Masks are a critical element of COVID-safe workplace practices and RATs form a fundamental part of the Government’s Critical Worker Furlough Policy, as well as for service users in the community.
Quick strategic action and collaboration between the Department of Communities and its stakeholders have resulted in these items being distributed to community groups who are in need of these items.
Foodbank WA is one such organisation which has partnered with Communities to manage and assist with the storage and distribution of RATs and masks across the State.
On Friday 4 March, Foodbank WA Chief Operating Officer Fran Ferreira and General Manager Operations Steve Martin showed the boxes of items to Deputy Director General Governance, Integrity and Reform Catherine Stoddart and Facilities Director Troy Dennis.
“Foodbank WA has the ability to store RATs and masks in our warehouse and distribute through our existing network in Perth and the regions to ensure these are available to organisations providing community services,” Foodbank WA Chief Executive Officer Kate O’Hara said.
Troy said such a project required a lot of teamwork and effort, with the Department partnering with Foodbank WA, WACOSS and Linkwest to distribute RATs and masks to community groups that Communities, Department of Justice and Mental Health Commission support.
Troy said Communities was also working with WACOSS and Linkwest to distribute an additional 600,000 masks, in addition to the 1 million masks that had already been distributed through that peak body to its members in WA.
“We’ve invited them to collect these items from next week, with distribution centres being established in Carnarvon, Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Esperance and across various hubs in the Wheatbelt.
“This would ensure service providers and some of the most vulnerable members of our community have access to such vital safety items,” he said.
Image: (left to right) Troy Dennis, Fran Ferreira, Steve Martin, Catherine Stoddart and Lucy Granger at the Foodbank WA warehouse with some of the RAT kits and masks that will be distributed.
