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Restrictions on businesses are being lifted gradually. It is up to each state and territory to decide when and how far to relax the restrictions so it's important to keep up-to-date with current restictions in place for your industry. The following restrictions apply:
COVID‑19 will be with us for some time, so it’s important that your business has a plan - and continues to plan - to keep your workplace healthy, safe and virus-free.
The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has developed an online planning tool to help businesses reopen and be COVID safe.
There are templates and guidelines available through your relevant state or territory to create a COVID Safe Plan.
South Australian businesses on the 'Defined public activities' list must have a COVID Safe Plan in place. To create your COVID Safe Plan, fill out the form, print it out and make it available at your premises.
Businesses are expected to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. You need to be able to demonstrate that you are complying with the minimum standards.
COVID-19 Safety Plan templates are available through WorkSafe Tasmania and should be kept at your premises, you do not need to submit them to WorkSafe.
Business Tasmania has developed a video to help you navigate the process of developing your COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Northern Territory businesses must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place to show how requirements will be met around the key principles of physical distancing and hygiene practices.
Businesses are required to complete an online COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist relevant to your business or organisation. If your business or organisation has multiple locations, you must apply for each premises.
Businesses need to ensure there is a COVID Safety Plan in place prior to reopening. Tailored templates have been developed for food businesses and licensed premises, sport and recreation, beauty and person care services.
Businesses must display a COVID Safety Plan Certificate (which is included in the plan template) in a visible location on the premises.
From 1 June 2020, some businesses were able to start offering services to a larger number of customers if they are following an approved industry COVID Safe plan.
Industry COVID Safe plans are developed by an industry peak body or representative group for businesses within that industry to follow. The plan must clearly outline how businesses will operate and must satisfy Queensland's Chief Health Officer.
Individual businesses within an industry do not need to develop their own COVID Safe plan if they are following an industry COVID Safe plan.
Industries that are eligible to develop an industry COVID Safe plan include (but are not limited to):
An industry COVID Safe plan guide has been created to help you develop your plan and understand what health authorities will be looking for when assessing your plan. There is no official template for the plan – you can determine the format while following the information in the guide.
In some limited cases, you can develop a site-specific plan if your business is larger in scale.
All completed industry COVID Safe plans must be submitted to Queensland Health for approval. Email your completed plan to COVID-19.Industryplans@health.qld.gov.au.
Approved industry COVID Safe plans will be published on the Queensland Government's COVID-19 website. Businesses can opt into an industry COVID Safe plan.
The NSW government has developed templates for specific industries. If your business doesn't fit within one of the specific industries, it is still recommended you have a plan to protect your staff, workers, customers and visitors. You can either use the general template or develop your own plan.
Once you have completed your COVID-19 Safety Plan, you can register your business as COVID Safe.
The ACT government has developed guidelines for businesses that need to create a COVID Safety Plan.
The following businesses need to have a COVID Safety Plan in place:
The COVID Safety Plan must be in writing and available to be produced on request by compliance and enforcement officers, but it does not need to be submitted for approval.
Metropolitan Melbourne has moved to Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria.
Under these restrictions, businesses in Melbourne can only operate for on-site operations if they are a Permitted Work Premises and a COVIDSafe Plan must be implemented to continue their operation.
Regional Victoria has moved to Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions and a COVIDSafe Plan is advised for other permitted work premises.
While the use of the COVIDSafe app is voluntary, all Australians are encouraged to download it to support contact tracing if required.
Small businesses should make staff aware of the app and the benefits, but cannot exclude them if they don't download the app.
It is very important to talk to your trusted advisor about the health of your business, particularly the viability of your business once the government stimulus measures cease.
Safe Work Australia has developed COVID-19 posters and signage for businesses to print and display to show customers and employees what actions are being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The following states and territories have made branded posters and signage available:
Safe Work Australia has developed a number of checklists and fact sheets to help businesses keep workplaces, staff and customers safe during COVID-19 including:
To reopen, some businesses may be required to collect and store customer, employee and contractor information to assist with contact tracing if required.
GuestTrack is a free brower-based application to help businesses collect and store data of customers entering their premises. The app requires businesses to print out a QR code with guest instructions for your business and display it at the entrance or on each table. Visitors will need to scan the QR code and enter their contact details. The information collected and stored must comply with privacy laws and time limits.
Some state and territory governments have grants available to help small businesses affected by COVID-19 to get back on their feet.
Eligible small businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a small business recovery grant of between $500 and $3000.
Businesses can apply online. Applications close on 31 August 2020.
The second round of the COVID-19 Small Business Continuity Grant program will provide $750 each to eligible businesses to engage a qualified specialist to advise on business continuity planning.
Applications will be assessed on applicant and project expenditure eligibility, and evidence provided in support of the application.
Applications close on 2 October 2020.
Eligible businesses can apply online.
