of your information is great and accurate.

  8. Annette Buckley on January 21, 2021 at 8:10 pm

    HI. It appears that the link for the current Victorian FAQs actually downloads the January 04 version. It has the old information about face masks being mandatory in all public indoor spaces.

  9. Trang Vo on September 30, 2021 at 10:56 am

    Hello. I wonder whether the Synod has conversations about the necessity of imposing a double vaccination or not before gathering in church? Many church members have indicated this question.

  10. David Morgan on November 19, 2021 at 3:38 pm

    “Masks still recommended if you can’t remain physically distant, if you have symptoms, or are in a high-risk category.” needs to be changed.
    If you have symptoms, get a test and isolate until receiving a negative test. Wearing a mask is not good enough.

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