Hi Impact100 WA

Thanks for the update. The current situation has had quite an impact on our ability to engage with schools, as you would imagine. It’s a bit hard to picture how this will all look in the next couple of months but I anticipate most schools will not be back to “normal” till Term 4. Earbus is an inherently viable business model so we are hopeful that we will retain all our staff throughout. We are now mostly working from home for health and safety reasons but we are planning on delivering some modified form of service after Easter – not sure what that will look like but will keep you posted!

Stay safe, warm regards,

Paul Higginbotham, CEO
Earbus Foundation of WA
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.earbus.org.au.

Dear Impact100 WA,

Earbus Foundation values its professional partnerships very highly – our sponsors, funders, schools, Aboriginal Medical Services and agencies like Starlight Children’s Foundation and RFDS who play such a pivotal role in the success of our programs. 

As you are an important part of the Earbus “family” I wanted to update you about how we are operating in the COVID-19 environment.

Our Term 2 trips, scheduled to start after the Easter holidays, are expected to go ahead, but in a modified, shorter format. Some of the trip dates will be rearranged and we will be utilising technology as much as possible. We are monitoring official websites daily and keeping up to date with government changes and instructions in order to ensure we comply. Most Earbus staff are working from home and there are strict social distancing rules for those remaining in our office. Everyone in the office and on Outreach trips has their temperature taken daily, monitored and recorded.

We have heightened our already stringent hygiene and protective behaviours and are maintaining frequent and regular conversations with communities and Elders to ensure we are meeting the needs of Aboriginal children and their families during this unprecedented time. We have also been delivering soap and tissues to our neediest communities at no cost to them as these are in critically short supply in some regional centres.

We value your trust and support and will keep you updated about any further changes to our program delivery. We will continue to forward quarterly sponsor reports in the coming weeks.

Thank you for enabling us to deliver vital health services to the most vulnerable children in our community.

Kindest regards

Karen Hickling, Partnerships Manager