Driven by the tragic loss of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic in their home country, Giulia Cantoni and Marco Bruno have put their professional know-how to good use to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading in the local community on the Gold Coast.
Making the most of their time spent in isolation at home, the couple started 3D printing face shields to help deal with the shortage of facemasks.
"The first week (of self-isolation) we had nothing to do and absorbed all the news from Italy. Consequently, we had to do something and had the idea of face shields," Mr Bruno told SBS Italian.
The couple then began researching ways to address the shortage of facemasks and the project took shape in collaboration with a friend who lives in the US where he is also doing the same - 3D printing face shields.
"Some people cannot afford everyday reusable masks and some aren’t in a position to maintain the minimum physical distance. We want to make sure that these people are provided with protective devices to stop the spread of this deadly virus, especially among the elderly people with health issues, and their support staff," Ms Cantoni told SBS Italian.
faceshieldgc Source: Facebook
“The face mask does not protect all the sensitive parts on the face, particularly the eyes, and all the carers working with elderly people can’t keep the physical distance. That’s why we thought about printing the face shields," says Mr Bruno.
Buoyed by the response, they are now getting a new 3D printer to print what they call 'superhero shields' - face shields for children.
Though the production capacity is a limiting factor and they rely on donations to cover the cost of materials, the couple is hopeful that a combined effort can overcome the shortage of protective equipment.
Giulia Cantoni and Marco Bruno with their child Source: Supplied
"If you have a 3D printer and you are qualified to operate it, these shields can be produced anywhere with ease."
Their appeal, Ms Cantoni explains, is to involve as many people as possible in the face shield production process. Therefore, whoever owns a 3D printer or is interested in taking part in the project can contact the FaceShieldGC team through their page or .
