Yarrawonga Health acknowledges support from fire brigade

This Friday, May 27 at 11am will mark the last time that the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade training site will be used by Yarrawonga Health for COVID-19 PCR testing.

The partnership between Yarrawonga Health and the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade for the utilisation of their training grounds for safe community access to testing, has been in place since last year.

Yarrawonga Health welcomed the flexibility, can-do attitude and commitment to the safety of the community from the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade unit.

Testing and collection of rapid antigen testing kits will still be available to the community via a walk-in service from the Yarrawonga Health Clinical Education Centre in Lynch Street, from Monday, May 30.

The service will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 9am -11am.

The partnership between the health service and Yarrawonga Fire Brigade came about during a unique situation where Yarrawonga Health was required to implement an end-toend testing system that was both safe for the community and staff and that allowed for continuous escalation in response to community demand, during a time of outbreak emergency planning and as part of the state’s COVID-19 response.

Director for Clinical Services Erica Anderson said: “The Yarrawonga Fire Brigade have been with us every step of the way in making the Yarrawonga site an efficient and safe testing resource for our community through their continued effort in supporting our COVID-19 response.

“In doing so they have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community they serve and to the health service.

“Well over 10,000 tests have been completed since the site was open which shows just how important the site was to the community and to the teams of staff that were swabbing patients.”

Yarrawonga Health acknowledges the support of the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade and thanks them for the partnership that enabled a timely response to COVID-19 testing requirements and that was reflective of the community’s needs.

Yarrawonga Health advises the community that COVID-19 testing as well as the collection of rapid antigen tests are still available via a walk in service located at the Yarrawonga Health Clinical Education Centre, Lynch Street, Yarrawonga on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 11am beginning next week Monday, May 30.

● Further information can be found via

www.yh.org.au or by ringing 03 57438