Endeavour Foundation gives 8000 free rapid COVID tests to staff

Endeavour Foundation will give its 4000 staff free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 transmission and curb potential outbreaks in its disability services.

Each staff member working for the disability service provider and its subsidiaries will be given two RATs – either handed to them at work or sent to their home address.

The initiative will cost in excess of $100,000.

Endeavour Foundation Chief Executive Officer David Swain said staff and the people they support could already be tested for free at the organisation’s services, but testing at home would greatly reduce the chance of transmission from staff who are positive.

“We want to curb the transmission of this virus so we don’t see the outbreaks in disability services that we’ve been seeing in aged care,” Mr Swain said.

“We’re asking staff with symptoms to test at home so if they are positive, they don’t come into work in the first place."

“Stopping just one COVID-positive staff member from going to work could prevent people we support getting very ill or even dying."

“The safety of the people we support and of our staff is our highest priority and we’re putting them first with this initiative.”

Mr Swain said the move to protect both people supported by Endeavour Foundation and staff was made possible through the generosity of donors and supporters.

“When you support Endeavour Foundation through our prize home lotteries, regular donations, or the Great Endeavour Rally, you are enabling us to improve the lives of people with a disability."

“We would not be able to fund this initiative if it was not for your support, so thank you,” he said.