Tyson, the 12yo from Wedderburn helping protect his neighbours

The 12-year-old boy has been making masks for elderly residents in his home town of Wedderburn.

He handed them out for free in his neighbourhood on Sunday.

"Everyone deserves to be safe in this environment," he said. "Some people may not have enough money to buy some."

Tyson has made about 50 masks after getting a lesson on creating them at a friend's house.

"We went up to a friend's because had to collect some masks," he said. "So I had a lesson on making them.

"They're really easy to make and we dropped into Spotlight in Bendigo and picked up whole bunch of material."

Tyson's foster mother Melinda Springthorpe said Tyson had never sewn anything before last week.

The pair use a sewing machine that was given to Ms Springthorpe.

"I haven't used one since I was in year 7," she said. "But I had on given to me in March, so we thought pull it out of cupboard and give it a bash.

"He just made them for family and then came up with the idea that elderly people might not be able to get them or afford them.

"So he started making them and gave them out for free. There are some units for elderly people not far form us, where about 30 people live. We started with them but are sure there are a lot of people who want them. He'll still make them as long as he's got material."

Face coverings are mandatory in public for Victorians from today but children under 12 are not expected to wear them.

A Bendigo Health spokesperson said wearing masks helped keep everyone safe from COVID-19.

"Masks are an important tool in preventing community transmission but do not replace hand hygiene and physical distancing," the spokesperson said.

"It is evident from the contact tracing we have been doing of people who test positive that they are moving around the community before they know they are infected. During this time they could be unknowingly infecting others.

"We urge everyone to care for their friends, colleagues and loved ones by wearing a mask and coming together as a community in this simple act of solidarity to keep one another safe."