UPDATE: St Kilda Playgroup return postponed until 2021 30/9/2020: As the community works towards realising the Victorian Government's Roadmap to a covid normal Victoria, unfortunately it is clear that St Kilda Playgroup will not be able to meet for the remainder of 2020. This is in line with advice from Playgroup Victoria as well as the roadmap. All members have been emailed regarding this decision. If you are a member and did not receive an email, please contact us.
Playgroup Victoria is bridging the gap for families via a suite of online playgroup, music and physical activities that are free to all Playgroup Victoria individual members. They have also extended their free membership offer to the end of December. More information is available here.
UPDATE: Further postponement of playgroup
7/7/2020: In line with the Victorian Government imposing COVID-19 Stage 3 restrictions that limit people's reasons to leave home, we have postponed the resumption of playgroup sessions. The committee will continue to work on technical aspects associated with our return such as the implementation of the app to register for playgroup sessions, further development of our COVIDSafe Plan and outstanding details with council.
Once we have a clearer picture of the situation and we are able to access the rooms (at this stage from 20 August onwards), we will need time to conduct working bees and finish preparing the rooms for our playgroup sessions to resume. For these reasons, we are now aiming to return in September, and will keep members updated via email as the situation unfolds. Thanks for your patience, stay safe and keep washing your hands!
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UPDATE: Aiming to resume playgroup
29/5/2020: We can't confirm a date yet, but we're aiming for Monday, 13 July. This is in line with advice from Playgroup Victoria. Victorian Government social distancing restrictions will be relaxed a little on 1 June, and further on 22 June. Playgroups haven't been specifically listed in the advice to date, but it looks like we best align with businesses and services opening up from 22 June. However, after this date, we will need significant time to work with the City of Port Phillip, that owns the Bubup Nairm building where we meet, so we can prepare the rooms and playground to be a safe space for you and your child/ren to visit.
The return date will also be subject to all Victorians continuing to abide by the rules and the number of COVID-19 cases remaining low so restrictions aren't increased.
We will email all members once we have a clearer picture.
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UPDATE: Immediate temporary suspension of St Kilda Playgroup meetings due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
12/4/2020: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has extended the State of Emergency Stage 3 coronavirus pandemic restrictions until midnight on 11 May. This means social distancing will be in place until at least this time, and as a result, playgroup will be temporarily suspended until at least 12 May.
17/3/2020: St Kilda Playgroup received advice from Playgroup Victoria on 17 March urging playgroup members to "stay away from playgroup for the time being". The SKPG has decided to follow this advice. This action will ensure we are playing our part in helping to delay the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure the toys are not contaminated.
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The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) respiratory illness outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, and was characterised as a pandemic on 11 March.
St Kilda Playgroup will be guided by the WHO, Federal and State governments, City of Port Phillip and Playgroup Victoria regarding our response to the outbreak, including any potential temporary closure of playgroup.
All playgroup members are asked to be vigilant and keep abreast of the latest information, especially from the Australian Government and Australian Department of Health (see links below). If you or your child have coronavirus (COVID-19), or believe you or your child have come in contact with someone who may have coronavirus, you must abide by the Government’s requirements regarding self-isolation and medical care. This means you or your child cannot attend playgroup until self-isolation has ended and/or you or your child are deemed medically fit by a doctor.
If you suspect you may have, or have been diagnosed with, coronavirus (COVID-19), you should ring the Department of Health and Human Services hotline on 1800 675 398. They will advise you about what you should do next.
If you or your child have flu-like symptoms but do not believe it to be coronavirus, you should abide by our ‘Health, wellbeing and vaccination policy’ as well as the associated ‘Sickness and immunisation information sheet’.
Good hygiene
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, so good hygiene practices such as regular and thorough washing and drying of hands, and coughing/sneezing into a tissue you immediately discard or your elbow to limit spread is extremely important. Several of the authorities listed below have information about this, including Playgroup Victoria’s information designed for children. You will also see posters in our rooms as reminders.
Sign in to playgroup sessions
While it is already mandatory that members sign in to every playgroup session they attend, we understand that it is easy to forget. Now more than ever we need a comprehensive record of who attends our sessions, so that if someone does contract coronavirus (COVID-19), we can immediately let those who have been in close proximity know they may have been exposed. This is a recommendation from Playgroup Victoria. You’ll find the sign-in sheets hanging on the noticeboard next to the door in each room.
Keep updated
World Health Organization – great general info, fact sheets, FAQs, info on how to protect yourself, myth busters, posters
Department of Health – main source for Australian status updates and info on travel, resources including for parents of young kids
Smart Traveller – country-specific info
City of Port Phillip – local info guided by State and Federal government
Beyond Blue - mental health
Playgroup Victoria - great resources regarding hygiene for kids and playgroup-related info
Image credit: BMI/Gerd Pachauer