Let’s talk about your wellbeing at Festival of Voices.
Keeping our community healthy across all respiratory and communicable illnesses
At Festival of Voices, your wellbeing is central to everything we do. Tasmania’s current public health environment involves a range of respiratory and communicable viruses including influenza, RSV, COVID‑19, whooping cough (pertussis) and other acute respiratory infections all of which circulate seasonally in the community. We follow the latest advice from the Tasmanian Department of Health, the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and national communicable‑disease frameworks to help create a safe and enjoyable festival experience.
What is the current public health context in Tasmania?
Tasmania monitors respiratory illness activity continuously, publishing RespTas surveillance reports that track acute respiratory infections, including influenza, RSV, pertussis, and COVID‑19. These reports confirm that multiple viruses circulate each season, and activity varies throughout the year.
Nationally, the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Reports track trends in COVID‑19, influenza, RSV, and other respiratory pathogens, providing a comprehensive picture of current illness activity across Australia.
What will happen to my tickets if the Festival is cancelled as per government order?
Should we have to cancel an event all affected ticket buyers are entitled to a full refund. Festival of Voices adheres to the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice.
What will happen if international or interstate artists can’t come due to travel restrictions?
If an international or interstate artist can’t come to Tasmania due to travel restrictions, we will provide a suitable replacement. Should an event be fully cancelled due to the artist being unable travel, those who already booked a ticket will be contacted to organise an exchange, voucher or refund.
What should I do if I feel unwell on the day of the event I bought tickets for?
Stay Home if You’re Unwell
If you are experiencing symptoms of any acute respiratory infection such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath we encourage you to stay home until you are feeling better. This aligns with national guidance for reducing the spread of all communicable respiratory diseases.
Protecting Each Other at Events
We encourage all attendees to take simple steps that help protect our community:
- Practice good hand hygiene — wash or sanitise your hands regularly.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue.
- Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings, especially if you are vulnerable or during periods of elevated virus activity. (Respiratory illnesses in Tasmania can increase seasonally.) [health.tas.gov.au]
- Use outdoor or well‑ventilated spaces whenever possible.
Respect for Others
Please be mindful that some members of our audience may be at higher risk of severe illness, including older adults, people with disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions. Our festival welcomes everyone — your consideration helps keep our community safe.
What is the Current Legislation with the Australian CDC?
Australia established an Australian Centre for Disease Control in January 2026 to provide authoritative national public‑health leadership on communicable disease prevention, preparedness, and response. Its remit includes respiratory illnesses, pandemic preparedness, and emergency health management.
This means public‑health advice for events is now based on nationwide frameworks and strategies, including:
- National Framework for Communicable Disease Control (focusing on surveillance, evidence‑based prevention, and communications).
- National immunisation and microbial genomics frameworks (supporting early detection of emerging pathogens).
Festival of Voices adheres to this guidance and collaborates with relevant authorities as needed.
What if I become unwell during the Festival?
If you begin to feel unwell at an event:
- Please remove yourself from the crowd.
- Notify a staff member if you require assistance.
- Follow standard respiratory hygiene measures.
This aligns with national best practice for managing communicable disease symptoms in public settings.
Your wellbeing is more than virus prevention. We encourage you to:
- Stay hydrated and nourished.
- Take breaks in quiet areas if you feel overwhelmed.
- Reach out to festival staff if you need support.
Unfortunately for any ticketed events, our Terms and Conditions apply.
For events that are free, but ticketed due to limited capacities we also kindly ask you to advise us if you are no longer able to attend, so we can give your spot to someone that otherwise might miss out.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
Our team monitors evolving public health advice and will update this page as needed. Thank you for helping maintain a safe and welcoming festival environment for everyone.