Territorians are combatting COVID not only by getting vaccinated, but also by undergoing special infection control training.

Hundreds of people have taken the free course, which is being delivered online and face-to-face by registered training organisations.

The Territory Government matched $400,000 in Australian Government funding for the program.

The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA), which operates in 27 communities, has trained 102 people under the initiative.

It has also trained a further 83 under the national Community Development Program and 75 students under the NT’s User Choice Funding Program.

Most of the training was for staff at community stores, art centres, schools and council offices.

ALPA’s Education and Training Manager, Ryan Buckley, says the infection control training is critical in remote communities.

“It would be devastating if COVID got into Aboriginal communities.”

Training covers topics from simple hygiene, such as hand washing, through to lessons on understanding what can be done to stop germs spreading.

ALPA is part of a Territory Government-coordinated rapid response team, which is able to swing into action if COVID reached remote communities.

For further information and to access this training, go to the Northern Territory Government website.