When the COVID-19 pandemic sent the entire world into lockdown in early 2020, Australia was one of the few countries that successfully got ahead of the virus by encouraging good hygiene and correct handwashing amongst the population.

Intensive public messaging made it clear to everyone that being mindful of hygienic practices was one way to fight the spread of disease. Australia was successful in these efforts by promoting safe procedures and installing facilities that stopped the spread.

However, this is not the case in most parts of the world; in their 2021 Autumn newsletter, WaterAid Australia outlined the global crisis linked to inadequate handwashing facilities.

Facts on handwashing

Source: WaterAid Autumn Newsletter 2021

CIVIQ responded to the threat of COVID by designing and manufacturing the Aquafil FlexiWash. The sensor-activated handwashing station helps safeguard communities from cross-contamination and sickness, keeping them healthy and protecting their wellbeing.

Conventionally, handwashing facilities were limited to kitchens and bathrooms, which meant that people had to go out of their way to practice good hygiene and stop the spread of disease. Taking it up as a challenge, the CIVIQ team designed the FlexiWash as a standalone handwashing station, which would allow handwashing outside libraries, in school playgrounds and public parks as well as many other places, enabling the community to adopt safe hand-hygiene practices through greater accessibility.

Dubbo School Handwashing Stations

Photo Credit: Dubbo College – South Campus

Having recognised the importance of promoting good hygiene within their campus, Dubbo College – South Campus installed 12 Aquafil FlexiWash handwashing stations around their campus. They addressed the needs of their staff and students, and made sure that the campus was equipped with the proper facilities to make it easy to access handwashing stations and stop the spread of any disease.