AOCRA Qld State Centre Inc.

Reset Guidelines for Queensland’s Outrigger Canoeing Community

Stepping down from COVID-19 restrictions

 AOCRA Queensland State Centre (QSC) is fully committed to the safe return to the sport of outrigger canoeing. It has written this reset document as Queensland roadmaps the relaxation of its COVID- 19’s restrictions, in 3 stages starting 15 May 2020

 The latest official releases in May 2020 from the National Cabinet, the Palaszczuk Government, Queensland’s Health Authorities, AIS’ recommendations, and Outdoor Aquatic Sports that have shared their return to sport models with QSports State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) (of which QSC is a member representing outrigger canoeing at a state-wide level) has helped to inform this document.

 QSC’s focus of this work is to provide guidelines and protocols that include the clarity to date around the state government’s roadmap that outlines a staged approach to stepping down from COVID-19 restrictions.

 Within this document, information is across four sections:

1.    Background and Rationale

2.    Stage One - 15 May 2020

o   Clarification Statement

o   In-Practice

3.    Stage Two 12 June 2020

o   Clarification Statement

o   In-Practice

o   Tools to prepare clubs for a Return to Organised / Structured Competition

4.    Next Steps

o   Local Government

o   Exemptions

o   Tools

o   Reference Links.

Background and Rationale

 QSC has compiled this document specifically for outrigger canoeing. It will be passed on to each Queensland Zone to decide whether they provide another layer of information, not take it up, or adopt it as-is and roll it out to AOCRA affiliated clubs within their jurisdiction prior to the start of Stage One, 15 May 2020.

 The Palaszczuk Government released its roadmap on 8 May 2020. Clarification discussions amongst member SSOs with QSport – Queensland’s Peak Body, began 11 May 2020. They lead up to the next re-convening of the National Cabinet meeting, Thursday 14 May 2020.

The state government has intentions to release some guidance material and possibly a more definitive statement for sport on Friday 15 May 2020, to assist SSOs to better understand these changes, its impacts, and planning considerations going forward.

Given we are in unprecedented times, noting how Zones and clubs operated before COVID-19 is now to change immensely. At a micro level, there is a reset to occur. It is more than just starting again as it brings a new way of operating that includes extra roles, different processes especially precautionary ones, a different way to behave, physical changes, new partnerships, having to revise or learn new strategies and skills, averting risk all the while balancing priorities that will determine the future of a club’s life amidst a volatile World.

What is envisaged for Zones and clubs in order to stabilise during this slow recovery is to invest the time in keeping connected with club members. Educate them through free links. QSC has been sending out links for free Webinars that are a series on revenue raising for clubs. And information around networks that are sharing their resources for free or have a discounted cost to their product or service. A few local governments have also released new recovery grants where they have made them far easier to access.

As clubs move forward a ‘new normal’ begins to form. The biggest risk to Zones and clubs would have been not to take action at all. The biggest challenge is finding a tailored solution. Zones and clubs are run by volunteers. Implementations of any kind need to have a no to low cost factor, be flexible, uncomplicated, and pretty much ‘do its job’. A one-size-fits-most approach is not an option either. The geographical spread of outrigger canoe clubs is wide and across many settings. On the mainland there are remote, rural, regional and metro based clubs. Some are located on Norfolk Island, and Thursday Island. There are also clubs that cross the state boundaries located in Darwin, Ballina, and Coffs Coast. Furthermore, we have hybrid clubs made up of paddling, dragon boating, and outrigger canoeing. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that all clubs can operate the same.

In maintaining that reset: risk assessments/COVID safe plans, education and training, communication & stakeholder management and engagement, managing non-compliance, managing activities and cancellations, and managing unwell paddlers and personal infection controls are vital to a club’s safe operating environment. It will determine how well a club manages COVID-19 if one was to occur, and how quickly they resume operation again documenting their learnings and any updating of processes.

Click on the Link for the Full Version of the Reset Guidelines for Queensland's Outrigger Canoeing Community