ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE

COVID-19 Cleansing Teams Sanitise Public Areas As Australian Coronavirus Restrictions Continue To Ease

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 29: Suzanne Kerr poses for a portrait on May 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne Kerr aged 45 was unable to claim Jobseeker as she fell one month short of eligibility. She a resident in the country town of Mansfield, she commutes back home by bus on the weekend while she works five days a week as part of the Sanitization team while staying overnight at a hostel. She says "I don't see it as a big deal, I have to do what I need to do to get by, there is no work in the country". She feels that those unable to find work need to look at all options and maybe get out of there comfort zone "It's not fantastic but sometimes it's a good thing to be outside your comfort zone but don't give up there is hope". COVID-19 cleansing teams have been dispatched throughout Victoria as part of an initiative funded by the state government. The Working for Victoria initiative was set up to re-employ those unemployed or unable to find work during the COVID-19 outbreak. With thousands of displaced workers ineligible for government financial support, hundreds of unemployed workers have taken up the opportunity to join the COVID-19 cleansing teams who have been tasked with disinfecting and cleansing council amenities. Displaced workers varying from international students, workers in the hospitality and tourism industry to locals unable to find work walk over 15km a day tasked with disinfecting and cleansing everything from park benches, light-poles, playgrounds, traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons and railings among other everyday council amenities in an effort to keep coronavirus transmissions down. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 29: Suzanne Kerr poses for a portrait on May 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne Kerr aged 45 was unable to claim Jobseeker as she fell one month short of eligibility. She a resident in the country town of Mansfield, she commutes back home by bus on the weekend while she works five days a week as part of the Sanitization team while staying overnight at a hostel. She says "I don't see it as a big deal, I have to do what I need to do to get by, there is no work in the country". She feels that those unable to find work need to look at all options and maybe get out of there comfort zone "It's not fantastic but sometimes it's a good thing to be outside your comfort zone but don't give up there is hope". COVID-19 cleansing teams have been dispatched throughout Victoria as part of an initiative funded by the state government. The Working for Victoria initiative was set up to re-employ those unemployed or unable to find work during the COVID-19 outbreak. With thousands of displaced workers ineligible for government financial support, hundreds of unemployed workers have taken up the opportunity to join the COVID-19 cleansing teams who have been tasked with disinfecting and cleansing council amenities. Displaced workers varying from international students, workers in the hospitality and tourism industry to locals unable to find work walk over 15km a day tasked with disinfecting and cleansing everything from park benches, light-poles, playgrounds, traffic light pedestrian crossing buttons and railings among other everyday council amenities in an effort to keep coronavirus transmissions down. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)