Streamlined approach gives Qld fire and emergency services the edge in disasters

Queensland’s disaster response standards have been overhauled to give state and local governments and emergency service agencies greater capacity to respond to natural and man-made events.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford today (Thursday) welcomed the release of the wide-ranging Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery Disaster Management Guideline, which will take effect in May.

Developed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) in conjunction with state and local government partner agencies, the document details the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in disaster management.

“When a disaster strikes, a range of agencies will mobilise to respond to the situation at a local, district and state level,” Mr Crawford said.

“In these situations, it is essential all parties thoroughly understand their roles and work together to provide a cohesive and coordinated response.

“This guideline clearly spells out the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in a user-friendly format, ensuring they can effectively work together before, during and after an event.

“It provides end-to-end steps and procedures to be carried out in the event of a disaster, including prevention strategies, planning and preparation, and response and recovery arrangements.”

Mr Crawford said the new guideline marked a significant improvement from the previous system that had been operating since 2013.    

“This substantial body of work consolidates more than 10 separate guidelines, streamlining and updating procedures to remove duplication and ensure they are relevant,” he said.

“The previous guidelines were developed in isolation of each other and focused on the specific functions of individual disaster management groups.

“This new approach involved contribution from all local, district and state agencies to address the needs of each group and ensure greater interoperability during a large-scale event.

“Importantly, the new guideline will be reviewed and updated regularly to maintain best practice and meet the evolving needs of Queensland’s disaster response requirements.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Deputy Commissioner Mark Roche said the guideline was a collaborative effort involving local, district and state disaster management groups.

“The release of this guideline is the culmination of almost one year of work involving multiple government departments and emergency service agencies to achieve a result that reflects the needs of Queensland,” he said.

“It is a valuable resource for all disaster management stakeholders to help the community prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from significant disasters.

“Disaster management is a team effort, and this guideline ensures all the relevant players are operating from the same book.”

Mr Roche said a suite of resources would be rolled out alongside the guideline to support disaster management agencies and staff.

“A toolkit made up of manuals, reference guides, forms, templates, maps, diagrams and handbooks will be available to use when needed,” he said.

“It is essential in Queensland to have the knowledge, tools and resources readily available to effectively respond before, during and after an event.

“This guideline means that whether a bushfire ignites in the south-east or severe flooding takes hold in the far north, Queensland’s highly trained disaster management agencies will be ready to answer the call.”

ENDS

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