Free RAT program extended

SUNRAYSIA residents with a disability will continue to receive free rapid antigen tests from the government, after the program was extended.

On Sunday, the Victorian Government announced it would continue to provide people with disabilities with 20 free RATs per visit from state-run testing sites and disability liaison officers.

Those eligible for the free tests include people on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, disability support pensioners and people with disabilities who were receiving a Transport Accident Commission benefit.

Sunraysia Residential Services project manager Michael Marks said while it was positive that clients could be tested for free, there were already an “abundance” of tests available.

“There has not been a shortage of RATs in the disability sector and talking to some of the parents and school kids as well, the education system is inundated with RATs with both the saliva and nasal tests, giving people a choice,” he said.

“(The tests) come to SRS direct and then we give them to the team leaders and co-ordinators who distribute them to all of the families and properties that we have.

“As soon as someone has a sniffle we get them tested and isolate them just as a precaution.”

The free RAT program was announced in April and was set to run for three months however following a review it has been extended to the end of September.