Keeping schools COVID-safe

Release date: 30 March 2021

Just over one year ago, NSW Education began responding to the rapidly escalating global pandemic. At a time of great uncertainty, when supermarket supply chains were struggling to meet demand, we worked with many industry partners to establish a dedicated warehouse to ensure essential PPE and infection control supplies were available for NSW’s public, independent and faith schools.  

Since March 2020, the warehouse team and associated supply chain have distributed more than 6 million items to schools, including essentials like hand sanitiser, liquid soap, masks, gloves and thermometers.

At the same time, School Infrastructure NSW organised enhanced cleaning via our contractors, JossFM, ISS, FFA and Ventia, delivering an additional 25% of cleaning hours for high touch points such as desks, light switches and door handles. With the return of all students in May 2020, additional day cleans were implemented across the state, focused on high touch points, bathrooms and drinking areas, as well as wiping down internal and external balustrades. 

One of the true successes was successfully managing complete environmental cleans at 50 schools after positive COVID-19 test results were confirmed. School closures were limited to a single day in 49 out of 50 of these cases, thanks to the quick work of our contracted partners. 

A warehouse worker is sorting hand sanitiser into bags for delivery to school students across NSW.
Image: A warehouse worker is sorting hand sanitiser into bags for delivery to school students across NSW.