BUNDOORA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
COVID 19 FAQs
Updated 25 February 2022
Sunday Services
Before you come
What time are Sunday services?
Our Sunday Services are 9am, 11am and 5pm. Our services are also Livestreamed.
When should I arrive?
Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the service begins, to allow for a smooth flow of entry into the building.
When attending our Sunday Services, we ask that you visit our Welcome Desk located in the foyer to print off a nametag. Videos of what arriving at our building might look like are available on our Sunday Services page.
Do I need to bring anything?
You are welcome to bring a bible, pen, notebook for during the service.
What if I feel unwell on the day?
As we seek to practice Covid safety diligently we ask that anyone with cold or flu symptoms please stay home and get a Covid-19 test where appropriate. For further details see our FAQ Health Guidelines
During the service
How will we be seated?
Our services are held in our auditorium and for larger services we will have seating in our hall to allow people to spread out.
There will be a reserved area (left of the auditorium doors at the back) for those who are medically vulnerable [eg. the immunocompromised, heart/lung conditions, elderly] and fully vaccinated. We think this reserved area is the safest part of the auditorium given the configuration of our air flow, and we will also increase spacing of chairs there. The left section of the auditorium will also be reserved as an area for mask wearers only (rows of seats along the left auditorium wall as you enter). Further information on face masks at our gatherings can be found here.
Do I need to wear a face mask?
From 26th February 2022, face masks are no longer required to be worn inside on Sundays or at any of our activities. Wearing masks will be a personal choice (except where the government continues to mandate masks) and those who are more comfortable wearing a mask should continue to do so.
As we take our guidance on Covid safe practices from the requirements for schools, we encourage children (Grades 3-6) in Sunday School learning time to wear a mask, as it is like a classroom environment.
As masks are recommended for other workers serving or facing members of the public (eg. reception, meeting guests or serving customers) we strongly encourage those serving on welcoming, creche, kitchen or teaching Sunday School to continue wearing masks.
Further details on our Session's decisions on masks is available here.
Will there be Sunday School?
A Sunday School program (Kinder - Grade 6) runs during school term, and is available during our 9am & 11am Sunday Services.
Sunday School is held in our upstairs learning level and begins after the children's song. Children are encouraged to bring their own Bibles and pencil cases to avoid sharing. As we have always taken our lead from covid safe practices in schools we also ask that children in Grades 3-6 wear a mask during Sunday School time.
Note: As morning tea has resumed, children will no longer be required to bring a snack for Sunday School time.
What if my child doesn't feel comfortable attending Sunday School?
Children are welcome to stay in the service.
Will there be Sunday Youth?
Sunday Youth (Year 7 & 8) runs during school term. Please contact our youth pastor for further details youth@bpc.org.au
Will Creche be available?
Creche is available for 6 months of age to children too young to attend Little Sunday School (3-4 year olds), and begins after the children's song.
Parents/guardians will be required to sign children in. An usher will be present at our welcome desk if you require any assistance.
In line with government advice (where masks are recommended for workers serving or facing members of the public) we strongly urge those serving on creche to continue wearing masks. We would also strongly encourage parents in creche, except when talking directly to their child, to wear a mask while in the creche area (due to capacity of people/space ratio in the creche room).
Where can I change or feed my baby?
A cry room is located left of the auditorium and has one-way glass windows, a change table and microwave/sink facilities. The disabled toilet also has changing facilities for babies.
After the service
Will refreshments be served?
Simple refreshments (eg. a biscuit and a cup of coffee/tea/water) will be available after the service.
As there will be limited morning tea during the morning services, we encourage parents to pack nut-free snacks for children to eat before or after Sunday School, if they require it.
Can my kids play in the indoor playground?
Where parents are available to supervise, the indoor playground slide and gym is available for use after the service finishes.
A Covid normal Bundy
What should I do if I test positive after attending a Sunday Service or Bundy gathering?
If you test positive to Coronavirus after attending a Sunday Service or gathering held at our church premises please contact 9017 9037 or email office@bpc.org.au as soon as possible as we are now responsible for contact tracing and notifying close contacts. Please also follow the advice as listed on the Department of Health's website: What to do if you have COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria
Is there a COVIDSafe plan for Bundy?
Yes, our meetings at Bundoora Presbyterian Church are guided by our COVIDSafe Plan.
Do I need to show proof of vaccination?
From 16th December 2021 churches are no longer required to check vaccination status of attendees. All are welcome to attend.
For those serving in roles which have an increased risk of exposure and therefore an increased need for protection (eg. working with children and youth, welcoming) we will request that they be fully vaccinated.
How often does cleaning occur?
Cleaning occurs after each service, and any activity within the building.
How is the building ventilated?
Our main areas, the Auditorium, Foyer and Playground, have Air Change heat recovery units that brings in 100% fresh air. This is the best possible solutions as there is no recirculation of at all.
The remaining areas (generally ceiling mounted fully recirculating cassette units) have the mandatory outside (fresh) air requirements supplied by a fan and this additional air then leaks back to the common areas where it is either exhausted by the base building toilet exhaust system/s or leaks out through the building fabric.
The Board of Management intend to watch and follow the government’s current advice to school class rooms, and not use the recirculating units while they are occupied. We will turn them on to pre-heat or pre-cool the rooms before kids arrive and turn them off while the rooms are occupied. We will also regularly measure the CO2 levels in the rooms to ensure they are at acceptable levels during this time.
Can I go to church to drop off/pick up an item?
During this time we ask if you could please contact the BPC office (office@bpc.org.au or 9017 9037) before entering the BPC building. This is to ensure we may inform you of the necessary contact tracing/cleaning requirements. Conditions of Entry applies to all entry and use of the building.
What about Playgroup, mainly music?
The leaders have been doing a great job in maintaining their ministries this year given constantly changing circumstances. Please contact these ministries for the most up-to-date information regarding their activities.
What about Kids Club?
Kids Club are back to meeting in person on Friday nights during school term, as regulations allow. These meetings follow our COVIDSafe requirements. For more details, contact our children’s ministry co-ordinator directly at kidsclub@bpc.org.au
What about Youth Group?
Youth Group is back to meeting in person on Friday nights during school term, as per regulations allow. These meetings follow our COVIDSafe requirements. For more details, contact our youth pastor directly at youth@bpc.org.au
Can I borrow from the church library?
When the easing of Covid-19 restrictions allows, the BPC library will be open for those who wish to borrow books or DVDs. Visit the Library page for further details.
Who can I contact if I have other questions?
Should you have any other questions please contact us by emailing office@bpc.org.au or phone 9017 9037. A pastor or one of our staff team will reply to you as soon as possible.
Health Guidelines
What are the Conditions of Entry?
For each person entering our building we ask that they agree to our Conditions of Entry.
What is our policy?
If you or your children are unwell, especially with flu like symptoms, you must not enter. We recommend you get a test if you have not already done so, and isolate until you have received a negative result.
If you are awaiting Covid-19 test results, or have been asked to isolate, you must not enter until you have completed your isolation period (visit the Victorian government's coronavirus webpage for further details).
What if my child only has mild symptoms?
If the child has even the mildest symptoms they should stay home.
When should I get my child tested?
If your child has any of the following symptoms listed below, even if mild, they should be tested and stay home until they receive their test results.
The symptoms are :
• fever
• chills or sweats
• cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss of sense of smell or taste.
In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered symptoms.
Visit the Victoria government's coronavirus webpage for further details.
Can they return as soon as they have a negative test result?
In addition to a negative test result, the child needs to be symptom free before they come to church. We want to avoid transmitting other upper respiratory tract infections (URTI’s) as well
What about other children? Can they come with a parent while the ill child stays at home?
Providing the other children are well and the sick child has not had a positive Coronavirus test, other children can come with a well parent to church.
In the event of a positive test the family should follow the Health Department guidelines regarding quarantine and isolation.
What about other children while an unwell child is awaiting test results?
The family should follow current DHHS advice. Our understanding is that currently well children do not need to isolate while another child is awaiting test results, and so they can come to church.
“Asymptomatic parents/carers are not required to self-isolate whilst their child is awaiting their swab results, unless they are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19). “
Accessed 23/11/20
Do I need to stay away if I have a runny nose due to hay fever?
No, but you should be confident it is hay fever and not an infection.
Questions to ask are “Is it like my normal hayfever?”, “Do I have accompanying symptoms like itchy eyes?”, “Is it responding to my usual treatments?” If the answer to these questions is yes it increases your confidence that it is your usual hayfever.
But if it is different from usual, or accompanied by fever, or unusual symptoms like cough, or is not responding to your normal treatments, you should go and be tested and wait for results before returning to church.
What about other illnesses?
It is good to remember there are other infectious diseases and we do not want these to spread through church. We should follow the exclusion guidelines used by schools. For example, if your child has symptoms of gastro, you should exclude them from church until there has not been vomiting or a loose motion for 24 hours.
See the “Minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s services for infectious diseases cases and contacts” at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion/school-exclusion-table