Households in Kimberley remote communities to receive 20 free RATs each to combat ‘tyranny of distance’

Around 50,000 free Rapid Antigen Tests will be distributed among remote communities around the Kimberley in the coming weeks as part of the State Government’s free RATs program. Households in remote communities will receive 20 RATs each, with other households around WA set to receive five. The households will receive a larger allocation because of their often extreme distance from services, lack of access to normal postage, and the generally larger size of households. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the initiative would ensure everyone had access to testing, no matter their living circumstances. “Delivering these thousands of free RATs to remote parts of the State will address the tyranny of the distance and other barriers for these communities — ensuring our most vulnerable have protection,” she said. Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said she encouraged everyone in the Kimberley to make use of the free RATs program. “This initiative will make sure we get free RATs into more households in the Kimberley — regardless of how small the population or remote the community,” she said. “It just isn’t possible for many of us in the Kimberley to pop down the road to the shops or a testing centre.” The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services will assist with the distribution with the help of other local Aboriginal organisations.