Saff Collective owner Kirsty Poyser said it was through conversations with some friends that she came up with the idea for Mask Ear Savers.

"I have a few nurse friends and they were letting me know that their ears were killing them with wearing two or three masks all day during their shifts," she said. "Their ears were getting sore and even bleeding a bit."

The Mask Ear Savers work almost like a hook at the back of a person's head. Instead of the strings of the mask going around the person's ears, they are secured in place around the Ear Saver.

Ms Poyser, who has been designing and making jewellery and homewares in Bendigo for more than 10 years, said she was feeling helpless during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She knew this simple idea could be a small way to help those on the frontline.

Read more: Central Victorians to wear masks in public as coronavirus cases hit new record

"I knew there were a couple of different things on the market, but I came up with this design using leftover acrylic," Ms Poyser said.

"I took it to a few of my nurse friends and they have found it really takes the pressure off their ears. We have done them in plastic so they can be wiped down with alcohol at the end of the day."

Ms Poyser said while her idea started as a way to just help a couple of friends, it has grown quickly.

After posting about it on the Saff Collective social media sites, she received an outpouring of messages from people who either wanted to contribute or wanted an Ear Saver for themselves.

"I created a pay it forward system so those people who were feeling helpless and couldn't do much can buy them, and then I'll pass them onto the hospital and nurses," Ms Poyser said.

Ms Poyser has already donated 100 Ear Savers to Bendigo Health and another 100 products to St John of God Hospital in Bendigo.

She also had requests from Melbourne and places like the United States, Ireland, and Singapore.

"It's been lovely to know that I can help in my small way," she said.

While the idea started with nurses, Ms Poyser said Ear Savers have also gone out to other healthcare professionals including pharmacists and aged care workers.

She said she was hoping to grow the project to include teachers, support staff, and others in the community who were wearing masks for long hours.

Ms Poyser said people could find more information about how they could contribute at the website: saff-collective.myshopify.com/collections/sponsor-a-healthcare-worker

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