Using the Return to Sport Toolkit

On Sunday, 24 May 2020, the Federal Minister for Youth and Sport, the Hon Richard Colbeck MP, launched a toolkit to help guide the return of community sport.

The Return to Sport Toolkit, developed by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport, contains checklists providing practical and progressive steps such as relevant government and national sporting organisation approvals, facility management, training behaviours, hygiene protocols and appropriate communication with members.

Please note that the nationwide Return to Sport Toolkit is not currently endorsed by the NSW Government or the NSW Office of Sport, but its release has been acknowledged as providing general guidance for a return to sport and a useful 'planning base'.

As noted in the Minister’s release, “The States and Territories will be responsible for sport and recreation resumption decisions, both at the professional and community level and will determine progression through the phases, taking account of local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability.”

Additionally, within the Toolkit, it is noted, “Important note: State and Territory governments and their public health authorities are responsible for decisions about the resumption of sporting activities in each jurisdiction, both at the professional and community sport level.”

The Return to Sport Toolkit includes resources that may be used by all levels of Australian sport to assist in planning and preparation for the recommencement of training, competitions and programs; and for participation programs and competitive sport (training and competition) conducted at local club and association level.

In NSW, there is still the requirement for State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and SSOs for people with a Disability (SSODs) to comply with the current Public Health Orders. If a sport requires an exemption to the Public Health Orders, then an application requesting an exemption is required. Please see the Sport NSW Release dated 22 May 2020 for further information (click here).

Please click here to download the Sport NSW release 'Using the Return to Sport Toolkit'