A message from DADAA regarding COVID-19
24th Mar 2020
DADAA is open and our Studios and Workshop programs are running, albeit with some changes. Whilst DADAA is maintaining normal office hours, we are strictly controlling access to our hubs to protect the safety of participants, staff and the community.
DADAA, as a NDIS Provider, is included in the national health response. We have been designated as an Essential Service in order to support people with disability throughout COVID-19. This means that DADAA is obligated to provide continuity of service to our participants. In order to best support our participants, DADAA is focused on providing continuity of support in a safe, flexible and individualised manner. All DADAA sites, Fremantle, Midland and Lancelin remain fully operational so that we can support over 400 people with disability and or mental illness – at a time when mental health, social connection and support are so very crucial.
Our incredible team of Artsworkers, Support Workers, Client Services and Administration teams are on-site daily to support participants in accessing the Arts and all the services that they are used to receiving from DADAA. They have been given the time, space and resources to focus on DADAA’s core client group of 400+ people with disability. Our studios are open and active, though operating differently, in line with public health guidelines:
- Infectious disease control training and equipment for all staff
- Physical distancing
- Hand gel and hand washing lessons for all participants
- Hospital grade cleaning
The wellbeing of all our staff, participants and broader community is paramount. As a large employer of WA artists, we are working hard to make sure that the highly skilled team of Artsworkers across DADAA’s sites have job security and are able to keep providing participants with access to the arts. We have also introduced flexible working arrangements and have encouraged any staff who are vulnerable or at risk to work from home.
Right now, DADAA is also planning for remote/digital program delivery for those artists with disability who elect to self-isolate during this period. We will send participants more information on how to join a digital workshop very soon.
As we all move through this incredibly challenging period due to the global impact of COVID-19, and grapple with the uncertainty it brings, we have also made other significant changes at DADAA. In response to State and Federal Government restrictions we have cancelled our Tactile Tours, and international and public programs have now ceased. The DADAA Fremantle Gallery is now closed and all public events have been postponed until later into the year.
DADAA continues to strongly advocate for people with disability during this time, and we thank you, and our community, for your ongoing support.
