HMAS Albatross Midshipman Brandon Stevens completes Operation COVID Assist role

Accompanied by a NSW Police officer tasked with enforcing self-isolation compliance among COVID-positive and close contact cases, MIDN Stevens travelled throughout Bankstown and Wollongong Local Government Areas (LGAs) checking on residents' welfare and ensuring they had enough food, water and social support to get them through 14 days of isolation.

"We were really busy all the time, often conducting 30 to 40 checks a day in Bankstown because they had so many COVID cases at the height of the Delta wave," MIDN Stevens said.

"I didn't burn out because it was a complete change of pace from the gap year office work I've been doing at Albatross.

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"It was really satisfying to be able to follow-up on people on whom I'd previously called - to see how they were doing, ask if they needed anything and assess if they needed additional help with a referral to NSW Health.

"Bankstown's long lockdown was very hard on local residents, especially if they felt they couldn't afford to take time off to isolate or were living in large extended households where everyone was a close contact.

"The people in Wollongong were more relaxed as they had less cases, a shorter lockdown or could work from home so most of them (positive cases and close contacts excluded) could still grab a coffee or go to the beach and lead relatively normal lives."

MIDN Stevens, who is 19-years-old and grew up near Chermside on Brisbane's North side, joined the Royal Australian Navy in July 2020, completing officer training at HMAS Creswell in late November before being posted to HMAS Albatross for the next three years to study for a Maritime Warfare Officer role.

Along with his older brother, he attended Craigslea State High School where he was an active member of the school volleyball team and played soccer for 11 years, making Division 1 for Albany Creek Excelsior, the local team.

MIDN Stevens said his experiences working on COVID-19 Assist were unlike anything he'd encountered before and very rewarding.

"On one of my Wollongong calls, we had to call an ambulance to get help for a man who was really sick with COVID-19," he said.

"Although he was still able to talk to us on the phone after we'd called him from our patrol car outside his place, he was struggling to breathe and was too weak to get out of bed.

"The ambulance to take him to Wollongong Hospital arrived within 10 minutes and he'd be out of isolation now.

"This operational deployment was also an opportunity to learn more about working in a tri-service environment and as a section team leader I was given responsibility for eight to 10 NCOs (Non Commissioned Officers) from all three services.

"It was great to be in charge of people, making sure the team was working efficiently and looking after their welfare - an excellent officer experience.

"I love doing anything that helps people and I'm proud to have been part of COVID-19 Assist, which is doing great work in Sydney and the regions helping keep people safe from the disease."

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