UWA graduate Chris Doohan (or ‘Chris Nicholas’ on Facebook) is the brainchild behind the heart-warming wave of community support to healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19. Coupling his concern for over-worked friends in healthcare with the power of social media has mobilised a global network of more than 140,000 everyday volunteers supporting doctors, nurses and other frontline workers through simple acts of kindness.
“I initially set up the 'Adopt a Healthcare Worker' group on Facebook following a conversation with a friend who is a nurse. Her and her colleagues had experienced difficulties in getting hold of 'essential' items at the shops due to their increased hours as hospitals geared up for the expected surge in demand for hospital beds due to the situation with COVID-19. The forecast was for the situation to get much worse, so I thought I could set up a small-scale support group for 10-20 healthcare worker friends.”
“Within a few hours, the group had already blown out to 500 people. Over the next few days, people from across Australia (and internationally) asked me to help set up offshoots in other locations.”
'Adopt a healthcare worker' - How it works
The idea is simple - using existing technology to connect everyday people with healthcare workers so that they can provide practical support.
“In the group we use postcodes to allow 'adoptees' to locate a healthcare worker to 'adopt' in their local areas. Once a connection has been formed, the individual parties identify and agree upon what the practical support looks like.”
It may be as simple as being someone to have a chat with, to run an errand that a healthcare worker doesn't have time to do due to the current situation, or in some instances we have seen people lend properties for healthcare workers who need to self-isolate due to risk of infection.
To be involved, search for 'Adopt a Healthcare Worker' on Facebook and select the group that represents your region and either adopt a healthcare worker or be adopted (if you are a healthcare worker).