The shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been a challenge for not only Able Australia but the disability sector has a whole. The health and safety of our clients, workers, volunteers and families is and continues to be our highest priority.

As a result, our drive for PPE hasn’t waned over the last several months. We have risen to the challenge through innovation and collaboration to acquire a range of PPE including; several hundred thousand masks, large supplies of hand sanitiser and our sewing drive for gowns.

COVID-19 PPE Face Shield

The next piece of PPE we have been working tirelessly on and we are now extremely proud to present you with – FACE SHIELDS!!!

Our Face Shield Project has been taking place for the past couple of months. To produce the frames we are using state-of-the-art 3D printers. Getting the finished product has involved quite a bit of trial and error, as we needed to align the hole punch with the frame to attach the shield and we are now full systems a-go!

Our well-oiled production line includes 22 3D printing machines producing the frame for the face shields. With each frame taking over 3 hours to print, we are now able to produce around 40 frames per day with this state of the art technology.

This project would not be possible without a collaborative approach with our supporters. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the supporters involved in this mammoth initiative including Swinburne University and Box Hill Institute.

A special thanks to our Face Shield model Able’s own James Digby who has been leading this project!

We truly are overwhelmed and so grateful to everyone who is lending us a hand during these uncertain times!