VIC SES KEPT BUSY IN THE AFTERMATH OF MELBOURNE'S WORST HAIL STORM - VOLUME 23 NO. 3 WINTER 2010
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VOLUME 23 NO. 3 WINTER 2010
PRINT POST PUBLICATION NO. PP337586/00067
VIC SES KEPT BUSY
IN THE AFTERMATH
OF MELBOURNE'S
WORST HAIL STORM
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the Salvos
shield those
in need.
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Official Publication of
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
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PP 337586/00067
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Council or of the Editor. Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
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4 Opinion
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FEATURES
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AIES NEWS
AIES is pleased to announce the following emergency service people became members of the Institute between March
and May 2010.
NAME ORGANISATION STATE
Robert Butterfield Mines Rescue TAS
AIES NEWS
Jarred Gilbert Ambulance Service SA
Raymond Calliope Police Service QLD
David Gossage Serpentine/Jarrahdale WA
Jenny Crump SES QLD
Jennine Kingston Carathool Shire NSW
Alexander Rees Police Service QLD
Brent Webber Rural Fire Service NSW
Mark Tregellas Police Service VIC
Andrew Luke Rural Fire Service NSW
Shaun Merrigan Police Service VIC
Paul Centofanti Ambulance Service VIC
Travis Bell SES QLD
Peter Kelly AMSA ACT
The National Annual General Meetings for 2010 took place in Melbourne on 19 April. The National Executive Report, along with
the 2009 Financial Statement can be found on pages 14 and 15 of this issue of the National Emergency Response Journal.
The Divisions also held Annual General Meetings recently. A summary of Divisional reports can be read on page 16. ●
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Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
3
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
AlanMarshall, FAIES
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
National President
T
he Australian Institute of the Future, was a thought-provoking and
Emergency Services National interesting address. Roger suggested
Board Meeting and Annual in closing that the Institute takes on
General Meeting were held in one more challenge – looking for ways
Melbourne on 19 April 2010. in which, in pursuit of the Institute’s
AIES President for the last 12 months aims and objectives, we can actively
John Rice did not re-nominate for the promote development of coherent,
position due to work commitments. national, comprehensive and integrated
I take this opportunity on behalf of the emergency management policies and
Board to thank John for his direction, arrangements. My thanks go to Roger for
guidance and resolve over the past year taking the time from his busy schedule
on a number of issues, which required to address the meeting.
many hours of work for the Institute. Following the National Board meeting,
As the newly elected President of we agreed to make a number of
the Institute, I welcome Mr Rice as the changes to the Institute’s Constitution
Vice President and look forward to his and Articles of Association to bring our
expertise. We are all appreciative of his governing documentations into line with emergency services generally. Once
continuity on the Board. We are also a modern contemporary structure. the award scheme has been finalised,
pleased that the services of Michael Administrative arrangements are also each division of the Institute will be
Davis AM, FAIES (Queensland) have underway to reduce the eligibility age responsible for submitting nominations
been retained. for full membership of the Institute from for consideration and approval by the
This year saw the resignation of two 21 years to 18 years and to remove Board. Details of the scheme, together
long serving members of the Board. the qualification period for full time and with nomination forms and criteria, will
On behalf of the Board and all members volunteer members. be outlined in future editions of the
of the Institute I would like to offer As the changes proposed by the National Emergency Response.
our sincere thanks and appreciation Board are constitutional in nature, they I am pleased to announce that
to Maurice Massie QPM, LFAIES and will not take effect until passed by the Board has agreed to support the
to Brian Lancaster ESM, JP, LFAIES for members at the next Annual General AIES Young Volunteer Award again for
their tireless service to members over Meeting, or until the Board can arrange 2010/11. Our thanks must go to the
many years; in particular, Brian Lancaster, a special meeting of members. In the Emergency Response division of the
who was an inaugural member of the meantime, all applications for Ordinary Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Institute and served over 30 years. Membership from people less than 21 for its support as sponsor for the
Maurice retains a position on the years or age, or less than the current 2009/2010 Award. Award details and
committee in Tasmania and Brian has qualification period of two years for nomination criteria will soon be available
been appointed as a special advisor full time members and four years for on the Institute’s web site.
to the South Australia Division. volunteer members, will be granted Each year the General Council awards
I would like to formally welcome to Associate membership on approval a contribution of a published article
the AIES Board Barry Presgrave OAM, that will automatically revert to full in National Emergency Response.
LFAIES, JP (South Australia), Stephen membership when the changes come Congratulations to our 2009-10
Anderson MAIES (New South Wales) into effect. recipient of the award, valued at
and Darrel Johnson, FAIES (Tasmania). The Board also approved the $300, Chas Keys MAIES for his article
Following the AGM formalities we implementation of the National Awards on the Four Challenges for Emergency
enjoyed an addressed by Col. Roger and AIES National Medal program that Management in Australia, published
Jones, MAIAM, FAIES, psc. Roger’s is aimed at recognising excellence of in the Autumn 2010 edition of
topic, Just One More Challenge for our members and members of the our journal. ●
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
4
OPINION
UK SAFETY NETWORKS
SET BENCHMARK FOR
AUSTRALASIA
The primary remits of public safety
communications are to protect people from harm
and to provide a safe and secure environment
to allow them to go about their daily business.
This goal is not something that necessarily
changes with the country, although the
approaches taken and solutions required will
differ as the geographical area and population
density varies from one market to another.
Lessons have been learned from the United
Kingdom’s complete overhaul of its public safety
communications infrastructure, and could be
PaulIsaacs applied to the Australasian market.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
5
U
K-based company Airwave in these countries cannot rely on RISK ANd OPPORTUNITIES
Solutions launched the Airwave communications with their colleagues One crucial lesson learnt early-on in the
network in the UK in 2005, which or supervisors. There are huge black building of the UK Airwave network is
provided a much-needed modernisation spots in the network’s coverage, and that modern networks cannot be built
to public safety communications Murphy’s Law dictates that operations using old strategies if the benefits of
infrastructure and is the most extensive always occur where the communications modern technologies are to be enjoyed.
and advanced TETRA network in infrastructure is weakest. A P25 or TETRA network is actually
the world today. There are obvious The effect of this is that decisions closer to a GSM network than to a
differences between the communications taken at the scene of an incident— conventional private mobile radio (PMR)
needs for the Australasian markets often with life or death implications— network, and it has to be designed and
OPINION
compared with the UK requirements— frequently have to be made without the operated accordingly.
such as the vast rural areas of scant benefit of the breadth of information The creation of a single government
population interspersed with very dense that is available to the control room staff. agency to establish a single network run
urban populations in Australia. There are, by one dedicated operator will create
however, many similarities where the UK A SINGLE SECURE STATE-WIdE both risks and opportunities. The risks—
experience can be shared. NETWORK financial, commercial and operational—
The condition of Asia Pacific’s public The public safety communications can be mitigated by a careful choice of
safety communications networks today network in the Australasian market operator and financier with the correct
is strikingly similar to the condition of would benefit from a similar business focus and motivation, risk transfer
the UK’s emergency radio infrastructure model as the one developed by to operator, and maintained through
before Airwave’s solution was Airwave for the UK. The first stage stringent service level agreements.
implemented. In the UK prior to 2005, would be the establishment of a single The most common risk pointed out
every agency had an individual radio government agency to address the for this strategy is the ‘all-the-eggs-in-
network which only covered its own specific communications requirements one-basket’ scenario. However, there
operational area. There were over 50 of all public safety agencies within is arguably less risk in having one well-
independent police networks alone. a state. The second stage would be designed and professionally maintained
Communication between counties and the development of a single state or network, than there is in relying on a
between agencies was rarely possible nationwide radio network for use by hotchpotch of capacity constrained,
except by the relaying of messages all these agencies. low-availability legacy networks utilising
between control rooms. Such a move would have many obsolete technology and equipment.
benefits. The construction of a single The opportunities on the other hand,
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT network would be more successful in are immense. Safe, secure, reliable
Furthermore, the equipment being attracting funding, and would provide communications can be established
used in the UK was often old and greater scope for private-sector with unprecedented levels of availability,
outdated, and there was limited money investment. Furthermore, it would operated by a body whose sole
available for renewals and replacements. streamline the project management purpose is to deliver and maintain
Unencrypted transmissions also requirement, leading to faster program radio communications. This will enable
presented a serious security issue. With delivery, and would also facilitate emergency services personnel to be in
little or no network security in place, the adoption of up-to-the-minute constant communication with their chain
most communications were easily technologies to adequately address of command, allowing them to both feel
overheard by anybody with a simple security, reliability and coverage issues. safer, and be safer.
scanning receiver and an inclination Excellent coverage and full The experience gained and lessons
to listen in, allowing details about redundancy are key requisites for a learned in the UK could facilitate the
emergency services operations to be successful single network encompassing timely and efficient development of
leaked into the public domain. the full breadth of a state’s public safety quality public safety communication
Stories are rife about police officers communications needs. Crucially, it also networks that are both responsive
arriving at the scene of a break-in to needs to be operated professionally. and adaptive enough to match the
find the only thing left behind is a radio A modern state-wide P25 or TETRA challenging environments found in
scanner tuned to the police frequencies. network—providing fully encrypted Australia and New Zealand. ●
Simply put, unsecured radio networks voice and data services—requires, and
allow emergency services communications deserves, a proficient organisation Paul Isaacs is Head of Engineering
to be exploited by anybody who stands to operate it to accepted standards. at Airwave Solutions Limited. Prior to
to gain from such information. International standards such as the his role as Head of Technical Design
This was the situation encountered in Information Technology Infrastructure and Innovation, he led the team of
the UK, but it is also fairly representative Library (ITIL) or ISO20000 set the 50 engineers that delivered the UK’s
of where Australia and New Zealand benchmark for a good, reliable network. cutting-edge TETRA trunked radio
public safety communication networks An independent organisation would network, which now serves more
stood until recent times. Wide area digital have the flexibility to provide this than 250 organisations across the
networks are yet to be fully deployed; dedication of purpose away from the whole of the UK, including police, fire
therefore public safety professionals pressures of individual agencies. and ambulance.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
6
FEATURE STORY
JUST ONE MORE
CHALLENGE FOR
THE FUTURE
AIES Annual General Meeting, Key Note Address,
Melbourne, 19 April 2010
Col. RogerJones, FAIES, MIAEM psc
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
7
30 Years of Challenge - Yesterday, A dIGRESSION
“ ... while there has been nationwide acceptance of
the widespread advice to residents in bushfire-prone Today and Tomorrow. It’s not as First, a brief digression, which I hope
areas to prepare well and defend or leave early, though our emergency services haven’t might explain something of where I’m
there appears to have been little recognition of the enough challenges already! But on coming from.
clear internal inconsistencies in this advice for both mature reflection, I have decided I spent almost the whole of the
residents and responders and consequently a lack of
necessary planning for shelters and evacuation.”
not to call Chas out at dawn for a month of January this year, at the
FEATURE STORY
duel with pistols (no danger, really - request of a Victorian Government
I suspect that neither of us at our age department, working up a background
would be a particularly good shot) briefing paper intended for consultants
because I agree with a lot of what proposed to be employed to address
Chas writes. an issue which had been raised in the
current Royal Commission. One element
THE KEYS’ CHALLENGES of that paper required a fairly detailed
If you haven’t already done so, I strongly review of State level arrangements for
recommend that you read Chas’ article disaster management policy, response
in the most recent edition of NER control and coordination and executive
(Autumn 2010). In the course of an government involvement Australia wide.
informed discussion of many of the Another element required a brief
problems facing us today, he identifies survey of some relevant overseas
what he considers as our four most examples, and for this purpose we
significant future challenges. The first surveyed what we believed to be roughly-
two are: comparable administrative units to the
• The need to be more effective in state of Victoria - such as California
engaging with communities, in that in the United States, British Columbia
we don’t put enough informed in Canada (which recently staged the
effort into our activities designed Winter Olympics), Gauteng Province in
to educate the public in relation to South Africa (which includes Pretoria, the
hazards, and that there have been republic’s administrative capital and the
too many failures in our warning major city of Johannesburg, and which
processes; and is to host the World Soccer Cup shortly)
• The need to address our huge and London in the United Kingdom - but
land management problem in in the first three also focussing on the
Australia, particularly by dealing influence of federal type administrations.
with the many conflicts of interest I emphasise that my role in this project
our governments and courts have was essentially that of a collator and editor
to deal with in land management – most of the material was contributed
issues, with increasing population by other researchers, but clearly my job
pressures and demands for consisted of verifying information sources
development in hazardous locations and drawing together some relevant
having the capacity to increase observations. So the observations that
Photo: Kathryn Marchetti community vulnerability. follow are my own and, while drawn from
I agree strongly with Chas’ arguments the material we surveyed in the course
on both these issues. And I note that of that project, could not be attributed to
I
have to admit that I was a bit put both of these issues, of the necessity any other of the many contributors.
out last month when I opened my for improved community engagement
Autumn 2010 copy of National with particular regard to public education SOME OBSERVATIONS
Emergency Response. This issue and warning and of the need for better First, based on the Australian information
has five whole pages devoted to an land management with particular regard we gathered in that project, let me
opinion piece by my old friend and to risk reduction, have featured largely comment on where I see where we’ve
occasional sparring partner Chas in the work of the present Victorian got to at State and Territory level in our
Keys, the former Deputy DG of Bushfire Royal Commission (VBRC) arrangements for emergency management
the New South Wales SES, entitled and are likely to get special mention in policy, response control and coordination,
Four Challenges for Emergency the Commission’s final report in July. and executive government involvement
Management in Australia. Really, But I would like to have a bit more to in emergency management issues.
he didn’t have the courtesy to say about the other two issues Chas • Over the years I’ve written a number
acknowledge that barely 18 months raises – what he calls ‘dealing with of articles and given many lectures in
previously I had given a keynote the fragmentation of our emergency which I’ve tried to trace the evolution
address to the October 2008 response effort’ and ‘addressing of emergency management policy and
Combined Emergency Services deficiencies in our emergency arrangements in Australia from the days
Seminar in Melbourne entitled planning processes’. of the old Civil Defence organisations.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response
8
“Post 9/11, it was inevitable that some ... (national leadership and
direction in emergency management) effort would have to be redirected
to deal with the threat of terrorism, but I have the real feeling that in
the process much of the momentum towards a real national approach
to emergency management in its entirety appears to have been lost.”
FEATURE STORY
• Initially, my outlook was inevitably a leadership role in the development conferences and in my work in the
influenced by my experience at of appropriate concepts and South Pacific in particular, I was proud
Federal level, with the original NDO principles on which those policies to point to these developments as
and subsequently ACDC, but after and arrangements could be based providing something of a model.
Ash Wednesday and my Victorian and in providing relevant resource • Now, though, when I come to look
experience I saw things more from and training support. In their turn, at how Australian Federal and State
the State viewpoint. the States and Territories, through arrangements appear to have evolved
• In general, I’d been heartened new legislation and management in more recent years, I have to admit
by what I saw as progressive arrangements, seemed to be that I am more than a little dismayed.
development towards the adoption of increasingly reflecting a convergence In trying to explain my reasons for this, let
more integrated and comprehensive of views on the way ahead nationally me first go to Chas Keys’ third challenge
emergency management policies and for emergency management. Indeed, for the future, which he described as:
arrangements. The Commonwealth over the late 1990s and in the first dealing with the fragmentation of our
seemed to be offering something of years of this decade, in international emergency response effort.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response9
OUR FRAGMENTEd RESPONSE of standardisation in jurisdictional for both residents and responders
EFFORT arrangements and quite effective inter- and consequently a lack of necessary
Chas’ argument is that for a relatively jurisdictional communication. planning for shelters and evacuation.
small country, Australia has a huge Here in Australia, I think that we saw A case in point - as recently as a
variety of agencies with responsibilities in the 1970s and 1980s in particular, couple of weeks ago here in Melbourne,
for managing our various sources of a real effort at Commonwealth level to Neil Comrie (a former Victorian Chief
FEATURE STORY
risk to community safety, and that there provide some national leadership and Commissioner commissioned by
are great differences in the managerial direction in emergency management. the State Government to monitor
approaches our various jurisdictions - Post 9/11, it was inevitable that progressively the Government’s
national, state and local - take to deal some of that effort would have to be implementation of the Royal
with them. (In passing, Chas suggests redirected to deal with the threat of Commission’s recommendations),
that there is perhaps one field, that of terrorism, but I have the real feeling that commented that the old stay or go
bushfire management, where between in the process much of the momentum policy had not yet been formally
states similarities are greater than their towards a real national approach to replaced and that there was clearly
differences. I suspect, however, that our emergency management in its entirety confusion in both the public and
present Royal Commissioners might find appears to have been lost. emergency services’ minds about
cause to argue even with that, on the
basis of recent experience. ...only an organisation such as AIES, as one
Chas concludes that our national
emergency response effort could of the few emergency service associations
be strengthened by ensuring that
jurisdictional arrangements reflect what which claims national membership drawn
he calls good practice.
Certainly, our recent review of current without distinction from all emergency service
jurisdictional arrangements Australia
wide supports Chas’ criticism, but when
organisations and is clearly a key stakeholder
it comes to who determines the good
practice it is quite apparent that every
in the whole community safety process, is
State and Territory has its own take on sufficiently representative of all professional
that. At last count, for example, there are
more that 40 manuals in the Australian emergency management groups to be able to
Emergency Manuals Series, each of
them contributed to by working parties start to address the issues I’ve raised.
and review teams from all Federal and
State/Territory jurisdictions and relevant dEFICIENCIES IN EMERGENCY what’s the best approach. But while I
technical agencies, but I can safely PLANNING PROCESSES agree with Chas’ views in relation to
predict that any audit of the extent to But now to Chas’ fourth and final emergency management planning,
which our various jurisdictions actually challenge, which he descri as: I think that planning problems are
implement those hundreds of pages addressing deficiencies in our just reflections of a much more
of so-called good practice would find emergency planning processes. fundamental issue – far from our States
us sadly wanting. Chas’ contention here is that, in and Territories increasingly reflecting a
In looking at overseas practice, our the main, emergency services tend to convergence of views on the way ahead
recent Victorian survey noted that in attract those who are action- and field- nationally for emergency management
similar Federal type jurisdictions (Canada oriented rather than what he calls the policy and response management, as
and South Africa with their provinces, managerially-attuned, and this sometimes I believed was happening in the 1990s,
for example, and to some extent in leads to planning deficiencies such as there is instead a clear and worrying
America with its states) there seemed failure to fully apply lessons from past tendency towards increasing divergence
to be a considerable degree of national experience to future plans, difficulties in institutional and organisational
leadership and direction in emergency in understanding exactly what the plans emergency management arrangements.
management policy, response prescribe, and plans themselves which I base this view on our recent
coordination and executive government are too prescriptive and inflexible. detailed comparative review of those
involvement, based usually in quite As an example with particular arrangements, and I believe that the
recent research, national legislation relevance to Victoria post Black- Council of Australian Government’s
and collaborative disaster management Saturday, he notes that while there (COAG’s) inability to give more than
frameworks. Even in the United States, has been nationwide acceptance of lip-service to the reforms recommended
still trying to work through the 9/11 the widespread advice to residents in by its High Level Group’s report in 2002
syndrome, the megalithic Department of bushfire-prone areas to prepare well and on emergency management provides
Human Services, and having to deal with defend or leave early, there appears to concrete evidence of this. Of course
recent changes to its National Response have been little recognition of the clear this again may in part be a further
Plan, there seems to be a degree internal inconsistencies in this advice consequence of a failure at national level
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response10
to provide leadership and direction in the States (now including the Territories). effective collaborative and co-operative
emergency management, but I suspect Sounded reasonable at the time, no partnership than it is to get the same
it also reflects unfortunate divisions doubt - but nobody at the time could response from a smaller number of
within the emergency management have foreseen some of the unintended politically and industrially powerful
community itself. consequences of this decision. agencies which will tend to see any
We saw one of those consequences reform proposal as an assault on their
SOME CONCLUSIONS
FEATURE STORY
during World War 2 when, although status – and perhaps more importantly,
So, as I said at the outset, while I the Commonwealth on the part of the on their claim to their proper slice of the
agree with Chas’ first two challenges whole nation declared war on the side State or Territory budget.
- the needs to be more effectiveness of Great Britain and it was clear that Harsh and cynical words, perhaps,
in engaging with communities and to protection of the civil population would but they’re based on more than 35
address a huge land use management be vital to the national war effort, it was years experience on the emergency
problem in Australia, I feel that his last left to the individual States to determine management scene. In advancing
two challenges - the needs to deal with what action they might propose to them, however, I feel I have a clear
the fragmentation of our emergency take to protect their civil populations responsibility for offering some way out
response effort and to address from possible attack. As a result, as an of this situation. And I suggest that only
deficiencies in our emergency planning 10-year-old ARP messenger and armed an organisation such as AIES, as one of
processes simply don’t go far enough. with no more than a bicycle and a pretty the few emergency service associations
These last two problems are quite rudimentary gas-mask, I now realise which claims national membership
fundamental to the further development that I was one of the Western Australian drawn without distinction from all
of coherent, national, comprehensive community’s defences against enemy emergency service organisations and is
and integrated emergency management attack at that time! clearly a key stakeholder in the whole
policies and arrangements in Australia But seriously, I used to take pride community safety process, is sufficiently
and, in my view, stem from some basic in claiming that our emergency representative of all professional
weakness in our inter-governmental and management arrangements in Australia emergency management groups to
inter-agency relationships. were naturally much more coherent be able to start to address the issues
Without doubt, one of the underlying and manageable that those of, for I’ve raised.
causes of this weakness is in the very example, the United States, which at So in concluding I will offer the
nature of our national constitutional last count had something like 30,000 Institute itself just one more challenge
arrangements, which more than 100 years fire departments against Australia’s - seek for ways in which, in pursuit of
ago allocated our national arrangements roughly 18. More recently I have come the Institute’s aims and objectives, it
for defence against military aggression to realise that, in terms of the national can actively promote development of
to the Commonwealth while reserving interest, it is possibly much easier to coherent, national, comprehensive and
the responsibility for the protection and draw a large number of inevitably needy integrated emergency management
preservation of civil life and property to emergency service organisations into an policies and arrangements. ●
ABOUT COL. ROGER JONES response to Cyclone Tracey (1974) and management in the Pacific and as
Roger Jones has been a major other major Australian disaster events. a member of the Pacific Applied
participant in, and contributor to, In 1975 Roger was appointed Deputy Geoscience Commission’s Regional
the development of emergency Director and Chief Instructor of the High Level Advocacy Team.
management concepts, principles, Australian Counter Disaster College Between 2002 and 2008 he served
organisation, education and training in (now the Emergency Management as Chair Emergency Services Planning
Australia and, in particular, Victoria for Australia Institute) at Mount Macedon in Group (restructured as Emergency
over three decades. Victoria. After the Ash Wednesday fires Services Advisory Committee), Australian
After completing his degree and (1983), he worked with the Victorian Red Cross Victoria. In 2007, he was
teacher training in Western Australia, Government to establish the State’s appointed to the National Emergency
Roger gained teaching and Army Emergency Management Act 1986 Services Advisory Committee of the
Reserve experience before joining the and new emergency management Australian Red Cross Society as an
Australian Regular Army. arrangements before returning to the emergency management adviser.
He served in all commissioned ranks College as Director. In 2006 he was appointed Director of
in command, staff and educational He retired from that post in 1994 the Victorian State Government’s State
appointments, retiring in the rank to undertake a variety of national and Emergency Service Authority, where he
of Colonel. international consultancies in the field of currently serves as Deputy.
His last Army appointment was emergency management and specialise Roger and his wife Lesley have
Director Operations and Plans in the in public safety risk management lived at Mount Macedon since 1977.
Natural Disasters Organisation (now concepts and applications. He is a founding member, and
Emergency Management Australia). Since 2000 Roger has worked Fellow, of the Australian Institute of
During this time he was involved in the as a consultant in community risk Emergency Services.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response11
EMERGENCY ALERT
OPERATIONAL IN FOUR STATES
Emergency Alert was launched on 1 links to emergency services websites
December 2009 and since that time has in each jurisdiction.
been used 33 times and issued over Victoria, supported by the participating
166,000 messages in New South Wales, states, led the procurement process
Victoria, South Australia and Queensland and the technical development of the
for flood, tsunami, bushfire and chemical system, which was built in October
incident emergencies. and tested in November prior to its
The system is operated and December launch.
activated by authorised personnel from The second phase of the project
O
n 30 April 2009, COAG agreed emergency services organisations. considers the delivery of warning
to take immediate steps to It allows for localised, community messages to mobile phones based on
enhance Australia’s emergency based warnings to be issued per area the location of the handset at the time
management arrangements through or geographic region. It can also be of an emergency.
the development of a telephone broadened to send alerts on a large A Request for Information investigating
based emergency warning system scale depending on need. this capability has now closed with the
that will enable States and Territories A national advertising campaign is assessment of submissions currently
to deliver voice warnings to landline currently being undertaken in a number underway and a consolidated feasibility
phones based on the location of of regions, and a new website has been report is due for release by COAG soon.
the phone and to text messages launched, which contains information For further information on Emergency
to mobile phones based on the about the system’s capability, includes Alert, or to view the educational DVD
subscriber’s address. frequently asked questions and has online, visit www.emergencyalert.gov.au. ●
IN BRIEF
VOLUNTEER AWARd WINNER BEST NER ARTICLE NSW ‘SUPER dEPARTMENT’
Congratulations Chas Keys MAIE will now be able ABOLISHEd
Michael Gieules to continue writing with a new AIES The NSW Government has
from St John logo inscribed fountain pen, after abolished the overarching
Ambulance winning the best NER article for Department of Police
(NSW), the 2009-10. While all contributions to and Emergency Services.
2009-10 NER are of a high standard, Mr Keys’ Police and Emergency Services
recipient of the article, entitled Four Challenges for agencies will continue to report
AIES Young Emergency Management in Australia, directly to their respective Ministers;
Volunteer was judged by the National Executive however the recently established
Award. This as the most thought-provoking piece ‘super department’ will be dissolved.
annual of the past 12 months. Mr Keys’ article, This decision recognises the variety
award recognises a young person’s which appeared in the Autumn 2010 of reforms and differences in service
outstanding community contribution edition of NER, received widespread delivery requirements between those
through his or her work as a volunteer response and was the basis of Col. needed in the NSW Police Force and
emergency services member. Jarred Roger Jones’ address at the recent those in the emergency services. The
receives a sponsored voyage on sail Annual General Meeting. Col. Jones’ agencies will continue to work closely
training ship Young Endeavour to thoughts on the article, as well as his and co-operatively together as a cluster
develop skills in teamwork, leadership opinion on the challenges ahead for to achieve back office reforms allowing
and communication. Michael will emergency services in Australia, can the savings to be invested and benefit
also receive a 12 month honorary be read on page 14 of this edition frontline services. The Rural Fire Service
membership of the Institute. of NER. Association, which represents NSW’s
Nominations for the 2010-11 award 70,000 volunteer firefighters and staff,
will open soon and applications said the decision ensured the integrity
will be available on the Institute’s and autonomy of the Rural Fire Service
website www.aies.net.au was maintained.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response12
AIES HONOURS AND
AWARDS POLICY
At the Annual Meeting of General Council on 19 April 2010, the Board of
Directors voted to unanimously to adopt the following AIES Honours and Awards
Policy, subject to an additional clause to be included that deals with the Young
Endeavour Award.
H
onours and Awards processes are KEY RESPONSIBILITIES PROCESSING OF HONOURS ANd
a complex blend of national, state, ANd REPORTING AWARdS
local and organisational policies The General Secretary/Registrar is The following general procedures apply
and procedures that are almost specific responsible for processing of AIES to the processing of Honours and
to each award. This Policy clarifies these honours and awards to ensure Awards within AIES,
processes and provides appropriate the professionalism, integrity and National Register Procedures
guidance in relation to honours and awards. confidentiality of the process and that • As applicable, the General Secretary/
The General Council has emphasised the the process is appropriate to its standing Registrar will call nominations and indicate
importance of honours and awards to as a professional institute for emergency the process, correct form and closing
AIES members throughout the nation as services personnel in attracting public date of specific honours and awards.
a key component of the recognising and confidence. The General Secretary/ • All correspondence in and out from
acknowledging members of the Institute. Registrar is also responsible for the General Secretary/Registrar
reporting on the progressive status and will be entered into the Awards
AUTHORITIES periodic number of award processing correspondence-tracking file.
The AIES Honours and Awards Policy is activities, past and forthcoming, to the • Award nomination forms received by
issued under the authority of the General General Council. General Secretary/Registrar will be
Council. Other authorities include: Divisional Committees are responsible acknowledged by email to the sender
• Government House Canberra – for ensuring the observance of AIES as received
Letters Patent and Regulations Policy in regards to official honours • All nomination forms received by General
• AIES Code of Conduct and awards. They are also responsible Secretary/Registrar will be checked for
• Risk Management Standard – AS/NZS to ensure that the General Secretary/ accuracy and eligibility, including
4360 Registrar is advised in a timely manner • Spelling of name
• Compliance Programs – AS 3806 of forthcoming award eligibility and/ • AIES Membership status (eg financial)
• Complaints Handling – AS 4269 or suitability of members within • Start Date
• Governance Series – AS 8000 – AS 8004 their Division. • Other awards received through AIES
• AS 8000-2003 Good Governance or its sponsorship (where already
Principles STAKEHOLdER RELATIONSHIPS recorded)
• AS 8001-2003 Fraud and Corruption AIES respects official national Honours • Endorsement by the Divisional
Control and Awards, awards of allied and President
• AS 8003-2003 Corporate Social member services, sister agencies • Legibility
Responsibility and any other stakeholder in the • Other file checks can be used to
application of these AIES Honours validate and/or resolve disputations
AIM and Awards Policy regarding starting dates for members
The AIES Honours & Awards Policy is the and/or eligibility for an award.
means of bringing order and decorum to POLICY SCOPE • Once this information has been obtained,
specific award nomination and processing AIES Honours and Awards Policy applies the General Secretary/Registrar needs to
formalities and providing guidance to to the following: consult with the Divisional executive to
eligibility and suitability of nominees. • The Australian System of Honours comment on the suitability or otherwise
and Awards of the nominee for the award.
POLICY MANAGEMENT • State Government Honours and • The AIES nomination form and
AIES Honours and Awards are managed Awards confirmation of both eligibility and
by the General Secretary/Registrar. • United nations Honours and Awards suitability are the basis for the
Honours and Awards Management in AIES • Local Government Honours and recommendation to General Council
identifies strategies that are designed to Awards and the subsequent production and
guide and prescribe standards for the • Processing of Honours and Awards presentation of AIES certificates,
nomination for and processing of honours nominations medallions or other grants or awards or
and awards and providing guidance to • Presentation of Honours or Awards for progressing the AIES nomination of the
eligibility and suitability of nominees. • Wearing of Honours and Awards individual for an external honour or award.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response13
• AIES may offer Long Service Awards or the Secretary/Registrar who will liaise with of honours and awards to ensure that
years of service to the Institute as follows: the Division through its Secretary/Registrar. due value of, and credibility in, the AIES
• 10 Years Diligent The observance of these pathways awards system are maintained.
• 20 Years Meritorious of inquiry is essential to maintain
• 30 Years Dedicated confidentiality and avoid confusion, WEARING OF dECORATIONS ANd
• 40 Years Distinctive potential errors and misinformation. FURTHER INFORMATION
• 50 Years Outstanding Guidance for wearing of national
• Once prepared, certificates are COST SHARING FOR HONOURS decorations can be obtained at www.
forwarded to the AIES National ANd AWARdS itsanhonour.gov.au A full list of national
President for signing. Each year, the AIES General Council honours, including Bravery Awards, can
• Upon the return of the certificate, the will budget or seek sponsorship for an also be obtained from that website.
General Secretary/Registrar prepares estimated level of activity in relation
a letter to the receiving AIES Division to Honours and Awards in AIES. AUdIT ANd MONITORING
and this letter includes a tear off In consultation with the Divisional From time to time, but at least on a
portion as a receipt. This letter is sent Secretary/Registrar, the General biennial basis, the National President
with the dispatch of the award and Secretary/Registrar may negotiate a will task an appropriately experienced
accompanying certificates as appropriate. cost sharing arrangement with the AIES person, who may be independent of
• Receipts for awards that have been Divisional Committees, where honours AIES, to audit the AIES Honours and
dispatched to the AIES Divisions are and awards activity level exceeds the Awards in respect of adherence to the
signed and dated by the recipient of budget capacity of the General Council. principles and timeliness set down in
the Award at the presentation and this Policy and submit a report to the
are returned to General Secretary/ ENSURING QUALITY PROCESSING General Council.
Registrar for filing. The AIES General Secretary/Registrar will
• An annual list of recipients is provide Quality Assurance on all releases NOMINATION FORMS
produced and submitted as a report of honours and awards. If any item that AIES Nomination Forms can be
to General Council. is damaged deficient or incorrect in any downloaded from the website
divisional Procedures way is not to leave the General Secretary www.aies.net.au or obtained from
The Divisional Secretary/Registrar is for issue to awardees. the Division Registrar/Secretary. ●
responsible for:
• Monitoring, and being pro-active with, SPONSOREd AIES AWARdS
forthcoming entitlements for AIES and The General Council will consider
other Awards. opportunities for sponsorship of
• Ensuring that the nomination form is AIES awards where this is deemed
correctly filled in prior to submission and to be appropriate. The manner of
the correct signatures are obtained: acknowledgement of the sponsorship in
• Ensuring that all Honours and Awards the process of preparing and presenting
are presented to the recipient formally the award will be recommended to
and within one month of receipt of General Council on a case by case
the award in the Division. basis by the General Secretary
• Ensuring that the medals/certificates following negotiation with the
received are in good condition: intending sponsor.
• Ensuring that the medals/certificates
have the correct details listed (which CEREMONIAL AdVICE
includes spelling mistakes): RELATING TO AWARd
• Ensuring that all relevant medals/ PRESENTATIONS
certificates are received: Adherence to standards
• Obtaining appropriate signatures of dignity, decorum
and returning the receipt attached to and due protocol
the letter addressed to the General is necessary prior
Secretary/Registrar to proceeding
• Maintaining a register of Awards with formal
presented in the Division. presentation
• Ensuring the Australian Honours form
and accompanying testimonial are
completed where AIES assistance is
sought for submitting the nomination.
COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS
All Divisional inquiries relating to AIES
Award Process Flowchart
Honours and Awards will be directed to
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response14
AGM 2010
REPORTS
Melbourne, 19 April 2010
Financial Report
General Secretary/Registrar
ROBERT MAUL, LFAIES
*This reproduction of Mr Maul’s report has been edited slightly
to fit within the style and space of NER. The original report can
be found at www.aies.net.au
T
he Audited accounts for 2009 of the AIES National
body show a slight profit of $786.21. The loss last year
amounted to $3,470.34. Revenue totalled $14,526.53
and expenditure amounted to $13,845.32. As at 31 December
2009 the retained earnings of the company stood at $32,199.03
and investments with the Police Credit Unions in Adelaide and
Sydney, including interest, was $25,654.04.
These accounts do not disclose the financial positions of the
Divisions, which are audited separately by State and National Auditors.
The increase in revenue was attributable to the increase in
subscriptions fees, but correspondingly a numbers of members
did not renew their subscriptions during the fiscal year and this
trend was notable in all states. This is indeed a worrying trend and
needs to be urgently addressed by the National Board and the
Division Committees during this year, as decreasing membership
may impact upon the future viability of the AIES. The initiative to
place applications for membership of the Institute on our website
attracted 20 new applicants via this means of communication.
A number of Directors retired during the year, including Maurice
Massie from Tasmania, Alan Alder from Victoria, Alan Holley and
Graham Pretty from NSW and founding member Brian Lancaster
from South Australia. Having worked with many of these officers for
lengthy terms, I wish to place on record my sincere appreciation
for their dedicated service to the Institute over so many years.
During the year Countrywide Media, publisher of National
Emergency Response Journal, engaged an experienced journalist,
Kristi High, from Victoria as Editor. It is quite noticeable that the
magazine has considerably improved in quality and I wish to offer my
appreciation to Kristi for her dedication in producing a quality magazine
for our members. We are always looking for editorial contributions
to the journal, and I seek assistance of our members in contributing
articles. At the end of each year, a prize for the best article, is awarded
to the author. The Institute also produced a high quality members’
calendar and many requests were received for additional copies
Countywide Media also contributed $2000 to the Institute
to help defray our President’s travel costs. The support of this
company is appreciated by the Board. The AIES at this time
continues to be a viable financial entity at National and Division
levels, and hopefully with anticipated new applications for
membership the outlook at this stage is positive.
I now move adoption of my report and the financial accounts
and statements for 2009.
Winter2010 • National Emergency Response15
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES LIMITED
(A.C.N. 75 050 033 764 - Incorporated in N.S.W.)
AUDITED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2009
I certify that this is a true copy of all accounts required to be laid before the company at the Annual General Meeting, together
with a copy of every other document a copy of which is required by Section 316 to be laid before the Annual General Meeting.
ROBERT ARMANd MAUL
Secretary/General Registrar
19 April, 2010.
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES LIMITED
(A.B.N. 75 050 033 764 - Incorporated in N.S.W.)
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
Your directors submit the financial accounts of the company No significant change in the nature of these activities
for the year ended 31 December 2009. occurred during the year.
The net profit for the year amounted to $786.21.
The names of the directors in office at the date of this No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end
report are: of the financial period which significantly affected or may
Mr. John Rice Principal Executive Officer - significantly affect the operations of the company (with
National President exception to the matters referred to in the company’s Auditor’s
Mr. Alan Marshall Non Executive Report) the results of those operations, or the state of affairs
Mr. Brian F Lancaster Non Executive of the company in future financial years.
Mr. Michael Davis Non Executive Likely developments in the operations of the company and
Mr. Robert A. Maul Secretary / General Registrar the expected results of those operations in future financial
years have not been included in this report as the inclusion of
Directors in office since the start of the financial year who such information is likely to result in unreasonable prejudice
have resigned during the year are: to the company.
Mr Alan B. Alder No director has received or become entitled to receive,
Mr Maurice E. Massie during or since the financial year, a benefit because of a
Mr Allan Holley contract made by the economic entity, or a related body
Mr Graham Petty corporate with the director, a firm of which the director is a
member or an entity in which the director has a substantial
The principal activities of the company during the financial interest. This statement excludes a benefit included in the
year were to provide a professional body for the study of aggregate amount of emoluments received or due and
the roles and functions of emergency services throughout receivable by directors shown in the company’s accounts,
Australia, and to promote and advance professional standards prepared in accordance with Schedule 5 of the Corporations
in emergency services. Regulations, or the fixed
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES LIMITED
A.C.N. 75 050 033 764
AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION UNDER SECTION 307C OF THE
CORPORATIONS ACT 2001 TO THE DIRECTORS’ OF AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES LIMITED.
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 31st December, 2009 there have been
i. no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and
ii. no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
ROSS ANTHONY JAMES GATWOOd CHARTEREd ACCOUNTANT
Level 1, 7 Jannali Avenue, Jannali N.S.W. 2226.
Dated this 19th day of April, 2010
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