AESM Vol 28, ISSUE 1 2022

VOL 28: ISSUE 1, 2022 

HOW TO 

Help Those 

Affected By 

Floods 

STALLED WEATHER 

SYSTEMS CREATE 

CATASTROPHE 

CONSTRUCTING 

EFFECTIVE 

EMERGENCY 

WARNING 

MESSAGES

A CRISIS OUT THERE 

IS NO EXCUSE FOR 

VIOLENCE IN HERE. 

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

If you or someone you 

know is experiencing abuse 

or domestic violence, help is 

here. Get free, confidential 

online and phone advice 

and counselling for 

women and men. 24/7.

WE SEE YOU 

COORDINATING 

THE RESPONSE 

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FEATURE 

CONTENTS 

FEATURE 

Disaster Survivors 

Often Feel More 

Prepared For 

The Next One, 

However Are 

Often Left Out Of 

Planning 

23 

Helping Those 

Affected By Floods 

An insight into what to 

do to help those affected 

by floods and what not 

to do. 

21 

Flood-affected members of the Lismore, New South Wales community. Image: www.defence.gov.au 

FEATURE 

4 Things Tsunami 

Vulnerable 

Countries Must Do 

13 

Constructing Effective 

Emergency Warning 

Messages 

How To Conduct A 

Mental Health Safety 

Check 

The eruption of the 

underwater volcano and 

subsequent tsunami that 

hit Tonga has alerted many 

vulnerable communities to 

this threat. 

33 

Calling Across The 

Border 

Messages and alerts used 

by emergency service 

organisations are integral to 

warning systems in Australia, 

and new research is helping to 

shape the design of warnings 

that save lives. 

CEO of Springfox, Stuart 

Taylor discusses how to 

conduct a mental health 

safety check and how this 

needs to sit alongside 

workplace health and 

safety. 

27 

A fantastic story of 

collaboration between 

Twelve NSW Ambulance 

call-takers and the 

Emergency Services 

Telecommunications 

Authority (ESTA) in 

Victoria. 

www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 

9

THE REGULARS 

• Editor’s Note 

3 

• Recent Events 

CFA Awards Commendation to Community Heroes 

Phoenix Australia training dates 

Victoria’s Air Ambulance soar to new heights 

• Emergency Law with Dr Michael Eburn 

• Let’s Talk Mental Health with Dr Lisa Holmes 

• On the Frontline - Innovative Disruption 

• In the Spotlight - NSW Rail Fire & Emergency 

• AESM Book Reviews 

• Emergency Breaks - The Red Centre 

5 

6 

6 

7 

17 

31 

39 

41 

43 

DOWNLOAD THE 

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Stay connected and up 

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emergency services news 

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access to the magazine via 

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Android platforms 

LET’S TALK MENTAL HEALTH 

Dr Lisa Holmes - Unit Coordinator and 

Lecturer Paramedical Science. Edith Cowan 

University. Course Coordinator Master, 

Graduate Diploma and Certificate of 

Disaster & Emergency Response. 

EMERGENCY LAW 

Dr Michael Eburn - PHD, leading expert in 

law relating to emergency management & 

emergency services. 

MAGAZINE CONTACTS 

Editorial Content 

press@ausemergencyservices.com.au 

Advertising Enquiries 

advertise@ausemergencyservices.com.au 

ON THE FRONTLINE 

An Insight into the World of Paramedicine 

with Rasa Piggott, Registered Paramedic, 

Nurse and Tertiary Educator. 

Distribution Enquiries 

distribution@ausemergencyservices.com.au 

POSTAL ADDRESS: 

Suite 112, Locked Bag 1 

ROBINA TC, QLD 4230 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

EMERGENCY BREAKS 

Each edition features a 

profile on a person, team, 

partnership, squad or unit 

to showcase their unique 

contribution to the Emergency 

Services industry. 

Explore local surrounds, or 

new places that are only a 

short plane trip or drive away, 

so you can maximise every 

minute of those days when 

your name doesn’t appear 

next to a call sign on the roster 

Scan Me 

to download the AESM App 

www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Welcome to the latest edition of the Australian 

Emergency Services Magazine. At the time of going to 

publication we were affected by the east coast low that 

has been described as a ‘rain bomb’. Roads flooded, 

houses inundated, businesses underwater and tragically 

lives were lost. 

The clean up is ongoing and will continue for many 

months to come. In the Northern Rivers region, 

coordinated response by civilians was the only thing that 

got many communities in that area fresh water, food 

and much needed medicine. This latest disaster opens 

the question of a national coordinated response centre 

for such natural disasters that are becoming more 

frequent and more intense. 

If you can help the communities affected by this 

recent natural disaster in any way there are plenty of 

organisations that you can reach out to. 

Check out GIVIT as they find out the specifics of what 

is needed and coordinate the connection. This way 

nothing you give will go to waste and you know your 

donation will go to the right place. 

We welcome to this edition Dr Lisa Holmes, Unit 

Coordinator and Lecturer of Paramedical Science at 

Edith Cowan University. Lisa has taken over the “Let’s 

Talk Mental Health” column. Make sure you check it out 

and find out what makes Dr Lisa so passionate about 

mental health. 

Stay safe while looking after those in your community! 

Bianca Peterson 

Editor in Chief 


DISCLAIMER 

The Australian Emergency Services Magazine 

is a community educational resource 

publication and does not promote itself 

as a charity or fund raising institution, nor 

solicit on behalf of charities and is no way 

financially supported by or associated 

with any government, union or similar 

institution. The Australian Emergency Services 

Magazine is an independent publication that 

is not associated with any services or similar 

entities. 

Distribution of the publication is Bi-Monthly 

and is circulated via a database of interested 

parties, including business, subscribers, 

advertisers, volunteer organisations, 

emergency service sectors, emergency 

and disaster management, government, 

universities, TAFE and council libraries. A 

print and digital magazine is distributed to a 

targeted database in each State & Territory. 

Every effort is made to ensure that material 

presented in the Australian Emergency 

Services Magazine was correct at the time of 

printing and is published in good faith, no 

responsibility or liability will be accepted by 

Boothbook Media. 

The views and opinions expressed are 

not necessarily those of Boothbook 

Media and its employees. The content of 

any advertising or promotional material 

contained within the Australian Emergency 

Services Magazine is not necessarily an 

endorsement by Boothbook Media. 

Published by Boothbook Media 

ABN:72 605 987 031 

BOOTHBOOK MEDIA 

DIGITAL MEDIA & MARKETING 

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? 

We are always looking for new 

and relevant content that 

our readers will enjoy. If you 

would like to be featured in 

the magazine there are many 

options. You may have a story 

you would like to share, or 

perhaps be featured in our “In 

the Spotlight” regular column. 

Please submit all articles or 

expressions of interest to the 

Editor for consideration at: 

editor@ausemergencyservices. 

com.au 

Articles should be no more than 

1000 words and be relevant 

to the content within the 

Australian Emergency Services 

Magazine. 

3 


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The Centre offers a wide range of Incident Management, Crisis Leadership and Business Preparedness 

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RECENT EVENTS 

Murwillumbah inundated with floodwater after east coast low. Image: Surf Life Saving NSW 

LIFESAVERS RESPOND TO FLOODS AND 

BATTEN HATCHES FOR EAST COAST LOW 

Surf Life Saving NSW is 

currently assisting SES and 

other agencies deal with the 

widespread and significant 

flood situation in the state’s 

north. 

Numerous assets are 

positioned in key locations 

including Inflatable Rescue 

Boats (IRBs) and UAVs 

and the organisation has 

received many requests 

for assistance, through 

emergency services to the 

State Operations Centre. 

Since Monday, Surf Life 

Saving NSW has assisted 

emergency services with 

transporting more than 180 

people in flood waters and 

that number is expected to 

grow exponentially over the 

coming days. 

Just this morning an IRB 

crew was tasked to medivac 

an elderly woman from a 

nursing home in Kingscliff 

with significant head injuries. 

There are also a number of 

IRBs currently conducting 

evacuations of people in 

Woodburn and around 

Wardell, south of Ballina. 

The Westpac Life Saver 

Rescue Helicopter is 

conducting food drops 

around Chinderah and other 

key assets including UAVs, 

Duty Officers, volunteers 

and liaison officers are on 

the ground at affected sites 

or stationed at Emergency 

Operation Centres to help 

coordinate responses. 

“It’s a devastating incident 

that we’re seeing unfolding 

in the far north,” Surf Life 

Saving NSW Director of 

Lifesaving, Joel Wiseman 

said. 

“It’s a significant operation, 

the first of its kind that 

Surf Life Saving has been 

involved in. We’ve assisted 

in smaller flooding events 

in the past, we’ve assisted 

in the bushfires, but this 

one is probably the largest 

response that we’ve had to 

provide. 

“Some of our volunteers who 

are responding to this crisis 

have themselves lost homes. 

“Our lifesavers are highly 

trained individuals and we 

are providing them with 

enhanced training with 

on ground support from 

the SES ensuring they are 

appropriately equipped to 

go out into those conditions 

and provide that assistance 

to the community as safely 

as possible.” 

Meanwhile, the ever-present 

threat of another extreme 

weather event developing 

further south also has surf 

lifesavers on standby, with 

assets being prepared to 

respond to at-risk areas as 

an East Coast Low develops 

rapidly off the coast. 

Heavy rainfall, flash 

flooding, coastal erosion 

and dangerous surf are 

expected to hit between the 

state’s Central Coast and 

the Far South Coast, and will 

coincide with extremely high 

tides in the mornings which 

will make coastal inundation 

and erosion a serious threat 

to people and property. 

Surf Life Saving volunteers in 

the south are preparing to 

respond and are on standby 

now with rescue equipment. 

“We’re gearing up for a huge 

response in those areas,” 

Joel said. 

“There will be some 

hazardous conditions and 

we are encouraging anyone 

who is thinking about going 

into the water to please stay 

out. 

“We do not want to 

see people out in the 

treacherous surf conditions 

placing volunteers and 

emergency services 

personnel at risk. 

“Resources at the moment 

are hampered and we’re 

trying our best to keep 

people safe.” 

5 


RECENT EVENTS 

FINAL TRAINING DATES FOR 

THE BUSHFIRE RECOVERY 

PROJECTS 

Ensure that you and 

your team are equipped 

with the skills needed 

to support individuals 

and communities after a 

disaster by securing your 

place in one of Phoenix 

Australia’s free upcoming 

Bushfire Recovery Project 

workshops. 

Phoenix Australia is 

heading out on the road 

(both virtually and inperson) 

to deliver the final 

round of free, expertled 

and evidence-based 

training for frontline 

workers and community 

leaders, including 

emergency services and 

health staff, in bushfireaffected 

communities 

across the country. 

“How you engage with the 

community is important. 

The Trauma-informed 

Care training helps you 

draw boundaries around 

dealing with people while 

still helping them. It gives 

strategies for how to 

do that and helps put 

previous experience into 

a framework. It’s given 

me the ability to make 

recommendations for the 

whole unit.” - Lindsay, SES. 

Ready to join more than 

1000 other emergency 

service members across 

Australia? 

Register here for further 

information: https:// 

www.phoenixaustralia. 

org/resources/bushfirerecovery/#workshops 

Can’t join us in person? 

Self-paced online versions 

also available. Please follow 

the below links to register: 

PFA for Emergency 

Services Managers 

Course link: https:// 

training.phoenixaustralia. 

org/offerings/ 

psychologicalfirst-aid-bushfirerecovery?key=PFABFR 

Coupon code: ESPFA100 

TIC for Emergency Services 

Staff and Volunteers 

Course link: https:// 

training.phoenixaustralia. 

org/offerings/traumainformed-care-bushfirerecovery?key=TICBFR 

Coupon code: ESTIC100 

State-of-the-art Beechcraft planes will providel ess risk of injury for paramedics & flight crews 

VICTORIA’S AIR 

AMBULANCES SOAR TO 

NEW HEIGHTS 

Four new ultra-modern aircraft 

fitted with high-tech patient 

care systems will join Victoria’s 

fixed-wing air ambulance 

service, making the fleet the 

most innovative in the country 

and ensuring patients across 

the state have the best care 

available. 

Minister for Ambulance 

Services Martin Foley today 

announced Ambulance 

Victoria’s current fixed-wing 

fleet would be replaced with 

four new Beechcraft King Air 

aircraft worth more than $300 

million, taking off in 2024. 

Ambulance Victoria has signed 

a contract with Pel-Air Aviation 

to continue providing fixed 

wing air ambulance services in 

Victoria for another 12 years. 

As part of the contract, Pel-Air 

will supply four new fixed-wing 

aircraft, as well as pilots and 

engineering support. 

Fixed-wing aircraft provide 

a vital link between rural 

communities and metropolitan 

health services. In 2020/21 the 

fleet transported 5,065 patients 

– with most of those trips from 

regional Victoria to Melbourne. 

The state-of-the-art aircraft will 

feature the latest technology 

and provide additional 

comfort, safety and care for 

patients and flight paramedics. 

Each plane will be fitted with 

the high-tech Stryker stretcher 

loading system, which will 

mean a faster and smoother 

ride for patients and less risk 

of injury for paramedics and 

flight crews. 

Last year, Ambulance Victoria’s 

air ambulance helicopters 

were fitted with this innovative 

loading system, which has 

already reduced the time 

taken to transfer patients 

into the aircraft by up to 20 

minutes. 

Ambulance Victoria will also 

work with Pel-Air to develop 

an Australian-first pilot fatigue 

monitoring system, to ensure 

a continuous focus on safety 

development for staff. 

The fleet, consisting of two 

Beechcraft 260s and two 

Beechcraft 360s, is expected 

to become operational in 

2024. 

Image: Ambulance Victoria 

www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 6

AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY LAW 

A DISCUSSION 

ON THE LAW 

THAT APPLIES 

TO OR AFFECTS 

AUSTRALIA’S 

EMERGENCY 

SERVICES AND 

EMERGENCY 

MANAGEMENT 

Compensation for 

contracting COVID-19 

whilst volunteering – 

NSW SES 

March 23rd 2020 

DR MICHAEL EBURN 

PhD 

Honorary Associate 

Professor, 

ANU College of Law 

Adjunct Associate 

Professor, 

UNE School of Law 

Leading Expert in Law 

Relating to Emergency 

Management & 

Emergency Services 

I have received this question from a volunteer with NSW SES: 

As a volunteer for the NSW SES, I am interested to understand if as a volunteer 

we are responded to an incident and during attendance become infected by 

COVID-19. The assumption would be that all who attended followed all the appropriate 

protocols put in place by the relevant agencies. 

I understand many of us attend our employment or emergency service tasks 

and sometimes get the flu, this has just become an accepted part of life, however 

COVID-19 has the potential significant health consequences, potentially 

death. If a worker follows all current protocols, does that remove all liability from 

their agency in the event they become infected? 

As someone who is generally unfamiliar with the law, I feel it may be hard to 

provide strong evidence for the claim that a person became sick whilst attending 

an emergency incident. Do you feel the current systems and protections in place 

within NSW or Australia are suited to cater for these potential outcomes in the 

favour of staff/volunteers? 

https://law.anu.edu.au/ 

people/michael-eburn

with Dr Michael Eburn 

A volunteer with NSW SES who 

suffers an injury or illness as a 

result of their volunteering is 

entitled to compensation as if 

they were an employee entitled to 

workers compensation (Workers 

Compensation (Bush Fire, Emergency 

and Rescue Services) Act 1987 

(NSW)). Under that Act and the 

Workers Compensation Act 1987 

(NSW) s 4, ‘injury’ includes ‘a disease 

that is contracted by a worker in 

the course of employment but only 

if the employment was the main 

contributing factor to contracting the 

disease’. 

One might imagine it may not be 

that hard to prove a link between 

volunteering and COVID-19. If for 

example a crew was engaged in 

road crash rescue and the patient 

was transported to hospital, it was 

identified that they had a fever (not 

the usual response to a trauma) so 

was tested and found to be COVID-19 

positive then there would be contact 

tracing. That would hopefully lead 

back to the rescuers and if one of 

them was COVID-19 positive and 

developing symptoms after the 

accident that may be sufficient to 

establish that was the cause of the 

infection. 

But we are all at risk and could all 

catch it anywhere (hence all the 

recommendations). If one could not 

establish the source of infection, then 

the entitlement under the Act would 

not apply. But that of course is true of 

everyone. Anyone who is still going 

to work may contact COVID-19 in 

circumstances where they would not 

have had they stayed at home. If the 

only place they are going is work then 

that may show that is the source of 

their contagion, but if they go to the 

shops, interact with others (including 

family) etc then there may be other 

sources. 

I’m not sure ‘the current systems and 

protections in place within NSW or 

Australia are suited to cater for these 

potential outcomes in the favour of 

staff/volunteers’ for any organisation. 

Most people who have to isolate for 

14 days will need to rely on their own 

resources, their leave entitlements 

and/or the generosity of their 

employer or the Federal Government. 

That’s true no matter what their 

occupation or volunteer status. 

The ‘business as usual’ legal response 

is not well-suited to this pandemic 

for anyone. How people will be 

provided for if they have to isolate 

for 14 days, or worse, is a constantly 

evolving process and no doubt varies 

with employer or agency, but if you 

can trace exposure to an emergency 

response, the Workers Compensation 

(Bush Fire, Emergency and Rescue 

Services) Act 1987 (NSW) will apply. 

This article originally appeared on the 

blog Australian Emergency Law (https:// 

emergencylaw.wordpress.com/) and is reproduced 

with the permission of the author. 

As a blog post it represents the author’s opinion 

based on the law at the time it was written. 

The blog, or this article, is not legal advice and 

cannot be relied upon to determine any person’s 

legal position. How the law applies to any 

specific situation or event depends on all the 

circumstances. 

If you need to determine legal rights and 

obligations with respect to any event that has 

happened, or some action that is proposed, 

you must consult a lawyer for advice based on 

the particular circumstances. Trade unions, 

professional indemnity insurers and community 

legal centres can all be a source for initial legal 

advice. 


Constructing effective emergency 

warning messages: 

the words, phrases and structures that make a difference 

Messages and alerts 

used by emergency 

service organisations 

are integral to warning 

systems in Australia, and 

new research is helping 

to shape the design of 

warnings that save lives. 

Author: 

Bethany Patch 

Natural Hazards Research Australia

Emergency messages and alerts 

are designed to warn communities 

of possible danger and promote 

behaviour that keeps people safe, 

and there is a need to learn more 

about why some warning strategies 

are more successful than others. 

Rather than being developed ad 

hoc during each new emergency, 

the specific words, phrases and 

structures used in warning messages 

are based on years of rigorous 

research. These elements are chosen 

very intentionally, as each one can 

powerfully influence safety in the 

community. 

New research, led by Professor 

Amisha Mehta at Queensland 

University of Technology, used risk 

communication and behavioural 

theories to determine whether 

warning communications can 

be adapted to better support 

community understanding and 

decision-making during bushfire and 

flood emergencies. 

“Some people see ‘emergency 

warning’ as a heads-up, not as the 

most extreme level of warning. We 

took a community-oriented approach 

to examine ways to enhance 

warnings so they could be easily 

understood by and encourage action 

from community members,” Prof 

Mehta said. 

The research was part of a 

Bushfire and Natural Hazards 

CRC project, Effective risk and 

warning communication during 

natural hazards – a partnership 

between the CRC, Queensland 

University of Technology, and many 

emergency service organisations and 

government departments around 

the country. The following summary 

of research findings was recently 

published by the CRC in Hazard Notes 

110 and 111. 

CHOOSING POWERFUL WORDS 

For this study, researchers asked 

more than 850 participants to 

evaluate a range of signal words (e.g. 

bushfire, severe, widespread, prepare) 

and action phrases (e.g. prepare 

to evacuate), which reflected the 

different components of warnings, 

including location, impact, time and 

actions. 

Participants were presented with 

a signal word or action phrase 

and asked to evaluate the extent 

to which it indicated a warning, 

risk and the need for behavioural 

response. These words and action 

phrases were divided into three tiers 

(high, moderate and low) to reflect 

the three-tiered warning system in 

Australia.

IMPACT WORDS: 

HAZARD-ORIENTED WORDS: 

Researchers considered 

two hazard-oriented words: 

bushfire and flood. The word 

flood indicated a moderate 

level of warning, risk and the 

need for behavioural response, 

and bushfire showed a similar 

pattern, although with a high 

indication of risk. 

Of the impact words assessed, 

catastrophic, deadly, destructive 

and severe signalled high indication 

of warning, risk and the need for 

behavioural response. Depending on 

their use within a warning, these could 

be used interchangeably and may 

reduce message habituation and avoid 

message fatigue, effectively keeping 

people safer. Interestingly, the words 

extreme and dangerous signalled high 

risk and warning, but only moderate 

need for behavioural response. 

TIMING WORDS: 

LOCATION WORDS: 

Of the four timing words assessed 

– urgent, immediately, now and 

early – urgent and immediately 

indicated high levels of warning, 

risk and need for behavioural 

response. This presents 

opportunities or interchangeable 

use or emphasis within warnings. 

None of the location 

words – widespread, close 

or local – signalled high 

levels of warning, risk or 

the need for behavioural 

response. 

ACTION PHRASES: 

The three phrases with the strongest 

indicators of warning, risk and need 

for behavioural response were 

evacuate now, leave immediately 

and leave now. These three phrases 

performed similarly and reflect the 

same protective behaviour intention, 

indicating an opportunity for their 

substitution in warnings. 

Shelter indoors now and seek 

shelter were showed high indication 

of warning, risk and need for 

behavioural response, yet slightly 

lower than evacuation-based 

phrases. 

Interestingly, researchers expected 

all action phrases to indicate a high 

need for behavioural response, 

however participants noted only a 

moderate need for phrases such as 

move indoors, seek information and 

monitor conditions. 

Preparation-based phrases such 

as prepare to evacuate or prepare 

to leave showed a high indication 

of warning, risk and need for 

behavioural response, although 

prepare to evacuate was located in 

close signal proximity to evacuationbased 

phrases – an important 

consideration for use within 

warnings. 

You can read more about this 

research in Hazard Note 110, 

published by the CRC at www.bnhcrc. 

com.au/hazardnotes/110. 

CREATING EFFECTIVE 

EMERGENCY ALERTS 

Emergency Alerts complement 

long-form official warnings and 

media broadcasts during bushfires 

and floods. They are pushed to 

mobile phones and fixed landlines 

in geographically defined areas, 

enabling targeted, direct and timely 

communication. During the 2019-20 

bushfire season, more than 4 million 

SMS messages and almost 500,000 

fixed-line messages were issued. 

However, despite the high use of 

Emergency Alerts, there hasn’t 

been much research to guide the 

structure and length of this type of 

warning in the context of a national 

and consistent warning approach. 

Research also led by Prof Mehta 

examined bushfire and flood 

Emergency Alerts, providing an 

empirical evidence base to examine 

differential impacts and guide future 

design. 

Researchers assessed alerts 

with three levels of escalation 

that reflected their likely use by 

emergency service agencies during 

emergencies: monitor conditions, 

evacuate now and shelter in place. 

Similarly, flood alerts comprised 

two levels of escalation: prepare to 

11 


evacuate and evacuate. Within each 

type, alerts were tailored based on 

content order and message length. 

Via a national survey of 3,138 

people, participants were presented 

with an emergency alert and 

asked to assess it for measures 

of cognitive evaluations (e.g. level 

of risk, comprehension, perceived 

effectiveness, trust in information 

and decision clarity) and protective 

behaviour intentions (e.g. the 

intention to evacuate). 

MESSAGE LENGTH: 

Bushfire 

For cognitive evaluations of all 

bushfire Emergency Alerts, longerform 

messages resulted in higher 

levels of effectiveness, trust in 

information and decision clarity, 

indicating merit in extending 

character length to longer-form 

messages. Notably, longer-form 

messages had a more significant 

and positive effect for the bushfire 

monitor conditions alert than 

the shorter-form messages, with 

participants indicating significantly 

higher comprehension, effectiveness, 

trust in information and decision 

clarity for the longer-form version. 

With respect to protective behaviour 

intentions, longer-form messages 

resulted in significantly greater 

intentions to follow instructions 

immediately and share the 

information with others, reinforcing 

the value of longer-form alerts. 

Flood 

Overall, for flood alerts, there were 

no significant differences between 

short- or longer-form messages 

for comprehension, effectiveness, 

trust in information, decision clarity 

or protective behaviour intentions. 

However, moving to a longer 

message format did not cause any 

negative outcomes either. 

MESSAGE ORDER: 

Bushfire 

For cognitive evaluations of actionled 

bushfire Emergency Alerts 

overall, there were no significant 

differences in comprehension, 

effectiveness, trust in information 

or decision clarity. The exception 

was the action-led evacuate now 

alert, which showed higher levels of 

comprehension compared to the 

hazard-led version of that same alert 

(bushfire in your area). For protective 

behaviour intentions, participants 

responded similarly to both actionand 

hazard-led bushfire alerts, 

although the hazard-led evacuate 

now alert resulted in significantly 

lower intentions to do nothing (that 

is, this alert motivated people to 

at least perform one action rather 

than no action). Also, intention to 

share information with others was 

significantly higher for the hazard-led 

bushfire monitor conditions alert. 

Flood 

For flood alerts overall, there 

were no significant differences in 

cognitive evaluations, but there was 

a significantly greater intention to 

follow instructions immediately for 

those who saw the action-led flood 

messages compared to those who 

saw the hazard-led flood messages. 

You can read more about these 

research findings in Hazard Note 

111 published by the Bushfire and 

Natural Hazards CRC: www.bnhcrc. 

com.au/hazardnotes/111. 

This research is being used to inform 

wider emergency communication 

guidance and systems, including the 

Public Information and Warnings 

Handbook (published by the Australian 

Institute for Disaster Resilience) and the 

new Australian Warning System. 

It was featured in an episode of the 

documentary series Driving change: 

the evolution of communications and 

warnings in emergency preparedness, 

response and recovery, available 

to watch at www.bnhcrc.com.au/ 

communications-warnings-video-series. 


Calling across the border 

A deployment of emergency medical call-takers from NSW to Victoria has broken new 

ground, leveraging the already excellent collaborative relationship between the two 

organisations. While Omicron brought the mission to an early end, participants are already 

implementing learnings from the experience, and are eager for future exchanges.

WELCOME TO MELBOURNE 

Twelve NSW Ambulance call-takers 

were greeted warmly when they 

arrived at Melbourne’s Tullamarine 

Airport on 20 November 2021. 

Stephen Leane, interim CEO of 

Victoria’s Emergency Services 

Telecommunications Authority 

(ESTA) was among the welcoming 

party. 

Kevin Griffiths from NSW 

Ambulance’s Northern Control 

Centre in Newcastle, Alana Heskey 

from Sydney Control Centre, 

and Ann Collie from Southern 

Operations in Wollongong were 

part of deployment. 

“Everyone was really happy to see 

us,” recalls Alana. 

“We felt appreciated from the 

moment we arrived and nothing 

was ever too much trouble,” added 

Kevin and Ann. 

On day one the new recruits had 

access to email, security passes, 

CAD logins, an orientation pack 

and even a card for a free coffee 

from the café near ESTA’s Williams 

Landing. 

The call-taker deployment – the 

first ever between the two states – 

was off to a perfect start. 

Initially intended to be for three 

months, the historic deployment 

arose from conversations between 

service leaders at a Council of 

Ambulance Authorities event 

earlier in the year. 

NSW Ambulance call-takers and ESTA team leaders at ESTA’s Williams Landing centre. Image Credit NSW Ambulance 

AUTHOR: Matt Pulford - NSW Ambulance 

The Delta outbreak had taken 

its toll in Victoria, and ESTA’s 

ambulance call-takers were 

under pressure and exhausted. 

In these pre-Omicron times, 

NSW Ambulance saw the chance 

to respond to help out another 

ambulance service in need. 

Emergency Management 

Victoria (EMV) organised flights, 

accommodation and car hire. 

After calls for Expressions of 

Interest, a group of experienced 

NSW Ambulance call-takers was 

assembled and headed south of 

the border.

CRACKING THE CODES 

The call-taker deployment began 

with a week of theory at ESTA’s 

Williams Landing site, then five days 

of mentoring at the Tally Ho site in 

Burwood in Melbourne’s east. 

Doone Barrett was one of three ESTA 

team leaders who signed up to look 

after the NSW group. 

It’s not just railway gauges that differ 

from state to state across Australia, 

ambulance systems and applications 

vary widely as well. As a former rural 

dispatcher in Victoria, Doone was 

familiar with these cross-border 

nuances. 

“Call-takers in both states use the 

ProQA medical priority dispatch 

system, although NSW uses an extra 

protocol,” explained Doone. 

“However the Victorian CAD system 

is very different and has a totally 

different interface. There are also 

differences in the way ambulance 

bookings from hospitals and doctors’ 

surgeries are processed.” 

Ambulance terminology also varies 

widely. 

“We had to learn a whole new system 

of codes. Even fundamental terms 

like job (NSW) and event (Victoria) are 

different,” explained Kevin Griffiths. 

“The Victorian CAD system also 

generates cases for Police and Fire, 

depending on the coding of the case. 

So there was a lot to get across,” said 

Doone. 

“The training was full on,” agreed 

Alana Heskey. “Despite the fact we 

use the same triage system, the 

Victorian system was pretty different 

– even in the way they answer the 

phone.” 

Then there were those tricky 

Victorian place names to pronounce 

– like Prahran, Berwick, Reservoir 

and Stawell. There were even some 

different English pronunciations. 

“We talked about a patient gas-ping 

for breath, but more Victorians seem 

to say gah-sping for breath,” said 

Alana. 

“The NSW team were all very 

experienced call-takers and they 

applied themselves really well to 

learn our systems in such a short 

time,” said Doone. 

After a week of training and 

familiarisation, the management 

contingent in the group returned to 

NSW, leaving six new recruits ready to 

take calls from the Victorian public. 

CALLING FOR VICTORIA 

The NSW Ambulance call-takers 

worked in all three ESTA centres 

during their deployment – the Tally 

Ho site in Burwood East, Ballarat and 

Williams Landing. 

“At the start, Victorian mentors 

paired up and listened in as the NSW 

call-takers took Victorian Triple Zero 

calls,” said Doone. 

“Connecting across borders and understanding each other’s systems gives 

us a stronger shared sense of purpose and professional pride, which will 

lead to better patient outcomes in the long run.” 

Doone Barrett: ESTA 

15 

ESTA Mentor Luke Martin (far right) led the NSW Ambulance call-takers through a rigorous orientation to the Victorian call-taking and dispatch systems. 

Image Credit NSW Ambulance 


“Before long I was logging in next to 

them and taking calls myself. 

Working Christmas Day at ESTA’s Ballarat centre - Image Credit NSW Ambulance 

“They were all so positive and worked 

so hard. Their empathy was amazing.” 

The team even worked Christmas Day, 

shrugging off any homesickness by 

working together at the Ballarat entre. 

“ESTA staff were really blown away 

and so thankful that we were there. 

Around the centres, everyone 

came up to say hello and express 

how appreciative they were for the 

assistance, especially given it was over 

the Christmas and New Year period,” 

said Kevin Griffiths. 

Among the memorable moments, 

Kevin was the first in the group to 

help deliver a Victorian baby over the 

phone. 

One reason the NSW call-takers stood 

out was that they were all in uniform 

(ESTA call-takers work in polo-shirts). 

“Seeing them in uniform gave people 

a lift. I really liked it,” said Doone. 

One of the highlights for the NSW 

team was working at Williams Landing, 

ESTA’s new purpose-built centre in 

Melbourne’s west. 

“At Williams Landing, they have police, 

fire and ambulance call-takers all in 

the same room,” said Alana. “This kind 

of cross-service experience was new 

to us.” 

“We got the chance to talk to the 

Police, Fire and Ambulance Victoria 

staff and see how they work together,” 

Kevin added. 

“It was really interesting on a 

professional level. There was some 

great sharing going on too. 

“We were actually the first ambulance 

call-takers to work there, which was a 

real privilege.” 

Crucially the NSW call-takers helped 

reduce the Victorian call load. 

“At the start everyone was going from 

call to call. Within a few weeks, we 

had enough time to debrief between 

calls,” said Alana. 

“They helped us immensely,” agreed 

Doone. 

LEARNINGS AND HOPES FOR THE 

FUTURE 

Despite the early ending, there are 

already tangible benefits from the 

collaboration. 

In NSW, the practice for call-takers 

towards the end of every call was 

to take callers through an Exit 

Card conversation, explaining to 

the person how to prepare for the 

arrival of the ambulance. 

The Victorian system transfers 

the caller to an automated voice 

message for this part of the process. 

NSW Ambulance has since adopted 

this system, saving precious 

minutes at peak call times. 

More broadly, there’s a great sense 

of pride and achievement in those 

who took part. 

“We were starting to make a 

difference and had great feedback,” 

said Ann Collie. 

“It makes you appreciate the role 

you have in your own organisation 

too. I think it made us better calltakers.” 

The good will generated is 

something participants are keen to 

build on in the future. 

“I really hope this is more than a 

one-off,” said ESTA’s Doone Barrett, 

echoing the hopes of the NSW calltakers. 

“I know Victorian call-takers would 

be keen to go to NSW if we were 

needed. Connecting across borders 

and understanding each other’s 

systems gives us a stronger shared 

sense of purpose and professional 

pride, which will lead to better 

patient outcomes in the long run.” 

The NSW Ambulance staff who 

participated in the deployment 

were: 

• Southern Control Centre – 

Rebecca Wood, Marianne 

Mikutowski, Julie Brown, Ann 

Collie, Stephanie Collins, Donna 

Brotherson, Brendan Scollary. 

• Northern Control Centre – 

Casey Clegg, Amanda Johnston, 

Kevin Griffiths. 

• Sydney Control Centre – Alana 

Heskey, Jordan Porteous.

Lets 

‘ 

Talk 

Mental Health 

with Dr Lisa Holmes 

Dr Lisa Holmes 

PhD 

Unit Coordinator and Lecturer Paramedical Science 

Course Coordinator Master, Graduate Diploma and 

Certificate of Disaster & Emergency Response 

THE POWER OF OUR FURRY FRIENDS 

Happy New Year and thanks to Erin for her awesome 

columns. Erin has left me some huge shoes to fill, I’m pretty 

nervous but promise to do my best. So here goes… 

I have always been passionate about mental health, along 

with the notion that mental health should be part of our daily 

personal routines such as showering, brushing our teeth 

etc. Wouldn’t it be great to take care of ourselves mentally 

in the same way that we do physically? I believe that this 

would go a long way to reducing stigma and normalising the 

maintenance of our mental health. After all it has been found 

time and time again that physical and mental health are 

linked. 

Through my research and teaching, I have had the privilege 

of working with many first responders who have experienced 

mental illness and the associated decline in physical health 

during and after their careers, the stories of denial, addiction, 

family break downs, isolation and self-harm are far too 

frequent. The promotion of formal education around mental 

illness such as Mental Health First Aid and Psychological 

First Aid programs has encouraged a better understanding 

of the prevalence, symptoms, support and recovery of 

individuals. However, the sharing of lived experiences from 

first responders has been invaluable in the gaining of a 

realistic and relatable insight into mental illness and the 

impact on all aspects of a person’s wellbeing, in addition to 

that of their family, friends and colleagues. Overwhelmingly, 

connection and a sense of belonging have been the factors 

that have aided those who have suffered and live with 

mental illness. 

Many assume the trauma and experiences first responders 

encounter during their careers directly cause mental illness. 

The research I have undertaken suggests that mental 

illnesses could be linked to cumulative trauma, negative 

working environments and conditions, poor nutrition, 

hydration and sleep patterns, in addition to vicarious 

trauma encountered on calls, particularly when dealing with 

families and dangerous situations. Often specific calls or 

17 


traumatic incidents are identified as 

the breaking points, when perhaps the 

illness was brought on by a myriad of 

causes and situations. Focusing on one 

specific event can be misleading and 

hinder recovery or adaption to living 

with the illness. Perhaps a more holistic 

view on an individual’s life could be a 

more healthy and productive approach. 

The big push from the Department of 

Health in our communities is the ‘Act, 

Belong, Commit’ intuitive which gives 

us the essence of a holistic approach 

to mental wellbeing. Whilst very helpful, 

how do we do this when it’s the last 

thing we want to do when feeling 

overwhelmed, anxious, tired, numb 

or unwell? I guess the key is to do this 

when we are well so we are supported 

when we become unwell. 

For me personally, being around 

animals has always helped me to work 

through things in tough times. In my 

early years horses were my first love, 

looking back I see that I was often 

drawn to them when life got challenging 

and even to this day I always feel at 

ease and calm around these majestic 

animals. 

What is it that makes us feel better? Is 

it the sense of unconditional friendship? 

Is it the non-verbal connection? If 

animals could talk, would things be 

different, perhaps complicating and 

disrupting the connection? I can’t begin 

to explain what this is, if only we could 

bottle that feeling, that sense of ease, 

contentment, calm, the ability to reset. 

In my work as a Lecturer, I prepare 

Paramedic Students for the profession. 

Part of this is introducing wellbeing 

from day 1, this includes; stress 

management, physical fitness, 

mental health, nutrition, hydration, 

sleep hygiene. Whilst the focus is 

on Paramedicine, I noticed that 

the students were not making 

use of their professional stress 

management strategies during 

University assessments, particularly 

with practical examinations, where 

they became extremely stressed, 

anxious and at times unwell. I saw 

this as an opportunity for the students 

to apply what they have learnt about 

themselves, being a first responder and 

utilise their strategies in a relatively safe 

and guided environment as opposed to 

learning on the road. 

This led me to the notion of a ‘wellness 

dog’ for the students – not a therapy 

dog but a well-trained emotionally 

responsive dog. So along came, Watson 

who is a Black Labrador from Career 

Dogs Australia; he has been bred as 

a working dog and has intuitive loving 

traits. He attended assessment days 

for comfort, cuddles and play. This 

was an instant hit with students who 

were excited to be around him, and 

Watson quickly become everyone’s 

pet/buddy. When asked what it was 

about their interactions with Watson 

the main responses were his happiness 

to see them, the opportunity to do or 

think of something else, to interact 

on a physical level. Many have said 

that they look forward to coming to 

University even during assessments as 

they know they will see him, they feel 

a sense of belonging with many new 

social interactions with or talking about 

Watson. This has now extended to staff 

with academic and professional staff 

often found running down corridors 

or across campus when they see him, 

then vying for his attention – the many 

attempts at bribery with treats has 

meant that Watson is now on a strict 

diet! 

This has been a wonderful experience 

and one that has increased my own 

wellbeing through seeing the joy 

of others and how Watson offers a 

friendly face and welcome distraction to 

people’s days. It has been so successful 

that I have now introduced a second 

‘wellness’ pup called Edi. 

With all this in mind, it is important to 

acknowledge the power of our nonhuman 

friends and the physical and 

non-physical connections we have with 

them. Even those that have no interest 

in animals enjoy watching Watsons 

interactions with others and are often 

caught smiling quietly to themselves, I 

guess this could be vicarious happiness. 

The thought I would like to leave you 

with is; if it’s not a furry friend, what is it 

for you? 

You can follow Watson and Edi on 

Instagram @watsononyourmind

Climate change – fuelled by increasing 

greenhouse gases – is causing more 

extreme weather events worldwide. 

Stalled weather: 

how stuck air 

pressure systems 

drive floods and 

heatwaves 

Many of these events, such as the “rain 

bomb” inundating Australia’s east coast 

and the recent heatwave in Western 

Australia, are associated with “stalled” 

weather systems. 

Normally, Australia’s weather systems are 

driven from west to east by jet streams: 

narrow bands of fast-flowing air high up 

in the troposphere, the lowest layer of 

Earth’s atmosphere. 

But when weather systems stall in a 

particular place, usually because of 

“blocking” high-pressure systems that 

stop them moving on, they can produce 

devastating extended periods of heat, 

cold or rain. As the climate continues to 

change, these stalled weather systems are 

expected to get bigger. 

Stalled weather systems 

Blocking systems are persistent highpressure 

systems combined with one or 

two low-pressure systems. 

High-pressure systems (where air 

pressure is relatively high) are associated 

with clear and dry weather, while lowpressure 

systems are associated with 

rising air, cloudiness and rain 

Blocking tends to be less persistent in the 

southern hemisphere than the northern 

as the westerly jet streams are stronger. 

Blocking highs are mostly associated with 

a region of low pressure to the north of 

the system. Together, the two systems 

work against each other to effectively 

“stall” the weather. 

Depending on where they occur, blocking 

systems may cause consistent heatwaves, 

cold spells, floods and dry spells. They 

are often associated with record-breaking 

weather events and human deaths – for 

example, the deadly heatwaves in France 

in 2003 and Russia in 2010. 

In 2021, persistent blocking systems 

were responsible for the North America 

cold wave in February and the recordshattering 

Western North America 

heatwave in June and July. The latter event 

caused some of the highest temperatures 

ever recorded in the region, including the 

highest temperature ever measured in 

Canada at 49.6°.

Slowing jet streams 

Blocking events in the 

northern hemisphere are 

often associated with slowing 

or meandering jet streams. 

This occurs when the polar 

vortex – a large region of low 

pressure and cold air around 

the pole – breaks down. 

While the exact mechanisms 

driving the slowing of 

mid-latitude jet streams is 

debated, the consensus 

attributes it to “Arctic 

amplification”. 

The Arctic region is currently 

warming two to three times 

faster than the rest of the 

world. This different rate 

of atmospheric warming 

between the Arctic and 

tropics results in a weaker 

atmospheric pressure 

gradient and slows down the 

jet streams. 

Stalled weather in Australia 

Blocking highs in the 

Australian region usually 

occur in the Great Australian 

Bight and the Tasman Sea. 

These strong high-pressure 

systems typically form 

further south than usual. 

These highs remain almost 

stationary for an extended 

period, blocking the normal 

easterly progression of 

weather systems across 

southern Australia. They 

can occur at any time of 

year, and usually stay in the 

Australian region for several 

days to several weeks. 

A prolonged blocking high 

in the south Tasman Sea in 

January and February 2019 

caused record heatwaves 

for many inland towns in 

Australia. Adelaide recorded 

the hottest day for any 

Australian capital city (46.6°) 

on January 24. 

The same blocking high 

prevented the movement 

of a deep monsoon low in 

North Queensland, resulting 

in the equivalent of a year’s 

rain in a week over the 

Townsville area in early 

February 2019. 

A blocking high in the Tasman Sea caused record heatwaves in Australia in 

2019. Bureau of Meteorology 

The rain bomb 

In late February 2022, a 

stalled weather system 

caused heavy rain and 

flooding over large parts of 

Southeast Queensland and 

Northern NSW. A stubborn 

blocking high near New 

Zealand prevented it moving 

away to the east. 

A region of low pressure 

in the upper atmosphere 

became cut off from the 

westerly air current further 

south, creating a trough of 

low pressure at surface level. 

This created the perfect 

mix of upper and surface 

atmospheric conditions for 

what has been called a “rain 

bomb” or a “river in the sky”. 

The rain bomb caused 

extensive major flooding. 

Brisbane, the country’s 

third-largest city, smashed 

its three-day record with 

677mm of rain. Over four 

days, the city recorded 

741mm – almost threequarters 

of its annual 

average rainfall! 

The city endured flooding 

similar to the disastrous 

2011 floods. More than 

15,000 homes are estimated 

to have been inundated 

in Brisbane by the current 

event. 

The Brisbane River peaked at 

3.85 metres, below the 4.46 

metres experienced in 2011. 

However, the two flood 

events are very different, and 

some suburbs experienced 

worse flooding than in 2011. 

Gympie, north of Brisbane, 

and Lismore in northern 

NSW experienced 

catastrophic flooding of their 

central business districts. 

Gympie has endured its 

worst flood in 120 years 

and Lismore its highest 

ever recorded flood level, 

smashing the previous 

record by about 2 metres. 

Future events 

Recent research has shown 

extremely high rainfall, 

and flooding events, will 

become more likely as the 

atmosphere and oceans 

Lismore’s February 2022 flood smashed the previous record. Bureau of Meteorology 

warm under climate change. 

What does this mean for 

the future? Can we expect 

more rain bomb events? 

Will we continue to witness 

more rainfall and flood level 

records in Australia and 

globally? 

The answer to all these 

questions is yes, and rising 

greenhouse gases and 

warming of the atmosphere 

and oceans are to blame. 

The rise in average global 

temperatures has driven 

more extreme rainfall events 

since the 1950s. Australian 

land areas have warmed 

about 1.4° since 1910. 

A warmer atmosphere can 

hold more water. For every 

1° of extra warming, about 

7% more water can be saved 

as water vapour. Given the 

right atmospheric triggers, 

vast amounts of stored water 

can be released as heavy 

rainfall over unsuspecting 

human communities. 

The jury is out regarding the 

effects of global warming 

on high-pressure blocking 

systems. 

Currently, climate models 

tend to underestimate both 

the frequency and duration 

of blocking events. Scientists 

continue to grapple with this 

problem in their models, and 

it forms the basis of ongoing 

research. 

However, one study found 

climate change will increase 

the size of stalled highpressure 

weather systems in 

the northern hemisphere by 

as much as 17% this century. 

In the case of an extensive 

high-pressure system, this 

will cause impacts such as 

heat and cold waves over 

larger geographical areas, 

affecting more people. 

Author: 

Steve Turton 

Adjunct Professor of 

Environmental Geography, 

CQUniversity Australia 

Article first published on The Conversation 


Want to help people affected by floods? 

Here’s what to do – and what not to 

AUTHOR: 

Nicole George 

Associate Professor in 

Peace and Conflict Studies 

The University of Queensland 

This article was first published on The Conversation

Lismore and Brisbane’s catastrophic 

flood emergency has come only a 

short time after the last flooding 

disaster. 

We know from previous floods that 

as soon as the water recedes, floodaffected 

areas will be inundated with 

well-meaning volunteers wanting to 

help with the clean-up. 

But although this volunteer effort is 

welcome in some ways, it can also be 

challenging for flood impacted people 

to manage and absorb. 

As someone who lost pretty much 

everything in the 2011 Brisbane 

floods and who then led an 

ethnographic study on community 

responses to the floods in my suburb 

in the following year, I have some 

insights for those eager to help in the 

days to come. 

1. INSTEAD OF ‘WHAT CAN I DO?’ 

ASK ‘CAN I DO SUCH-AND-SUCH?’ 

Having a stream of unknown people 

walking through your property all 

asking what they can do to help can 

feel thoroughly overwhelming. 

When those questions were asked 

of me by strangers in 2011, I was still 

in shock, and often struggled to say 

anything meaningful at all. 

Rather than “What can I do?”, it was 

much easier if people said things like 

“Can I do such-and-such for you?” 

So, trying not to put the burden of 

coordination on those you want to 

help is critically important. 

Instead, ask if a particular task 

would be useful. People will often be 

grateful for your initiative. 

2. A LESS PUBLIC APPROACH 

TO ASSISTANCE CAN BE VERY 

VALUABLE 

Brisbane’s 2011 Mud Army, as 

the name suggests, was a team 

of volunteers often focused 

on shovelling out mud-soaked 

belongings that became heaped up 

on people’s nature strips. 

The pace was relentless and for 

me – and many I interviewed – felt 

uncontrolled. 

We all later lamented the fact we had 

A street in Lismore after the water receded. The trauma will remain long after the clean up ends. 

not tried to save more. Of course, 

many things are unsalvageable. But 

for treasured goods it doesn’t hurt 

to try. 

This means a more mundane and 

less public approach to assistance 

can be very valuable. 

For example, you might offer to: 

• empty people’s kitchen 

cupboards 

• take those items back to your 

own home (wheelbarrows, if you 

live close by, or plastic crates are 

great for these tasks) 

• wash those things and see what 

can be saved. 

Likewise, you can also suggest people 

find their favourite clothing items 

and, again, wash or even dry clean 

these items for them and see if these 

can survive. 

One of the nicest things someone did 

for me was to take a couple of tubs of 

plastic toys and Lego and wash these 

at home. With a toothbrush, I believe. 

It meant a lot to my kids. 

3. DON’T ‘DONATE’ YOUR 

UNWANTED JUNK PLEASE DO NOT 

“DONATE” YOUR OLD JUNK AND 

EXPECT GRATITUDE IN RETURN. 

In 2011, I struggled with how much 

stuff people gave us that was 

unusable, ranging from rotten food 

and clothing that did not fit to broken 

kitchen goods and toys. 

This just makes people feel awful 

generally, as if they have become 

destitute. It can also make people 

feel guilty because they are unable 

to absorb items they know people 

expect them to be receiving 

thankfully. 

4. BE A GOOD LISTENER 

In the longer term, let your floodaffected 

family and friends talk about 

this event as long as they need to. 

People will be traumatised long after 

the clean-up ends. They need time, 

and to share struggles. Some may 

prefer to keep things to themselves. 

Others take comfort in talking. If they 

do, be generous. 

One friend complained to me some 

months later in 2011 that floodaffected 

people seemed to talk about 

nothing else. 

Many in my neighbourhood had 

similar responses, which meant we 

often felt we could only talk amongst 

ourselves about our experiences and 

emotions. 

So, allow your flood-affected family 

and friends to continue to reflect on 

their experiences and losses if that is 

what they want to do. 

And please try not reproach them 

if this is a recurring theme of 

conversation in the months or years 

that follow. 

We moved to higher ground a few 

years back but it has been surprising 

to me how much I am affected 

watching this disaster unfold again in 

the last days. 

I will be heading back to our old 

suburb in coming days to help and 

will try to practice what I preach here. 


DISASTER SURVIVORS FEEL 

MORE PREPARED FOR THE 

NEXT ONE BUT ARE OFTEN 

LEFT OUT OF PLANNING 

Many Australians who have 

survived a disaster feel more 

confident their communities 

are prepared for the next one. 

But a third of those living in 

disaster prone areas don’t feel 

at all prepared for a disaster, 

or confident in their ability to 

recover well. 

These are just some of the 

findings from the national Fire to 

Flourish survey run by Monash 

University, which asked more 

than 3,500 Australians about their 

perceptions of preparedness and 

resilience to disasters. 

Our research suggests one of 

the greatest assets following 

a disaster is the people who 

experience them. But this asset is 

hugely underutilised. 

Climate projections indicate 

disasters are going to increase 

in frequency and severity. 

But rather than waiting for 

disaster to strike, there’s an 

opportunity to be working 

directly with communities now 

to build pre-disaster resilience. 

‘Post-traumatic growth’ 

The Fire to Flourish National 

Survey surveyed an even 

split of men and women, and 

an even division across age 

ranges and socioeconomic 

positions. 

The biggest difference in 

perceptions of preparedness 

and resilience came down to 

prior experience of disaster.

We found evidence of “post-traumatic 

growth”, where people experience 

positive change after adverse events. 

Experiencing a disaster in the past 

greatly influenced how prepared 

and confident people felt about the 

future. While disaster survivors are 

often depicted as victims, this is not 

how they see themselves. 

Disaster survivors: 

• reported higher confidence 

that their communities were 

prepared for the next disaster 

(71% of disaster survivors 

compared with 51% of those 

who have never experienced 

one). 

• reported higher confidence in 

their household preparedness 

(68% versus 43% of those who 

hadn’t experienced disaster). 

• shared information with their 

communities about local 

problems and initiatives more 

regularly (61% versus 49%). 

• knew local people who were 

equipped to step up and lead 

recovery efforts if they needed to 

(62% versus 49%). 

When asked about future disasters, 

67% of survivors said they would 

cope “well” or “very well” if they 

experienced a disaster event in the 

Flood-affected members of the Lismore, New South Wales community. Image: www.defence.gov.au 

next year. Only 48% of those who had 

never experienced disaster felt the 

same way. 

Challenging experiences can become 

a source of strength 

When people and communities 

experience extreme adversity 

they often develop new skills and 

capabilities. That makes it more likely 

they will have a resilient response to 

their next challenge. 

People often perceive an increase 

in community cohesion after 

disaster, peaking dramatically in the 

immediate aftermath. 

Even ten years after a disaster, both 

women and men surveyed recalled 

higher levels of community cohesion 

than before the event. 

However, not everyone reported 

similar levels of preparedness or 

resilience. 

Particularly concerning is that one 

third of respondents living in high 

disaster prone areas don’t feel at all 

prepared for a disaster, or confident 

in their ability to recover well. Nearly 

half of survey respondents said they 

wouldn’t cope well, or at all, if they 

experienced a disaster event in the 

next year. 

Having a say in your own 

community’s disaster planning 

These results shine a light on the 

need for tailored investment to build 

community-level disaster resilience. 

Disaster-affected communities 

form the backbone of any disaster 

response. But survivors are often 

underutilised in shaping plans for 

their community’s longer-term 

resilience and preparedness efforts. 

In other words, they may be left out 

of the long term planning. Nearly half 

of all people surveyed in our study 

don’t believe they have the agency 

to improve their community. Only a 

minority believes their community 

25 


tries new ways of dealing with crises, 

or that their community has the 

opportunity to be actively involved in 

the planning its own future. 

Community resilience will increase if 

disaster survivors are supported to 

contribute their strengths and unique 

lived experiences to lead recovery 

investments tailored to local priorities 

and place. 

Recent research demonstrates the 

health and economic harms from 

disasters in Australia are ameliorated 

if pre-disaster levels of social 

cohesion and support are high. These 

foundations need to be supported. 

A greater sense of community cohesion is often felt after a natural disaster. 

Communities cannot afford to wait 

for disaster to strike before they start 

preparing. Yet many communities are 

not confident they have the support 

and resources needed to recover 

from a crisis. 

Learning from and supporting other 

communities 

More focus is needed from 

government, councils and 

communities themselves on 

increasing the disaster preparedness 

of those likely to face a disaster. 

Building cross-sectoral connections 

is key. 

Another strategy is to strengthen 

networks between Australia’s 

communities so we can better 

support and learn from each other in 

community-led resilience building. 

This means creating opportunities 

for disaster survivors to share 

experiences, knowledge and skills to 

help their own community recover 

and contribute to the preparedness 

efforts of Australian communities 

more broadly. 

The survey findings will inform Fire 

to Flourish’s ongoing program of 

work, finding new ways to support 

communities to lead their own local 

initiatives to strengthen disaster 

recovery and resilience. 

As the survey showed, people living in 

disaster-affected communities have 

crucial knowledge and skills, which 

should be central to any planning 

and decision-making on disaster 

responses and preparation. 

Lara Werbeloff 

Program Director, Fire to Flourish, Monash University 

David Johnston 

Professor of Health Economics, Monash University 

Jane Fisher 

Finkel Professor of Global Health, Monash University 

Rebecca Wickes 

Associate Professor in Criminology and Director of 

the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre, Monash 

University 

Article first published on The Conversation 

People living in disaster-affected communities have crucial knowledge and skills central to planning on disaster response. 


How to conduct a mental health 

safety check 

By Stuart Taylor, CEO of Springfox 

As we enter our third year living alongside COVID-19, one thing is undeniably clear: 

our old way of life has morphed into something new, the parameters of which 

most of us are still trying to explore and understand, as we learn to live and work 

alongside a largely unpredictable threat to our health and wellbeing.

As a result of continued 

uncertainty, our collective 

mental health remains under 

strain, and for workers in healthcare 

and emergency services, the impact 

is tenfold. Since the beginning of 

the pandemic, family violence has 

increased nationally – globally, in 

fact – following the first stay-at-home 

orders, with police and domestic 

violence agencies reporting a rise in 

abusive and controlling behaviours, 

and subsequently, an increase in 

calls for help. In Victoria, following the 

emergence of the highly contagious 

Omicron variant, crippling ambulance 

shortages have led to dangerous wait 

times for callers, placing immense 

strain on paramedics. Across the 

board, emergency departments 

remain overwhelmed and our heroic 

doctors, nurses and hospital staff 

remain overworked. 

If the pandemic has shown us 

anything, it’s that healthcare and 

emergency service workers play 

an integral role in the functioning 

of our society. If we are to 

continue weathering the storm 

that is COVID-19, prioritising and 

safeguarding their physical and 

mental well-being has never been 

more important. 

Workplace health and safety checks 

are a routine occurrence in most 

workplaces, fundamental to the 

physical safety of workers. Regular 

visits from a health and safety 

inspector provide an opportunity to 

identify risks and potential hazards, 

and to take action to mitigate them. 

In comparison, the impact of ongoing 

mental stresses is often harder to 

identify. Despite this, mental health 

risks can be just as harmful to the 

well-being of the individual – not 

to mention their wider team, and 

importantly, the patients in their care. 

There has never been a more critical 

time to implement workplace mental 

health safety checks, especially for 

those tasked with delivering urgent 

and often life-saving assistance. 

Regular mental health assessments 

in the workplace will not only help to 

identify the signs of someone at risk, 

but over time, will help to cultivate 

a culture of compassion, trust and 

psychological safety, where staff feel 

seen, supported, and comfortable to 

ask for help. 

KNOW THE SIGNS 

To implement regular mental health safety checks, it’s important to 

first know the signs to look out for. Of course, there are the more 

obvious symptoms like breakdowns or panic attacks, but more subtle 

symptoms like mood changes and fatigue often go undetected. A 

lack of focus, pessimism, aggression, changes in eating patterns, 

complaining of poor sleep, isolation, difficulty making decisions, 

emotional detachment and not showing up for shifts are all red flags 

of someone at risk. 

Be prepared to talk – and listen 

If you’ve identified one or more of these signs in a colleague, 

it’s important to act and reach out to them. But before you do, 

make sure you have a plan in place. Are you prepared to have an 

open and genuine conversation? What measures can be taken, 

both immediate and longer term, to alleviate the pressure this 

person is experiencing? Are you cognisant of your boundaries 

and responsibilities? Your readiness to reach out and ask the right 

questions will depend on these answers. 

Once you start the conversation, be prepared to listen and ask 

questions like: How long have you felt this way? Have you spoken 

to anyone else about how you’re feeling? Many organisations offer 

free mental health services or employee assistance programs for 

staff struggling to cope, so it may be helpful to remind them of the 

services available. 

Address the causes 

Like repairing a broken piece of equipment or providing extra PPE, 

addressing the causes of mental health safety risks will be the first 

and most important step in preventing mental health incidents in the 

workplace. Causes may include long hours, staff shortages, a lack of 

protective equipment, insufficient support from management, fear 

or concern for personal well-being or that of loved ones (a concern 

likely felt by those working in close contact with COVID-19 patients) 

or repeated exposure to trauma and distress. 

While emergency services workers will always encounter unique 

challenges, it’s important to distinguish those that are simply part of 

the job, and those that can – and should – be remedied. It’s vital that 

leaders remain attentive and responsive to the needs of their staff 

and regularly assess the workplace for mental health risks. 

Put safety procedures in place 

One of the best ways to mitigate against mental health risks in 

the long term is to focus on building and maintaining resilience. 

Resilience is a skill that can be purposefully built and skilfully 

maintained, reducing symptoms of distress and physical vulnerability 

and enabling us to better cope with stressful periods. 

Both individually and collectively, resilience helps us operate 

under pressure, maintain an optimistic outlook during periods of 

turbulence, navigate change with agility, and bounce forward from 

www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 28

Stuart Taylor 

CEO and 

Co-founder 

of Springfox 

For over a decade, Stuart has engaged and 

inspired with his workshops, keynotes and 

conference presentations to more than 20,000 

people globally with measurable impact 

achieved across many organisations. 

His early career included periods of rapid 

advancement within organisations as diverse 

as the Royal Australian Air Force, KPMG, 

and Heinz, developing his broad experience 

in aerospace engineering, IT, finance and 

psychology. 

A potentially devastating diagnosis of brain 

cancer in 2002 led Stuart on a personal 

journey back to physical, cognitive, 

emotional and spiritual health. The 

experience gave Stuart a unique appreciation 

of the tangible benefits of the practices that 

helped him overcome a 2.5-year prognosis 

and demanding cancer treatments. 

Stuart became a strong advocate for 

incorporating cultural practices into the 

Australian workplace to nurture wellbeing 

through the body, heart, mind and spirit. 

Stuart formalised this resolve in 2003, 

founding The Resilience Institute in Australia 

- now Springfox. 

Stuart’s broadened perspective and empathybased 

approach enables him to identify 

challenges and customise effective strategies 

for clients seeking optimal organisational 

performance. Stuart’s ultimate purpose is 

helping people and organisations, typically 

through leadership and senior teams, shift 

into a more compassionate space in order to 

reach sustainable high performance. 

setbacks. The power of resilience in 

an organisation is that it acts as a 

buffer during particularly stressful or 

busy periods, preparing and enabling 

us to maintain balance in our lives, 

protect our well-being, and sustain 

high performance at work. 

Leaders have a responsibility to 

protect workers from both physical 

and mental health risks and ensure 

that appropriate systems are in place 

to reduce these risks and monitor the 

well-being of workers and workplace 

conditions. Embedding resilience 

practices into the culture of your 

workplace will help to build a safe and 

supportive culture, but it’s important 

that this goes beyond merely a boxticking 

exercise. Efforts to build a 

resilient, mentally healthy workplace 

need to be led and modelled by the 

C-suite and reinforced by everyday 

practices and regular mental health 

safety checks. 

When resilience becomes an integral 

part of an organisation’s culture, 

it’s not uncommon for this to spill 

over into employee’s personal 

lives – a positive occurrence that 

leaders should encourage. Basic 

well-being practices such as a 

healthy nutrient-rich diet, regular 

exercise, and between 7-8 hours 

of restful, quality sleep, forms the 

foundation of a resilient lifestyle, and 

will help emergency services workers 

restore balance after a challenging 

day’s work. In addition, positive 

relationships, setting dedicated time 

aside where possible for rest and 

leisure, and practicing mindfulness 

or gratitude will work to enable a 

healthy, resilient mindset. 

Though perhaps seemingly 

inconsequential, these small habits 

play a crucial role in promoting 

well-being by forming, in effect, a 

preventative scaffolding to support 

us in times of trauma. Without 

this support structure, those in 

repeatedly demanding, high-pressure 

jobs remain particularly vulnerable to 

the emotional impacts. 

Healthcare and emergency service 

workers have, in effect, shielded us 

from the worst of COVID-19 but their 

personal fight is far from over. In 

order for us to forge forward into the 

new normal, prioritising their mental 

health and safety will be paramount, 

and indeed, in the best interests of 

us all. 

www.springfox.com

ARE THEY 

TRIPLE OK? 

We’re always there to help. 

Let’s make sure we help each other and ask R U OK? 

ruok.org.au/triple-ok

ON THE FRONTLINE 

INNOVATIVE 

DISRUPTION 

Written by Rasa Piggott 

Tertiary Educator 

Registered Paramedic 

Registered Nurse 

The traditional framework and 

role of paramedic-provided 

health care in Australia is being 

innovatively disrupted. Historically, 

Australian paramedics have required 

employment with an Ambulance 

Service to be able to provide 

healthcare. Paramedic healthcare 

participation is now transcending 

former Ambulance Service 

employment bounds, and moving 

into non-traditional, interdisciplinary 

spaces. 

Expectations, opportunities and scope 

of paramedic practice are evolving in 

the hope that our profession, and thus 

health-system, can meet the multifaceted 

health needs of a modern 

society. Internationally, paramedicinclusive 

healthcare delivery has 

been shifting away from Ambulance 

Service isolation for some twenty 

years. The concept remains in its 

infancy in Australia. Given paramedics 

are an arguably under-utilised 

resource within a heavily burdened 

Australian health-system, upskilling 

and resourcing paramedics to deliver 

healthcare in untraditional settings 

(external to Ambulance Services) 

offers hope that the profession can 

aid our health-system in maturing as a 

comprehensive-care scheme. 

Civilian Ambulance Services were 

traditionally trauma-centric transport 

services born of military origin. From 

here, ‘Ambulance Officer’ skillset 

grew to include first-aid centric care 

provision. This soon transitioned into 

discipline-specific training that served 

to increase discipline knowledge base 

and broaden capacity for trauma and 

medical emergency stabilization and 

transport. Education then moved into 

the Tertiary Sector where it began 

to grow an evidence base, further 

enhancing management scope and 

eventually, assuring formal registration 

as health professionals governed by 

National Health Practitioner Regulation 

Law. 

When we speak to paramedics 

moving into untraditional health care 

settings, we are largely referring to 

their potential to contribute to primary 

health care provision. The historic 

notion that paramedics working in 

ambulances provide ‘emergency’ 

health care only has long been untrue. 

When working for Ambulance Services 

under the title ‘emergency clinician’, 

paramedics are often catering for 

primary health presentations. This 

is not reflective of the consumer; it 

is reflective of society’s health and 

a healthcare system needing an 

overhaul. It tells us that we need to 

improve our provision of accessible 

primary health care so that our health 

system can equitably cater for complex 

health determinants, health literacy 

and resource availability realities. 

The 2021-2022 Australian Federal 

Health Budget has allocated 1.8 billion 

dollars to the development of primary 

health care in Australia. Developing 

comprehensive primary health care 

networks is a current major focus 

of health care reform worldwide. 

The World Health Organization has 

determined primary health care to 

be a critical component of health 

system design and notes that health 

systems with strong primary health 

care clinicians and resources are 

more efficient, have lower rates of 

hospitalization, experience fewer 

health inequalities and generate 

better health outcomes inclusive of 

lower mortality. It has been found that 

when countries at the same level of 

economic development are compared, 

those that have health systems 

organized around the tenets of 

primary health care produce a higher 

level of health. Comprehensive primary 

health care schemes also make health 

systems more resilient to situations of 

crisis, more proactive in detecting early 

signs of epidemics and more prepared 

to act early in response to surges in 

demand for services. 

Undergraduate teachings are working 

to ensure students are prepared 

for the modern-day realities of 

ambulance paramedic work. In 

addition to developing students 

such that they can safely address 

‘stereotypical’ trauma and medical 

‘emergency’ presentations, curriculums 

are working to ensure students are 

equipped to cater for presentations 

31 


suited to primary health care by 

instilling evidence-based patient 

assessment methodology. This 

serves to determine where a 

patient sits on their clinical and 

psychosocial continuum, how 

at risk they are of clinical or 

psychosocial deterioration, and 

what management or referral is 

needed to ensure a person’s health 

is safety netted. Additionally, 

universities are working to expand 

their post-graduate offerings to 

upskill paramedics such that they 

can safely address newly proposed 

paramedic roles external to 

ambulance work, within intended 

primary health care settings. 

These changes to the paramedic 

identity and capacity will take time 

to ripple through the profession as 

we continue to clarify expectations, 

define role boundaries, implement 

proposed job descriptions and 

strengthen referral relationships. 

We have education advancement. 

We have Australia’s Long Term 

National Health Plan reflecting 

intent to reframe healthcare 

models in Australia. This is only 

the beginning. Naturally, this 

contemporary development of our 

infantile profession brings with it 

numerous questions and obstacles. 

Exactly what does paramedic 

practice look like outside of an 

Ambulance setting? Where will 

scope trend? What will regulation 

look like? How is education, 

resourcing and clinical exposure 

prior to qualification obtainment 

ensuring skill proficiency and 

patient safety? Funding specifics? 

How will scopes and skillsets be 

nationalised to ensure equitable 

healthcare? Questions are aplenty. 

Bridging the disconnect between 

policymakers and the potential 

for paramedic inclusion as allied 

health professionals within primary 

health care development and 

implementation is one of many next 

steps needed. 

In looking to our international 

colleagues and the health systems 

within which they work, we can 

accept that whilst overwhelming, 

the up-skilling and inclusion of 

paramedic health professionals 

within primary health care settings 

is achievable and advantageous.

Four things tsunami-vulnerable 

countries must do to prepare for 

the next disaster 

Ravindra Jayaratne 

Reader in Coastal Engineering, 

University of East London 

The eruption of an underwater volcano 

and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga 

on January 16, was one of the most 

violent natural disasters in decades. While this 

event had catastrophic consequences, such 

incidents are relatively common as volcanoes 

are naturally unstable, unpredictable and exist 

throughout the world. 

I have spent most of my career conducting 

post-disaster field research, improving coastal 

defences and supporting people to become 

more resilient to tsunamis and less anxious 

about the risk. The challenge facing countries in 

these naturally vulnerable parts of the world is 

to adapt and educate their citizens to take their 

own safety actions. 

Here I have outlined four things that vulnerable 

countries must urgently do to mitigate the 

consequences of tsunamis: 

1. EDUCATE PEOPLE TO BE MORE RESILIENT 

Education is one of the most effective defences. 

Regardless of the size of the wave or strength 

of seawalls, people are much more likely to 

survive a tsunami if they know exactly how to 

react once an alert is triggered. Vulnerable 

countries must therefore urgently create an 

educated, close-knit community that is aware 

that they are exposed to the risk and accept 

it as an aspect of their life and culture. 

I conducted focus group meetings with 

people, businesses and communities in 

Indonesia after the Anak Krakatoa tsunami 

in 2018. In these groups, we established 

designated high ground areas and clear 

signage directing people to these safe zones. 

Evacuation events, such as mock tsunami 

drills, must be practised regularly so that 

people are familiar with safe areas and know 

where to go in the instance of a real tsunami. 

In Tonga specifically, where a third of the 

population is under the age of 15, tsunami 

safety must be taught at both primary and 

secondary school levels. Familiarising their 

young population with tsunamis, as well as 

other natural hazards such as cyclones and 

earthquakes, will create a more resilient and 

less anxious adult population.

Sketch of global tsunami hazard (as of May 2009). UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 

2. CREATE EFFECTIVE EARLY WARNING 

SYSTEMS 

A decrease in ocean water surface 

levels is a clear sign that a tsunami 

is about to hit. Vulnerable countries 

must create early warning systems 

using satellites, drones and tide 

gauges to measure the vertical rise 

or fall of water to identify tsunamis 

before they happen. 

In light of the tsunami in Tonga, it 

would also help to place equipment 

such as conductivity-temperaturedepth 

(CTD) instruments, 

seismometers and thermal cameras 

near underwater volcanoes, while 

also observing the waters above with 

satellites. Buoys that measure the 

height and direction of waves can 

also be placed out at sea. 

When water levels are triggered, 

tsunami alert messages are sent out, 

giving people enough time to escape 

the impact zones. I experienced this 

myself while conducting fieldwork 

in a small town on the southern 

coast of Japan in 2018. There was 

an earthquake during my stay and 

before the ground had even stopped 

shaking my colleague received a text 

alert from the regional government 

with instructions. I grabbed my 

passport and prepared to go towards 

a nearby hill if he received a follow 

up “red alert” text – fortunately, that 

particular earthquake did not cause 

a tsunami, and we were able to stay 

where we were. 

3. ESTABLISH A STRONG COASTAL 

DEFENCE SCHEME 

Tsunami-vulnerable countries must 

urgently create strong coastal 

defence schemes of offshore 

breakwaters, tsunami walls and flood 

levees. Tsunami waves hit hard, so 

ideally these foundations will be 

made of reinforced concrete to avoid 

erosion. Natural protections like coral 

reefs could be strengthened with 

nature-based solutions such as rock 

armour or heavy sandbags, which 

will lower the cost for developing 

countries. 

A tsunami detection buoy off the coast of Thailand. The Mariner 4291 

Critical infrastructure like power 

plants, densely populated 

communities and tourist hotspots 

must be built on higher ground, 

where possible. A good example of 

this comes from Miyagi and Iwate 

prefectures, Japan, which were badly 

hit by the 2011 Tohoku tsunami (the 

one which caused a nuclear disaster 

in neighbouring Fukushima). Some 

35 


towns were rebuilt on elevated 

ground that had been filled in with 

compacted soil. 

If space is available, coastal forests 

with tall trees could be planted 

between communities and the beach 

to act as a buffer zone, limiting 

the impact of waves and reducing 

flooding, while also improving the 

local ecosystem. 

These defences may damage the 

tourist-friendly aesthetic of white 

sandy beaches, but they could save 

lives. 

4. FORM A REGIONAL APPROACH TO 

TSUNAMIS 

The effects of the underwater 

volcano eruption and tsunami in 

Tonga were felt around the Pacific 

in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and 

America. These vulnerable countries 

must implement a regional approach 

to defending and responding to 

tsunamis. 

Aid must be given before tsunamis 

hit, not just after. This can be done 

through sharing data, expertise, 

research facilities and equipment. It is 

vitally important that this information 

is specifically given to developing 

An embankment (breakwater; seawall) against tsunami in Fukushima, Japan 

countries to help strengthen their 

own defences. 

The underwater volcano near Tonga 

is active. And even if the recent 

eruption was a one in 1,000 year 

event, there is still a strong chance 

that it will erupt again since geological 

deposits show that major eruptions 

like this one tend to involve a series 

of many individual explosive events. 

Countries that are threatened by 

tsunamis can’t prevent these natural 

disasters from happening, but they 

can adapt to be better prepared for 

when they do. Foreign aid will be 

vital for Tonga to recover from this 

horrific incident. However, education 

and collaboration will be its most 

important defence in the longer term. 

This article was first published on The Conversation 

Tonga eruption visible from satellite. (Photo credit: NOAA) 


PROTECTING THOSE WHO 

SERVE TO PROTECT 

WORKWEAR GROUP UNIFORMS DIGS 

DEEP TO UNDERSTAND THE FRONTLINE 

As one of Australia’s leading uniform providers, Workwear 

Group Uniforms have years of experience servicing 

Emergency Service organisations across ambulance, 

fire, police and defence. With a long Australian history, 

Workwear Group Uniforms has earned a reputation for 

creating innovative uniform solutions that provide the 

required functionality to perform the wearers’ tasks, without 

compromising on style. 

To our team, creating uniforms for the frontline is a privilege, 

and one we don’t take lightly. We truly understand that a 

uniform is more than colours and stripes, for us it is about 

the garments providing the functionality the wearer needs. 

It is through this sense of responsibility, that Workwear 

Group Uniforms continues to be a trusted pair of hands 

for organisations such as Fire Rescue NSW, South Australia 

Ambulance Service and the Australian Defence Force. 

Getting to know the wearer 

Our team prides itself on its commitment to safety, and it is 

at the core of every program we run. Our in-house resources 

are in a constant state of research and development to 

ensure we are offering our clients the latest in technology 

and innovation. Working with career experts, Workwear 

Group Uniforms has established a “Day in the Life” program, 

whereby our team members go onsite and work directly 

with the uniform wearers. This allows us to see firsthand the 

environment the uniform is worn in, and understanding the 

physical challenges in which our uniform needs to perform in. 

Lead Industrial designer Mark Godoy says “a one-size-fits all 

approach does not do the wearer justice. This is why it is so 

important that we completely embed ourselves in what they 

do day in and day out. Every truck, helicopter or station is 

different and we have to take this into consideration for each 

frontline service.” 

Testing in the field 

In addition to running these onsite programs, we work 

with our partners to select a number of wearers to trial 

new designs before it is rolled out, so we can get unfiltered 

feedback from the source; do you feel the uniform design 

takes into consideration your modesty needs? When 

you perform your role, does the uniform limit you from 

performing any operational activities? It is through this 

feedback that we can make any final adjustments before we 

roll it out to the entire workforce. 

Those facing the front line should be confident the clothing 

they wear provides the utmost safety that they themselves 

deliver to others. The team at Workwear Group Uniforms 

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For more information on Workwear Group Uniforms and 

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contact enquiry@workweargroup.com.au 

or call 1800 644 517.

FIT FOR 

GREATNESS 

At Workwear Group Uniforms we know the best uniforms empower greatness. It becomes 

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That’s why we provide world class end-to-end uniform solutions which make our 

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We develop bespoke designs that enhance our client’s unique brand traits and are tailored 

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We dress each and every one of our customers in a Workwear Group uniform so they can 

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Workwear Group Uniforms is a division of Workwear Group, a Wesfarmers business. 

WORKWEARGROUP.COM.AU

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

In each edition of the Australian Emergency Services Magazine we 

feature a profile on a person, team, partnership, squad or unit to 

showcase their unique contribution to the emergency services industry. 

If you would like to be featured or know someone who deserves some 

recognition get in touch with our team. 

NSW Rail Fire & Emergency 

Rail Fire & Emergency (RFE) (Formerly NSW State Rail 

Fire Service) is considered to be one of the oldest 

firefighting services in NSW, established in 1896, with 

probably one of the least known service histories. We 

take a closer look at what makes this team so unique. 

Words: Brooke Turnbull 

Established in 1896, Rail Fire & Emergency is one of the oldest 

firefighting services in NSW. Image: NSW Rail FIre & Emergency 

It was the 20th of December 2019. 

We were looking down the barrel of 

what would be the worst fire season in 

recent history and it was a hot, dry and 

dusty summer. 

Kurt Foster, a fire officer with the Rail 

Fire and Emergency (RFE), had been 

called out to a job in Lithgow. The night 

before a fire front had passed through 

from the Grose Valley and caused 

significant rail infrastructure damage. 

A signal box in Lithgow was down. It 

was going to be an afternoon that Kurt 

wouldn’t soon forget. 

The fire front had surrounded the 

entire town of Lithgow. Impassable, 

fierce and deadly. No one could get in 

or out and the front had cut off efforts 

of the Fire Response New South Wales 

(FRNSW) strike team to respond. 

It was up to Kurt and his team to save 

both themselves and the residents 

that were also trapped in the area. 

Attacking the fire directly, after several 

hours the fire had receded and dozens 

of homes, not to mention lives, were 

saved as a direct result of the RFE 

team’s dedication to their jobs. 

This is just one of the many, many 

stories that have contributed to 

the RFE’s rich history since it was 

established under the banner of the 

Fire Protection Unit. 

Established in 1896 by a group of 

staff members from the Sydney 

Railway Station, it originally began as a 

volunteer fire brigade. The brigade was 

approved by the Railway Commissions 

and a certificate of competency was 

awarded by Superintendent Bear of 

the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. 

Mr E.J Ford, Officer in Charge, 

undertook the training of the new 

brigade and once it was registered 

with the Fire Brigade Association, it 

became a properly constituted body. 

Many functions, meetings and social 

FRNSW Lithgow established hose 

lines where the fire was approaching 

at an alarmingly rapid rate. From this 

front several smaller fires erupted 

and began burning closer and closer 

to Lithgow homes. A grassed area 

running between the rail corridor 

and a street of residential houses 

was of particular concern given the 

conditions. As fire raced through the 

grassed embankment, Kurt and his 

team deployed with their only thought 

being for others. 

Fire in Lithgow running between the rail corridor and residential homes. Image credit: Kurt Foster

dances were held at the Railway 

Institute in Devonshire Street, with the 

newly established brigade providing 

fire protection to these functions. 

This brigade has provided over 125 

years of protection to the rail network 

of Sydney and after a number of name 

changes, including being reconstituted 

under the City Rail Operations 

Coordination as the State Rail Fire 

Service, in 2019 it officially became 

Rail Fire and Emergency in order to 

reflect and respect the broader skills 

and qualifications that are held and 

required by the group at large. 

The inception of the RFE was to 

provide fire and life safety responseand-recovery 

resources, as well as 

services for all fire and life safety 

emergency incidents. Servicing the 

Greater Sydney Train Network in 

primary and secondary response 

teams, the RFE’s efforts allow for the 

Sydney Trains to meet the Rail Safety 

National Law requirement pertaining 

to the provision of a safe railway for 

customers and staff. 

Servicing the Greater Sydney Train Network. Image courtesy of NSW Rail FIre & Emergency 

All RFE officers are accredited fire and 

emergency service workers and have 

the ability to respond to fires and 

emergencies under emergency lights 

and sirens. This ensures that their 

response is swift and effective when 

it comes to the situations they are 

responsible for within the rail network. 

Many of the emergencies that the RFE 

have responded to have been varied 

and dangerous. RFE have provided 

responses to the Glenbrook train 

disaster, the Waterfall train disaster, 

the Lindt Cafe siege, the Redfern riots 

and, as Kurt’s story reflects above, the 

2019/2020 bushfire disaster. 

Made up of 15 officers split into 4 

platoons, the officers of the RFE are 

highly specialised in their field and risk 

their lives regularly for the protection 

of members of the public that they 

serve. The challenging and testing 

situations that they face daily, including 

the recovery of bodies within rail 

accidents, impact them profoundly. 

The brigade has provided over 125 years of protection to the rail network of Sydney. 

Image courtesy NSW Rail Fire & Emergency 

They are a passionate and dedicated 

team that support each other and 

ensure the wellbeing, both physical 

and mental, of each of their colleagues. 

Not just a team, but a unification of 

ongoing mateship, that is often shown 

within the emergency services as a 

whole. 

St James Tunnel Detrainment. Image courtesy of NSW Rail Fire & Emergency

Book Review 

There are some incredible books out there about the trials and tribulations, 

heartbreak and satisfaction of working within the emergency services sector. 

We aim to bring you some great recommendations within each issue. If you 

have a book to recommend for our reviews, get in touch. 

FIRESTORM: BATTLING SUPER-CHARGED 

NATURAL DISASTERS 

Author: Greg Mullins 

41 

Combines thrilling stories of what it’s like to 

be on the front line of Australia’s first gigafire 

with the hard truths of human-caused 

climate change, and what we do about it. 

Greg Mullins followed his father into 

fighting bushfires – it was in the blood. He 

fought major fires around Sydney and the 

Blue Mountains for decades, and studied 

bushfires in Europe, Canada and the US. 

He risked his life in the 1994 Sydney fires 

and, later, during our catastrophic Black 

Summer of 2019–20. As a career firefighter, 

he worked his way up the ranks to become 

Commissioner of one of the world’s 

largest fire services, Fire and Rescue NSW, 

for nearly fourteen years. When it came 

to natural disasters there was little, if 

anything, he hadn’t witnessed first-hand. 

Over five decades he watched as weather 

patterns and natural disaster risks 

changed, seeing bushfires becoming 

bigger, hotter and more destructive. He 

talked to scientists and weighed their 

evidence with his experience, coming 

to the realisation that man-made global 

warming was setting the stage for a deadly 

firestorm. In early 2019 he tried to warn 

the government that a Black Summer was 

imminent so that adequate preparations 

could be made. . . 

But when he and former fire chiefs from 

across the country tried to meet with 

politicians to sound an urgent warning, 

they were ignored. 

Combining thrilling stories of what it’s like 

to be on the front line of Australia’s first 

giga-fire with the hard truths of humancaused 

climate change, Firestorm is a 

compelling account of raging fire, political 

evasion, settled science, and one man’s 

courageous, urgent call to action for all 

Australians. 

Greg Mullins AO AFSM 

became a major 

national figure in the 

2019–20 bushfire crisis 

– Australia’s longest, 

hottest and most 

devastating on record. 

From being a volunteer 

firefighter then a career 

firefighter, he is an 

internationally recognised 

expert in responding 

to major bushfires and 

natural disasters. 

During his 39-year career 

he served as President, 

Vice President and Board 

Chair of the Australasian 

Fire & Emergency Service 

Authorities’ Council, 

Deputy Chair of the 

NSW State Emergency 

Management Committee, 

Australian Director of the 

International Fire Chiefs 

Association of Asia, NSW 

representative on the 

Australian Emergency 

Management Committee, 

Australian representative 

on the UN’s International 

Search & Rescue Advisory 

Group, and as a member 

of the NSW Bushfire 

Coordinating Committee. 

He is currently Chair 

of the NSW Ambulance 

Service Advisory Board. 


In early 2019 he formed 

Emergency Leaders for 

Climate Action, a coalition 

of 34 former fire and 

emergency service chiefs 

from throughout Australia. 

They tried to warn the 

federal government of 

an impending bushfire 

disaster, were ignored, 

but continue to explain 

how climate change 

is super-charging the 

bushfire problem and why 

urgent action is needed on 

greenhouse emissions. 

Synopsis courtesy of 

Penguin Books. 

PHOTO CREDIT: © PENGUIN 

RANDOM HOUSE

Book Review 

AGAINST ALL ODDS 

Authors: 

THE BUSHFIRE BOOK 

How to Be Aware 

and Prepare 

Craig Challen & Richard Harris 

with Ellis Henican 

Author: Polly Marsden 

Illustrator: Chris Nixon 

An accessible and reassuring picture 

book that teaches children what they 

need to know about bushfires so they can 

understand what’s happening and be smart 

and prepared, not scared. 

Australia is a big country with all sorts of 

weather. And sometimes extreme weather 

like bushfires. Bushfires can make a real 

mess of things. The air fills with smoke. The 

skies turn red. Ash falls. Precious things 

burn. But we don’t need to be scared, 

we just need to know all about bushfires 

and prepare for them. This book will help 

you understand what causes bushfires, 

introduce you to all the clever people who 

are keeping an eye on them, and teach you 

how to be prepared and not scared. 

A practical and reassuring book for children 

to help them understand bushfires and 

what action they can take to feel less 

anxious and more prepared as Australia 

faces longer and more intense bushfire 

seasons. 

About the Author 

Polly Marsden is the creator behind the 

concept for Big Weather and How To Survive 

It, a new documentary TV series hosted by 

Craig Reucassel to be broadcast on ABC TV in 

2020. Polly is a speechwriter and script writer 

who is passionate about the power of words 

to inspire positive social change. 

About the Illustrator 

Chris Nixon is a multidisciplinary artist creating 

across illustration, graphic design, creative 

direction and public art. Based in Perth, 

Chris’s work is inspired by the West Coast 

and classic surf culture with an emphasis 

on the handmade and crafted, using colour, 

texture and pattern across a wide range of 

media from children’s books to animation, 

commercial illustration and large artwork 

installations. 

Image & Synopisis: Booktopia 

The inside account of the 

breathtaking rescue that captured 

the world. 

‘I just want to warn you. You’re 

going to dive to the end of the 

cave. You’re going to see these 

kids. They’re all looking healthy 

and happy and smiley. Then, 

you’re going to swim away, and 

they’re probably all going to die.’ 

In June 2018, for seventeen days, 

the world watched and held its 

breath as the Wild Boars soccer 

team were trapped deep in a 

cave in Thailand. Marooned 

beyond flooded cave passages 

after unexpected rains, they 

were finally rescued, one-by-one, 

against almost impossible odds, 

by an international cave-diving 

team which included Australians 

Dr Richard Harris and Dr Craig 

Challen. 

These two men were chosen 

for their medical expertise and 

cave diving knowledge, but this 

dangerous rescue asked so 

much more of them. They had 

to remain calm under extreme 

pressure and intense scrutiny, 

adapt to constantly changing 

circumstances and importantly, 

build trust among the rescue 

team and with the young boys 

and their coach, whose lives were 

in their hands. Here is the story 

of these two Australian men who 

became international heroes 

– it is a story of determination, 

cunning and triumph that will long 

be remembered. 

Synopsis: Penguin Books. Image 

Credit © PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE 

Craig Challen SC OAM is an 

Australian veterinary surgeon, 

technical diver and cave 

explorer. He was the recipient of 

the Oztek 2009 Diver of the Year 

award for his services to caving, 

and was jointly awarded 2019 

Australian of the Year. 

Richard ‘Harry’ Harris SC OAM 

is an Australian anaesthetist 

and cave diver who played a 

crucial role in the Tham Luang 

cave rescue. He and Craig 

Challen were jointly awarded 

2019 Australian of the Year as a 

result of that rescue. 

Craig Challen SC OAM 

Richard Harris SC OAM 


TRAVEL 

EMERGENCY 

Breaks 

Words: Brooke Turnbull 

Here at Australian Emergency Services Magazine, it’s no secret that we love the coasts. 

We’ve taken you up and down the east coast of Australia and all the way around to the 

west coast. We’ve even done the top coast in Darwin. But we’ve yet to take you to the centre 

of our beautiful country. Given that our land mass can fit about 32 United Kingdom’s in 

it, we’ve got quite a lot to discover and explore. This month we’re taking you right into the 

middle in fact, to the Red Centre. Specifically, Alice Springs and Uluru. We know, we know, 

it’s an obvious one, but we’ve got to start somewhere and what a place to start!

Home to the Pitjantjatjara and 

Yankunytjatjara people (known 

together as the Anangu people), 

Uluru is Australia’s most well known 

monolith and one of the Indigenous 

Australian’s most sacred sites. 

The first time Kata-Tjuta, often 

referred to as The Olgas, was 

seen by a non-Aboriginal was in 

1872. Earnest Giles spotted the 

domes and named the tallest one 

Mount Olga after the Queen of 

Wüttemberg. In 1873, William Gosse 

was the first non-Aboriginal to lay 

eyes on Uluru, and he subsequently 

named it Ayres Rock, after Sir Henry 

Ayres, the Chief Secretary of South 

Australia at the time. 

The Ayres Rock - Mount Olga 

National Park opened in 1958 and 

was run by white Australians for the 

next several decades. A long and 

detailed history of land disputes 

between the Indigenous peoples 

who had lived on the land and the 

non-Aboriginals who claimed it 

and used it for tourism benefits, 

occurred for the next almost 30 

years. 

However, in 1985, the Anangu 

people were able to reclaim the 

ownership of their most sacred site 

and a hardback ceremony occurred 

on 26 October 1985. The land was 

then leased to Parks Australia for 99 

years in order for the economy of 

Uluru and Kata-Tjuta to thrive. The 

national park continues to be jointly 

run by the Anangu people and Parks 

Australia. 

Alice Springs is Uluru’s closest town 

and sits roughly 450 kilometres 

away from the site. For your next 

adventure we’ll explore both the 

Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park as 

well as Alice Springs. 

Location: 

Uluru is located in almost the 

dead centre of Australia, and the 

area surrounding it (that also 

encompasses Alice Springs) is 

known as the Red Centre. With

its own domestic airport, flights come in from all capital 

cities daily. Alice Springs is located approximately 450 

kilometres north-east of the rock and is the only major 

town near Uluru itself. If you wish to explore Alice Springs 

and Uluru together, we recommend a night in Alice on 

either side of your stay in Uluru so that you can get the 

most out of each place. There are several tour companies 

that run Uluru and Kata-Tjuta tours daily, as well as 

several places to hire a vehicle if you wish to self-drive. 

Things to Do: 

The Red Centre is a veritable playground of amazing 

things to do and see. Given that Uluru is such a significant 

religious site for the Anangu, and many other Indigenous 

Australians, in 2017 climbing the rock was officially 

discontinued. 

The changing colours of the Kata-Tjutas, often also referred to as 

The Olgas 

However, there are so many exciting and incredible things 

to experience within this park that doesn’t involve risking 

disrespect to the traditional custodians of the land (not 

to mention your life) by climbing it. You are, however, 

still able to touch the rock itself as part of the scenic 

and indescribable Uluru base walk. The site holds such 

significance that it’s impossible not to feel the collective 

spirituality of thousands of years of respect and worship 

of this incredible formation. 

The experience of visiting Uluru wouldn’t be complete 

without also visiting the Kata-Tjutas, often also referred 

to as The Olgas. These rock formations can be explored 

on foot and will glow and change colour as the sun sets 

or rises. These natural wonders are a not to be missed 

part of the Australian landscape and are one of the most 

famous places to visit within our beautiful country. 

Visit these guys at Alice Springs Reptile Park. Image Facebook 

Alice Springs is the largest town in Central Australia and 

is a Mecca of things to discover and do. Take a walk 

with some of our reptilian friends at the Alice Springs 

Reptile Park. In fact, a visit to Central Australia wouldn’t 

be complete without having a look in the park. This is 

the perfect place to see an array of little creatures like 

frill neck lizards, goannas and thorny devils. Australia is 

famous for the amount of reptiles that live here that may 

or may not want to kill you, so the Alice Springs Reptile 

Park is a great place to view them at a safe distance. 

One of the best ways to take in the views of Alice Springs 

and the desert is by hot air balloon. So number two on 

our list is a balloon flight with Spinifex Ballooning. If you 

take an early morning flight you’ll be immersed in the 

breathtaking delights of the desert waking up with the 

sunrise, an experience that is hard to top, even in a place 

like the Red Centre. 

Alice Springs is also one of the best places in Australia to 

sample local, native Australian foods cooked traditionally. 

Known as bush tucker, a tour through Alice Springs with 

Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris will have you feasting on 

foods like kangaroo, goanna and yams cooked in the hot 

coals, and wild beans and nuts. 

Hot air ballooning with Spinifex Balloon. Image: www.northernterritory.com.au 

There are an unlimited amount of things to do within Alice 

Springs, and far too many to cover here but honourable 

mentions go to checking out the Telegraph Station, the 

45 


first European settlement in Central Australia, riding a 

camel in the desert and taking a hit of the golf clubs in the 

desert golf course. Whatever your fancy, the Red Centre 

has plenty to offer for both relaxation and adventure. 

Places to Stay: 

As usual, we’ve selected three different types of 

accommodation for three different budgets, depending 

on what you might be after for your holiday into Uluru 

and Alice Springs. 

Our first option is our top of the range pick and will 

not disappoint. Longitude 131 are a small collection of 

luxury tents and pavilions nestled in almost under the 

shadow of Uluru itself. Offering a luxurious sanctuary, it 

also has an incredible sense of place with unparrelled 

views of Uluru from the comfort of your bed. Watch the 

colours of the desert change and shift as you unwind in 

abject peace and serenity. Longitude 131 boasts a spa to 

complete your relaxation holiday and a restaurant that 

offers some of the finest produce available within the 

Red Centre. Serving creative, contemporary Australian 

food paired with an enviable wine list from both national 

and international vineyards. Two nights of a Longitude 

131 experience will set you back $1,700 per person and 

include all dining, drinks and return transfers from Ayres 

Rock airport. They also include an array of signature 

experiences within the nightly rate. While the Longitude 

131 experience might be our most expensive option yet, 

with the inclusions and access to Uluru, it’s the most value 

for money. 

A quirky option for our more intermediate budget friends 

is Squeakywindmill Boutique Tent B&B. Located just 

outside of Alice Springs, this adorable option is a selection 

of permanent tents that give a new meaning to the word 

glamping. With each tent offering a patio, kitchenette 

that includes a microwave, kettle and coffee machine, 

there isn’t much more that’s needed. Throw in breakfast 

included in your rate and easy access to Alice Springs 

township, as well as the Frontier Camel Farm for a unique 

camel ride experience and you’ve got yourself a holiday. 

Starting at $218 a night, this is a great option if you’re 

looking for luxury but not wanting the major price tag. 

The ultimate luxury getaway at Longtitude 131. 

Image credit: www.longtitude131.com.au 

Squeakywindmill Boutique Tent B & B gives a new meaning to glamping. 

Image: www.squeakywindmill.com 

Finally, for our last budget option is the Desert Palms 

Alice Springs, and when it comes to budget friendly, this 

is the nicest place we’ve seen. Offering individual villa 

accommodation, prices start at $133 per night in low 

season. Located on the banks of the Todd River, Desert 

Palms is a five minute walk to the centre of Alice Springs. 

Surrounded by tropical gardens and boasting a stunning, 

crystal clear swimming pool complete with island and 

waterfall, there isn’t much that Desert Palms doesn’t have 

for a great family holiday to Central Australia. 

Whether you’re travelling as a couple, a family or just 

looking for a solo getaway, this location is an experience 

of the true spiritual sense of place that Australia 

inherently carries with it. Rich with cultural history and 

experiences, Uluru, the Kata-Tjutas and Alice Springs will 

be a break you won’t forget quickly. 

Located on the banks of the Todd RIver, Desert Palms Alice Springs offers a 

great family holiday. Image: www.desertpalms.com.au 


Show your heart, 

help little hearts. 

Support kids born with heart disease 

Donate now at heartkids.org.au

Get 

storm 

ready. 

Storms can strike at any time, that’s why it’s important 

to always be prepared. 

Prepare your home 

Stay safe while driving 

Trim trees and branches close to your house 

Secure loose items in your backyard 

Clear gutters, downpipes and drains 

Get your roof checked for damage or corrosion 

Make sure all shades, sails and awnings are 

properly fitted 

Get your insurance up-to-date 

Always follow flood warning signs 

Never drive through flood water 

Shelter vehicles under cover, not under trees 

Avoid driving when a storm is coming 

Get your insurance up-to-date 

Helpful hints: 

You can ask the council or energy 

company to check trees on your street 

that may pose a threat to your property or 

powerlines. 

Even if you’ve cleared your gutters 

recently, they can soon fill up with leaves 

and other debris, especially after a 

downpour. On average you should check 

they’re clear every couple of weeks. 

If you don’t already know your neighbours, 

go and introduce yourself. They might 

need a hand getting storm ready. Plus, 

when bad weather strikes it’s important to 

be able to tell the SES who lives nearby. 

Make sure everyone in your household 

knows what to do in severe weather. 

For tips on developing a house 

emergency plan use the SES guide at 

www.stormwise.com.au 

If you do need help during a severe storm, call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500 

Principal Partner 

G018213 11/16

AESM Vol 28, ISSUE 1 2022

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