The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is to boost its support for the national response to COVID-19 by deploying additional personnel to assist State and Territory health authorities across Australia.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said Reconnaissance and Planning Support Teams had been embedded in the Victorian, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian State coordination centres, with additional teams ready to assist the remaining States and Territories.
“Contact Tracing Support Teams are also being established in all States and Territories,” Senator Reynolds said.
“The teams will contribute to the overall strength and resilience of the Australian health system in this challenging time.”
She said the teams would provide logistics, transport, health and general planning assistance as the workload of civilian medical teams continued to increase.
“Defence continues to follow the advice of Australian health authorities when prioritising its support arrangements,” Senator Reynolds said.
“We will continue to ensure Defence medical facilities are appropriately staffed to minimise any impact on our public health system,” she said.
“Defence has already provided a range of logistical and personnel support in response to COVID-19.”
She said assistance provided so far included supplying clinical and epidemiological support to the Department of Health National Incident Room; supporting repatriations to Christmas Island and Howard Springs; providing health, logistics and movements support to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Border Force repatriation and care of Australian nationals.
“We have also provided a small team of highly-qualified engineering maintenance specialists to a surgical face mask factory until supplementary civilian workers can be recruited,” Senator Reynolds said.
