Great news, the announced relaxation of regulations sees us transition into the Third Step in our Roadmap to Recovery from 11.59pm 27th October, 2020 which allows our Industry to expand our services under the specified category ‘Repairs, Maintenance and Cleaning’ (see attached Roadmap for Reopening Government Document).
We are now able to Open with a COVID Safe Plan in place. Unlike Stage 3, All businesses even those with fewer than 5 Employees will NOW require a COVID Safe Plan before fully reopening.
As long as we have COVID Safe Plans in place and appropriate protocol to manage social distancing and staffing levels in shared spaces we can deliver all our services to metro Melbourne Residents.
Until 8th November, there are still limitations on Melbournians travelling to regional Victoria, with checkpoints remaining and Permits required for workplace travel into regional areas.
However, for metro Melbourne as long as we adhere to Stage 3 Covid protocol, which includes wearing PPE and social distancing we can offer our full range of services again. According to advice issued by Business Victoria the key points to note, for Businesses that are ‘Open with a COVID Safe Plan’ are, staff should work from home wherever possible (to be relaxed over time), apply density quotient for some settings (could be reduced over time), ensure staff follow current public health directions, practice good hygiene and keep good records and act quickly should staff become unwell.
For Employers please remind yourself of your obligations, under your COVID Safe Plan. There are some COVID Safe templates and resources available free should anyone require a reference (Business Victoria and VECCI have templates and other COVID resources available to Businesses). https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafe-plan
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-reopening-roadmap-metro-melbourne
On a personal note, I feel we have been somewhat fortunate as an Industry and certainly would like to thank our hardworking AEPMA Executive for the lobbying and pressure applied to Government on all levels behind the scenes to ensure we weren’t forgotten. We would have liked to be untouched as an Industry, but given the strict regulations applied to other sectors to be ‘ permitted’ under guidelines in specified circumstances at least we were allowed to continue some business activity.
We are looking at organising an Branch meeting to celebrate the end of Stage 4 and enjoy some peer insights and socialising. It will lovely to see everyone. Likely date, early December, venue hopefully somewhere licensed! Ideas are welcome and encouraged from Members and Non-Members as to the nature of the meeting and what everyone would like to see, hear. We may look at inviting a Key Speaker to present, so we would love to know what topics are of interest?
We are finalising an arrangement with VECCI (Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry) where all AEPMA Members will be entitled to a Free Essentials Membership to VECCI. This will entitle Members to a range of useful resources offered through VECCI. There is some particularly good information around COVID recovery for Business.
For those interested please see link,
As always we value your feedback and should Members have any queries please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or Rob Boschma.