Berghutte Ski Club COVID–19 Vaccination Policy
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to outline the vaccination requirements to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all people working, visiting, or staying at Berghutte Ski Club (the Lodge) to minimise the risks of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 and thereby reducing the risks of serious illness or death. This Policy has been developed from public health information supplied by NSW Health and Safe Work Australia. This Policy aims to enable business continuity and minimise operational disruption and associated financial impacts on Berghutte Ski Club.
2. Who does this Policy apply to?
This Policy applies to anyone visiting, working or staying onsite at Berghutte Ski Club premises. This means anyone entering the Lodge premises.
3. Policy statement
Berghutte Ski Club requires all persons aged 12 years and over entering the Lodge to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Children under the age of 12 that are not vaccinated must be accompanied by an adult of their same household (e.g., parent, carer, or sibling). According to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) vaccination against COVID-19 is the best way to protect against severe illness and death – click here .
Berghutte Ski Club has developed this Policy to mitigate the risk to all persons entering or staying at the Lodge of acquiring and/or transmitting COVID-19. Reasons for this Policy include, but are not limited to:
4. Requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19
Berghutte Ski Club requires all persons aged 12 years and over entering Lodge premises to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine and vaccine schedule approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). To ensure immunity, all persons must have received their 2nd vaccination or booster at least 14 days prior to arrival at Berghutte.
5. Acceptable evidence of vaccination
Any person entering the Lodge aged 12 years and over must provide evidence of vaccination to the Lodge Manager prior to entry. Entry will be refused, and your reservation cancelled if you arrive at the Lodge without evidence of current vaccination.
Further information on how to provide evidence to confirm your work, visit or bookings at the Lodge is provided in the Terms and Conditions of Booking and via email once your reservation is confirmed. Evidence maybe required in advance to confirm your Booking.
7. Medical Exemptions
Berghutte Ski Club recognises that a very small number of people coming onsite to the Lodge may not be able to be vaccinated due to a medical contraindication. If you are unable to comply with this Policy due to a permanent or temporary medical contraindication, you must apply for a medical exemption at least 14 days in advance of your arrival at Berghutte premises. This request must be submitted in writing to the Booking Manager [email protected] using a NSW government COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Contraindication Form completed by your medical practitioner at your expense.
Berghutte may conduct a risk assessment for the booking period (e.g., volume and demographics of other people at the Lodge at the same time) and /or seek independent medical advice before deciding if the medical exemption can be accommodated at the Lodge for the booking period you have requested. Additionally, you may be required to undertake a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result within 72 hours prior to your arrival at Berghutte and every 72 hours during your stay at Berghutte.
8. Compliance with this Policy
Anyone entering Berghutte Ski Club premises must comply with this Policy. If you cannot provide appropriate evidence for each person, including adults and children 12 years and older, or have a pre-approved medical exemption as defined in paragraph 7 above, you will not be allowed entrance to the Lodge and current and future reservations will be cancelled. Eligibility for refunds will be processed as per the Terms and Conditions of Booking.
9. Variations to this Policy
Berghutte Ski Club may review this Policy at any time, including in response to changes to legislation, government, or operational requirements. The very nature of COVID-19 means that risks arising from the virus and methods of controlling those risks are constantly evolving. Berghutte Ski Club may amend this Policy from time to time to consider medical guidance, guidance issued by government and health authorities and current best practice.
10. References
Australian Government, Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/
Therapeutic Goods Administration: https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/about-rollout
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/approved-vaccines/how-they-work
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to outline the vaccination requirements to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all people working, visiting, or staying at Berghutte Ski Club (the Lodge) to minimise the risks of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 and thereby reducing the risks of serious illness or death. This Policy has been developed from public health information supplied by NSW Health and Safe Work Australia. This Policy aims to enable business continuity and minimise operational disruption and associated financial impacts on Berghutte Ski Club.
2. Who does this Policy apply to?
This Policy applies to anyone visiting, working or staying onsite at Berghutte Ski Club premises. This means anyone entering the Lodge premises.
- Contractors are responsible for ensuring that any employees or subcontractors employed or engaged by them to conduct work for Berghutte Ski Club comply with this Policy.
- Members are responsible for ensuring that any guests visiting or staying at the Lodge comply with this Policy.
3. Policy statement
Berghutte Ski Club requires all persons aged 12 years and over entering the Lodge to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Children under the age of 12 that are not vaccinated must be accompanied by an adult of their same household (e.g., parent, carer, or sibling). According to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) vaccination against COVID-19 is the best way to protect against severe illness and death – click here .
Berghutte Ski Club has developed this Policy to mitigate the risk to all persons entering or staying at the Lodge of acquiring and/or transmitting COVID-19. Reasons for this Policy include, but are not limited to:
- Berghutte has legal obligations to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of its employees as defined in the Work, Health & Safety Act 2011 (NSW).
- The Lodge is not only a workplace but also a residence to the onsite Managers which means an additional duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and their family members living on our premises.
- The Lodge has numerous shared and communal spaces, including an open plan kitchen and dining area and shared walkways.
- Many of the Lodge communal spaces have limited natural airflow and there is no air-conditioning that would allow for the regular exchange of fresh air. There is limited capacity to open windows during extreme weather and natural events (cold, heat, blizzards, bushfires) and many of the communal spaces such as the laundry, hallways, ski repair room etc have no external ventilation.
- Most people entering or staying at Berghutte Ski Club have:
- significant exposure with frequent interaction with the public throughout the Thredbo village facilities daily, including with vulnerable people;
- travelled to Thredbo from across Australia as well as from overseas.
- The impact on Berghutte Ski Club income due to COVID-19 over 2020 and 2021 has been significant along with increases in operating costs due to insurance, cleaning, and consumables. Any further shutdowns of the Lodge as a COVID-19 exposure site will disrupt access to the Lodge for members and guests as well as cause significant financial hardship.
4. Requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19
Berghutte Ski Club requires all persons aged 12 years and over entering Lodge premises to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine and vaccine schedule approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). To ensure immunity, all persons must have received their 2nd vaccination or booster at least 14 days prior to arrival at Berghutte.
5. Acceptable evidence of vaccination
Any person entering the Lodge aged 12 years and over must provide evidence of vaccination to the Lodge Manager prior to entry. Entry will be refused, and your reservation cancelled if you arrive at the Lodge without evidence of current vaccination.
Further information on how to provide evidence to confirm your work, visit or bookings at the Lodge is provided in the Terms and Conditions of Booking and via email once your reservation is confirmed. Evidence maybe required in advance to confirm your Booking.
- Berghutte’s preferred way to sight evidence of vaccination for adults is via the COVID-19 Digital Certificate using the Service NSW App - click here
- Evidence of vaccination that is acceptable is defined by the Australian Government– click here
- How to obtain proof of your vaccination – click here
- Evidence is required for adults as well as children 12 years and over
7. Medical Exemptions
Berghutte Ski Club recognises that a very small number of people coming onsite to the Lodge may not be able to be vaccinated due to a medical contraindication. If you are unable to comply with this Policy due to a permanent or temporary medical contraindication, you must apply for a medical exemption at least 14 days in advance of your arrival at Berghutte premises. This request must be submitted in writing to the Booking Manager [email protected] using a NSW government COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Contraindication Form completed by your medical practitioner at your expense.
Berghutte may conduct a risk assessment for the booking period (e.g., volume and demographics of other people at the Lodge at the same time) and /or seek independent medical advice before deciding if the medical exemption can be accommodated at the Lodge for the booking period you have requested. Additionally, you may be required to undertake a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result within 72 hours prior to your arrival at Berghutte and every 72 hours during your stay at Berghutte.
8. Compliance with this Policy
Anyone entering Berghutte Ski Club premises must comply with this Policy. If you cannot provide appropriate evidence for each person, including adults and children 12 years and older, or have a pre-approved medical exemption as defined in paragraph 7 above, you will not be allowed entrance to the Lodge and current and future reservations will be cancelled. Eligibility for refunds will be processed as per the Terms and Conditions of Booking.
9. Variations to this Policy
Berghutte Ski Club may review this Policy at any time, including in response to changes to legislation, government, or operational requirements. The very nature of COVID-19 means that risks arising from the virus and methods of controlling those risks are constantly evolving. Berghutte Ski Club may amend this Policy from time to time to consider medical guidance, guidance issued by government and health authorities and current best practice.
10. References
Australian Government, Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/
Therapeutic Goods Administration: https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/about-rollout
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/approved-vaccines/how-they-work