SafeWA turns one
It has been one year since SafeWA was launched as an extra safety measure to protect Western Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free digital COVID-19 contact register system enables businesses to easily generate their own unique QR codes which patrons can scan using their mobile phones to register their attendance at those businesses.
Check-in information is securely stored and only accessible to public health contact tracing teams to quickly identify incidental or “casual contacts” of confirmed COVID-19 cases to prevent its spread within WA.
In the past 12 months, SafeWA successfully identified 2,500 close and casual contacts of people who have tested positive to COVID-19, including 80 per cent of contacts during the four-day lockdown in June and July 2021.
With 90,232 businesses and 2 million people registered, and more than 463 million check-ins, it’s no surprise SafeWA has been so effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
HSS Project Manager, Ayesha Harrison-Stewart oversaw the ICT component of the app’s development, including its design, development and testing before it was launched to app stores.
“In collaboration with Department of Health, Department of Premier and Cabinet, and the app vendor, our HSS teams worked around the clock to conceptualise, build, test and launch SafeWA to app stores in just 22 days,” Ayesha said.
“It’s been great to see so many Western Australians using SafeWA, but seeing the check-in data actually speed up the state’s contact tracing efforts was particularly impactful.”
“This really demonstrates the tangible role HSS has played in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Since its launch, several changes have been made to improve the user experience of the app, including:
- the capability to add additional visitors or guests that you regularly check-in with
- making it accessible to visitors from New Zealand utilising the trans-Tasman travel bubble
- the option to see the last place you checked-in to
- improved accessibility features, such as increased haptic and audible feedback, to ensure inclusivity for people with disability or impairment.
HSS Executive Director, COVID-19 Response, Ralph Bates said he was impressed by the collaboration and commitment that led to the quick launch and ongoing improvement of SafeWA.
“Getting SafeWA off the ground was a mammoth effort, and it was a credit to the expertise and dedication demonstrated by every HSS team member who was pulled into the project on short notice this time last year,” Ralph said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is still an ever-changing situation, and we must ensure SafeWA continues to best serve and protect Western Australians.”
Thank you to everyone who regularly checks-in for playing your part in keeping WA safe.