Notice to all Sport NSW Members and Stakeholders regarding COVID-19

We are currently in unprecedented and challenging times. The suspension, postponement or cancellation of sporting activities, events and training are in place nationally and worldwide. Indoor sporting venues and gymnasiums are closed. ‘Social distancing’ is the new norm, working or schooling from home is common, and closed businesses and job losses are unfortunately increasing.

As we review our programs, events and operations, we have the safety and wellbeing of our members, staff, program participants and volunteers top-of-mind. We are doing all we can to support efforts to slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community through implementing social distancing and other measures.

Sport NSW is working with the Office of Sport gathering information from State Sporting Organisations in order to understand the financial impact of COVID-19 on the sports sector in NSW. This information has been submitted to the NSW Government’s Acting Minister for Sport and the NSW Treasurer. Any response will be disseminated as soon as possible.

The Acting NSW Minister for Sport, the Hon. Dr Geoff Lee MP, understands the magnitude of the situation and its impact on the sport sector. He has committed to a weekly teleconference with key contacts to provide updates on the NSW Government's response to COVID-19 and address questions from the sector.

In order to minimise the risk to the community posed by COVID-19, the Government has imposed restrictions on events of a certain size, and we anticipate that these restrictions will be in place for the medium term as the situation in Australia is being managed.

Sport NSW has postponed all Variety Activate Inclusion Sports Days with immediate effect until the end of NSW Schools’ Term 2. Other Sport NSW programs including Girls Get Active and Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) courses have been postponed until further notice. Nominations will still be sought in the coming weeks for the Community Sports Awards with a date for the Awards to be confirmed.

In the light of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Sport NSW has been, and will continue, disseminating the evolving information and recommendations from key agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Australian Department of Health, NSW Health and various other agencies.

There is a range of excellent information in the public domain about COVID-19 as well as the current guidelines from WHO, and Federal and State Governments. Links to these resources are shown at the end of this Notice.

Unless it is absolutely necessary to be in the office, Sport NSW staff will be working remotely to support social distancing. Our members and stakeholders can be assured that we remain fully engaged in our current work and are also taking this time to prepare for the future to better promote, strengthen and advocate for the sport sector in NSW once this crisis has subsided.

We will continue to closely monitor this situation and provide relevant information, support and advice to our members and stakeholders. Please contact us at any time if any further information or assistance is required.

To read the full notice, including useful information and resources, please click here.