BRISBANE Catholic Colleges have been putting resources to good use assisting in making face masks for health workers on the coronavirus frontline.
Iona College, Lindum and Padua College, Kedron, are among schools working around-the-clock to produce mask frames using 3D printers – an important contribution towards ending a shortage of personal protective equipment.
Both schools were alerted to a call out from Brisbane’s Metro North Hospital and Health Service to support the Queensland University of Technology’s Herston BioFabrication Institute.
Iona’s Industrial Design and Technology faculty head Daniel Davison said his 3D printers were producing 650 frames a day with an aim of 13,000 over the next two weeks.
“I was sent the link to QUT’s Herston Bio Fabrication Institute early Friday morning (April 3) by a friend and decided to retool our facility to produce the masks,” he said.
“I contacted a local supplier for the consumable filament and by midday Friday we had assembled five more printers and by late Friday evening another five more for a total of 23 printers.
“Early Saturday the first batch was set to task and we anticipate full scale 24-hour production for at least the next 20 days.”
At Padua, the Industrial Skills department has launched a similar effort to assist frontline health workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’ve delivered our first few today our machines will continue to work over the holidays,” the college posted on its official Facebook page.
The facemask project has sparked a huge social media response with offers to donate and help to boost production, and also inquiries about buying PPE’s.
“Just wondering if Iona would sell us some of these face visors?” queried Tracy Shaw on Facebook.
“I work for a dental practice and we are still open to treat people requiring emergency dental treatment.
“We can’t source these visors from anywhere and we need them to protect our dentist and dental assistants.”
The facemask project is proudly supported by Iona’s rector, Oblate Father Michael Twigg and principal Trevor Goodwin.
“St Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate continues to challenge us to find new means to meet new needs,” Fr Twigg said.
“Our school community is compelled to be involved, to participate and to make a positive difference to others.
“This project meets all of those factors and is our way of expressing thanks to the health care workers on the front line.
“Through the Gospels, Jesus also invites us into thinking and caring for others and we think that this is an initiative that celebrates HOPE. Hold On Pain Ends.”
Iona nurse Katie Smith said: “I am truly excited that Iona College is contributing to keeping the healthcare workers of Australia safe.
“Personal protective equipment is in short supply and it is comforting to know that Iona College have combined skills, knowledge and resources to be able to assist others in this unprecedented and challenging time.”
To find out more about 3D printing of PPE’s visit the Metro North website.
