Our Organisation

Issued 19/12/2021, Review by 28/02/2022

(Including all National councils, committees, subcommittees, teams, working groups, workshops, training, formal and informal meetings)

In the current COVID-19 environment, travel on behalf of Scouts Australia has increased health, safety, and financial risks.

State and Territory Governments are responding very quickly to clusters, and individual positive results, and have previously demonstrated a willingness to close borders at very short notice.

The risks for Scouts Australia and our members include:

• Members contracting the virus by exposure during travel (airports, planes, public transport, taxis/ride sharing)
• Higher travel risk for older members and those with depressed immunity
• Members being stranded interstate, or required to go into to self-funded quarantine
• Additional cost of rebooking alternate flights and/or accommodation at very short notice
• Any travel, accommodation, and quarantine costs due to border closures in relation to COVID-19 are specifically excluded from travel insurance coverage
• Impact on paid employment of Scouting volunteers
• Reputational damage

Interstate Travel

Limited Interstate Travel on behalf of Scouts Australia, to attend face-to-face meetings and/or events may be approved by the Chief Commissioner and the Chair NEC, subject to the following conditions being met:

• Online meetings and event participation will be considered as the first choice
• Attendance at face-to-face meetings and events is an individual decision, and online alternatives for members who do not wish to travel, or are unable to travel, will always be provided
• Face to face meetings must have a clear outcome and may only be funded from an approved National, Contingent, or Project budget allocation.
• Attendance at face-to-face meetings is voluntary, and will be limited to essential attendees only
• A risk management plan that includes measures to mitigate State and Territory border closure, will be in place
• All Federal and State/Territory Government advice and direction regarding travel will be adhered to. This includes those States and Territories with mandatory vaccination requirements for volunteers.
• Travel bookings will not be made for travel into or from States or Territories prior to the announced quarantine free travel dates issued by the relevant State or Territory government.
• All National meetings will be set up as events within OLEMS and all attendance will be recorded. Vaccination Certificates will be uploaded by all face-to-face attendees at events in those States and Territories that require mandatory vaccination for volunteers.

International Travel

Limited International Travel on behalf of Scouts Australia, to attend face-to-face meetings and/or events may be approved at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner and the Chair NEC. Any such approval will be subject to all conditions specified by the Chief Commissioner and the Chair NEC at the time of approval, and all Federal Government directives.

Internal Travel Within Branches

The management of travel within each of the eight Branches of Scouts Australia and the conduct of activities in other Branches is the responsibility of the individual Branch/Branches, consistent with their respective State and Territory Government directions.

Travel Insurance

All Branch representatives attending Scouts Australia meetings are covered by Scouts Australia travel insurance policies, noting that all Scouts Australia travel, both domestic and international, must be recorded on OLEMS as per the Travel Policy.