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RESPONSE Official Journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services

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HOW THE SYDNEY SIEGE IMPACTED OUR PSYCHE Help the Salvos shield those in need.

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Print Post Approved EMERGENCY PP 337586/00067 RESPONSE DISCLAIMER Official Journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services Views expressed in this journal, unless specifically acknowledged, are not necessarily those of the Publisher, of the Institute, of its Council or of the Editor. Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response EDITORIAL RIGHTS The Editor of National Emergency Response reserves the right to grant permission to reproduce articles from this journal. Such Approval is hereby granted, unless a specific withdrawal of this permission is included in the article in question. CONTENTS The Author and the journal must be acknowledged in any such reprint. REGULAR COLUMNS MAILING AMENDMENTS OR ENQUIRIES For any amendments or enquiries regarding mailing, please email: 3 President’s Report [email protected] 29 Application Form NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS 31 AIES Contacts This publication is the official journal of the Australian Institute of Emergency Services. It is published by Countrywide Austral for the Australian Institute of Emergency Services and will be distributed FEATURES to its members. An illegal practice is presently operating where advertisements from some of our publications are used to produce unauthorised 4 Council collaborations – is this the new normal? publications and our advertisers are contacted for payment for the 6 Tassie awards wrap-up unauthorised advertisement. If you are approached to place an advertisement or with a request 8 Psychological impact of flooding for payment for another publication, you should verify that the advertisement has been authorised and establish the bona fides 16 Sydney siege case study of the company. The invoice and any correspondence should have the company 23 Crossing borders: postcards from India name, ABN, and an address (not just a PO Box) and you should ask for proof of publication. 26 Australian Institute of Emergency Services Young Volunteer Award If you do receive a request for an unauthorised advertisement, or have concerns about the bona fides of a company, we suggest 27 Eureka Climb 2015 you refer it to the Office of Fair Trading in your capital city. 32 Exercise Northern Shield 2015 PUBLISHER National Emergency Response is published by Countrywide Austral

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WEBSITE CONTENT The website has sections for each State as well as National Areas. If you have ideas for State Division content, please contact your State Registrar, for National content, email [email protected] Please be aware that all content must go past the National Registrar prior to web publication to ensure it meets FRONT COVER required guidelines. Two NSW Police officers stand guard at the Lindt Café, post siege, 17 December 2014. Photo by Wes Eggins

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The Australian & New Zealand Search and Rescue Conference brings together leading practitioners to discuss challenges of preparing, deploying and operating search and rescue. The aim of the conference is to facilitate sharing, knowledge and experience between Preparing • Deploying the different search and rescue agencies, enterprises, communities and professionals. Presentations will cover air, sea, land-based, urban, wilderness, domestic and overseas Operating Search and Rescue search and rescue. Jupiters Gold Coast The focus of the conference will be better integration to more effective search and rescue 6th May 2015 operations. The program will reflect just how much the search and rescue world has evolved, tackling issues ranging from the latest requirements for airborne search and www.sar.anzdmc.com.au rescue assets through to the latest in innovative life-saving training and techniques.

The Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference will be held at Jupiters Gold Coast on the 30 - 31 May 2016. The Conference will continue our support for the Disaster and Emergency DISASTER & Management community. You are invited to join us as we EMERGENCY focus on natural disasters with the conference theme of MANAGEMENT “EARTH; FIRE AND RAIN”. The Conference will feature multi-agency presentations covering all phases of emergency and disaster management – prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. There will be representation by fire, ambulance, emergency, rescue, volunteer, defence and health sectors. Presentations will facilitate discussion and provide a spotlight on developing leaders in Disaster and Emergency Community.

Joint initiative of:

Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference 30 – 31 May 2016 I Jupiters Gold Coast I www.anzdmc.com.au

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Don’t miss the AIES Conference Send your submission to [email protected] 22 May 2015 See page 6 & 7 by Friday 13 November. The best submission, as voted by the National Council, receives a gold pen award at each year’s Annual General Meeting. 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Steve Jenkins MAIES PRESIDENT’S REPORT National President

t is with great pleasure that I present committees for specific purposes, and this, my inaugural AIES National requires us to develop a Strategic Plan IPresident’s Report. for the organisation as a matter of priority. I am honoured that my fellow National To achieve this, a Strategic Plan Committee Council members have elected me to has been established. Joining me on this the position for a three-year period. committee are National Treasurer David I would like to thank Vice President Mack (SA) and President of the Victorian Scott Milne for filling in as the National Division and former National President President recently, and I echo his kind Alan Marshall. As part of the planning words and gratitude to retiring General process, all AIES members will be invited Registrar Bob Maul who has committed to have input and I strongly encourage you almost four decades to this organisation. all to have your say when the time comes. I hope Bob and his wife now enjoy his Non-voting Directors can now be well-earned retirement years. appointed to the National Council. I am As indicated by Scott in the last edition pleased to advise the appointment of our were continually expanding and requiring of the National Emergency Response first non-voting Director, Associate Professor more and more attention individually. Journal, there are a number of new faces Brett Aimers, who is the Assistant Director Accordingly, with the approval of the new on the AIES senior executive. Further of the Protective Security Training College, Constitution, the National Council has information on the National Council which is part of Emergency Management separated the role of sub-editor from other members is available on the AIES Australia within the Australian Government’s duties previously performed solely by Bob. website. This provides the organisation Attorney-General’s Department. Brett Another duty that now stands alone is with an opportunity to progress with has also been included as a member of Company Secretary. Peter Schar, recently some new ideas in mind, some of which the Strategic Plan Committee. retired from the South Australia Police, has have already been implemented. I will In further progressing initiatives to been appointed to this role, and he has expand on these, and in future journals. improve the AIES, the National Council relinquished his position as President of the As Scott advised, a new Constitution has endorsed the inclusion of a male and South Australia Division to concentrate more and associated Rules for AIES were female youth representative on each of the fully on Company Secretary duties. Peter’s approved at the Annual General Meeting State Divisional Management Committees. replacement as President for the South in Sydney on 22 May 2015. These Volunteers are integral to emergency Australia Division is Brian Mattner, also an documents contain the necessary management and the promotion and officer with the South Australia Police and provisions to allow the senior executive to support of young people being involved former President of the South Australia progress initiatives in a much more timely in emergency management is considered Division. I welcome and congratulate Brian and fluent manner than was possible vital to ensure volunteering continues into on his re-appointment to this position. under the previous Articles of Association. the future. I encourage any AIES members This year’s Australia and New Zealand My appreciation goes to Queensland under the age of 25 who are interested Disaster Management Conference member Mick Davis in particular, and in representing youth volunteers to (ANZDMC) held at the Gold Coast was a those who assisted him, for his efforts over approach their respective state division. huge success with just under 500 delegates a number of years in drafting the new I am privileged to be nominated by the attending. In 2016 the Australian Institute Constitution and Rules. These documents National Council as the AIES representative of Emergency Services will again join the are available on the AIES website. on the Australian Emergency Management Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, Australia Specific provisions of the new Volunteer Forum (AEMVF). The AEMVF is & New Zealand Mental Health Association, Constitution require the National Council facilitated by the Australian Government and the Association for Sustainability in to establish a Finance Committee, through Emergency Management Australia Business to deliver the EARTH, FIRE and and a Risk and Audit Committee, to and comprises representatives from a RAIN-themed conference, which addresses oversee AIES activities. Progress towards wide variety of volunteer organisations planning, response and the introduction of establishing these committees was made across Australia. I will provide more innovative techniques in management of during a recent meeting of the National information on the AEMVF and their disasters, emergencies and hazards. Further Council. Further advice in relation to activities in future editions of this journal. details are available page 2 of this journal. these committees will be provided once With the retirement of Bob Maul, the I believe the future for AIES is bright, membership is finalised and the Terms National Emergency Response Journal has and I look forward to reporting in further of Reference for each is drafted. a new sub-editor, Ron Jones, President of National Emergency Response Journals on The new Constitution will allow also the Tasmania Division. This was one of the the successful implementation of additional the National Council to create other many tasks undertaken by Bob; tasks that initiatives that are in the pipeline. l

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 4 COUNCIL COLLABORATIONS – IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL? OPINION

This peer-reviewed paper was presented at the Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Baw Baw Shire. Management Conference in Broadbeach, QLD, on 3-5 May 2015. By: Emergency Management Network Solutions Principal consultant This paper has been slightly edited to meet the style of the National Doug Caulfield, OAM, RFD, MIAEM, MIAES Emergency Response Journal.

he catastrophic impacts of the responder agencies and incident By facilitating this engagement Victorian bushfires in February of management operating procedures. with the multi-agency EMT during the T 2009 unleashed a wave of reforms The commissioner is also charged with the concept of operations planning phase, to emergency management procedures responsibility to coordinate data collection incident controllers have, at their not seen since the response to The Ash and impact assessment processes and, disposal, representatives of agencies Wednesday Fires more than two and a providing advice to the Minister on any capable of input of vital information half decades before (February 1984). The matter relating to the functions of the and observations that can lead to outcomes of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Emergency Management Commissioner. a consolidated assessment of the Royal Commission resulted (among other Whilst all of these functions present plan under consideration. No one things) in the introduction of a revised Act of significant challenges in terms of incident controller could (or should) Parliament, The Emergency Management change management across the entire be expected to have such a level of in- Act 2013, the purpose of which was to emergency management sector, there depth comprehension of things such establish new governance arrangements are two in particular that have been the as community culture, geographic for emergency management in Victoria, catalyst for change opportunity within influences, historical precedent and repeal the Fire Services Commissioner local government’s involvement in a good appreciation of that particular Act, 2010 and consequently amend relation to its ‘traditional’ role. They are community resilience capability as legislation and certain other Acts1. consequence management and incident is possible when drawing on the One of the most significant outcomes management operating procedures. collective knowledge and experience to emerge from this major review of Consequence management now of representatives from local, key arrangements in Victoria was the formation assumes a high priority in incident control stakeholder agencies. This is of particular of Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) consideration. In order to fully embrace benefit when (as can be the case in and the consequential appointment of an the ramifications of consequence most prolonged events) an incident Emergency Management Commissioner. management, the Emergency controller can be drawn from outside Among the key deliverables mandated Management Commissioner (through the area under threat. in the new Act2, the Emergency Emergency Management Victoria) issued It is this principle that has opened Management Commissioner’s updated operating instructions in relation the door to change in the way that responsibilities include such functions as to Emergency Management Teams local government can participate in the control of response activities (including (EMTs)3. Simply put, the role of the emergency management process. This the appointment of a State Response EMT is to enhance decision making by change presented real opportunity for Controller for Class 1 emergencies in ‘enriching’ discussion during the concept local government to significantly improve Victoria), community warnings about of operations stage of planning therefore its ability to plan and execute relief fires, consequence management, leading to more informed decision making and recovery activities based on ‘real recovery, operational standards for during the Incident Action Plan formulation. time’ and (potentially) more accurate

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 5

Bass Coast. OPINION

seeking to maintain capability to enable the expectations of both legislation and constituents to be met. There is some thought being given to ensuring that these simultaneous Wellington. efforts are somehow regularly monitored to ensure that cross-referral is possible situational awareness than has been The work being carried out by the six during the course of the individual project possible in the past. councils that constitute the Gippsland life. This initiative would lead to better To have local government embedded Emergency Management Region in channels of information sharing across in the EMT at incident level will not Victoria in terms of the production of council developments and improve co- only be of major benefit to the incident a set of universal procedures during ordination of effort which potentially would controller, who will be seeking informed response and recovery addresses several yield benefit well beyond the collaboration input from the EMT membership, but of these significant challenges. or cluster group of participating councils. it will also provide the ability for local Firstly, having a set of agreed, Time will tell if there is an appetite for a government to ‘extract’ information from documented universal practices enables mechanism to enable individual cluster or briefings and discussions at the incident councils to ‘share’ resources, particularly collaboration projects to be synchronised control level. This information will be when (as is the case in most instances in the future (both at the application and vital for relief and recovery planning as in the region) an event is prolonged and implementation stage) but one thing well as decision making at the municipal usually encroaches on more than one that does remain constant is the never coordination centre. The potential for municipality at a time, or, from one to ending quest for increasing capability improved timeliness of this process another in a linear progression. and capacity within an environment of cannot be understated. Secondly, by being able to rely on funding or resource tension. Post incident reviews of most emergency support from adjoining municipalities, From the point of view of the events continually highlight the need to there is a reduced requirement to current project being undertaken in improve inter-agency communication and maintain a larger number of trained and the Gippsland Region of Victoria, (and, cooperation. Past practice of establishing capable staff, and while this is not ideal; for the other projects underway across multiple control and coordination it is an unfortunate reality given the the State) there is no doubt about the centres has presented difficulties in both current fiscal restraint that most councils level of commitment on the part of communication and liaison between are implementing. the councils concerned to achieve the locations as the sharing of intelligence is Thirdly, this concept of interoperability collective goal of the group which is to both labour intensive and places excessive and a common understanding of assemble a set of agreed practices that demands on emergency management custom and practice will ensure will provide universal standard operating resources. These issues are particularly maximum effectiveness when one procedures in preparation for, during, prevalent within rural and regional councils council is re-enforced by another. Hand- and after any major emergency event. where staffing levels, the ability to maintain over/take-over is streamlined through From the Gippsland perspective, this operational readiness, and the tyranny of the mutual understanding of the task process has already provided benefits distance can be significant challenges. to be undertaken and service capability across the region in the form of a similar As a result, the quality and timeliness of is improved by virtue of continuity of set of SOPs for the establishment and information provided to local government operation with minimal interruption. operation of Emergency Relief Centres that on which to plan and act in the best The Municipal Association of Victoria have been successfully used on numerous interests of the community has sometimes recently convened a workshop of occasions. Given the current number of been compromised. As alluded to collaboration groups operating across collaboration and cluster projects underway earlier, overshadowing these concerns is Victoria and it was significant to note that in Victoria, one might argue that this might the diminishing resource base and the there were approximately ten groups herald the arrival of ‘The new normal’. l negative impact this has on the ability of or clusters of councils throughout the councils to continually maintain a trained State who were working on a variety of 1 Emergency Management Act 2013 2 Emergency Management Act 2013, Part 4, and effective emergency management projects. Most projects were designed Section 32 work force in sufficient number to meet to reduce the demand on individual 3 Emergency Management Team Arrangements response agency expectations. council staffs and, at the same time, for all emergencies (October 2014) EMV

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 6 TASSIE AWARDS WRAP-UP Highlighting and recognising the outstanding efforts of our emergency service personnel. Ron Jones LFAIES Tasmanian President FEATURE STORY

Back (L-R) PJ Parssey award nominees David Purcell, Ron Jones, Gary Linnell, Ronald Denne (RSL award photo bomber), Richard Elliott, John Duncombe. Front (L-R) Bruce Corbett and Katrina Chivers.

ach year the Tasmanian Division of the AIES runs and supports Ea number of awards around the state. The Emergency Service Volunteer Worker of the Year is run by the Tasmanian Broadcasters Radio Stations. This award recognises the valuable work of the emergency service volunteers in their regions. The five regional awards are promoted through the group’s eight radio stations around the state. Winners included Richard Elliott from Kentish SES Unit, John Duncombe from Burnie SES Unit and Wynyard Fire Brigade, Gary Linnell from Eaglehawk Neck Fire Brigade and Ambulance Tasmania, David Purcell from Scottsdale Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service, and (L-R) Ron Jones and Gary Linnell. Dianne Coon from Ambulance Tasmania

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 7 FEATURE STORY FEATURE

(L-R) RSL Emergency Service Worker award nominees Rod Warrington, Ronald Denne, Brian Randall and RSL Vice President Terry Roe.

(L-R) AIES President Tasmania Ron Jones, RSL Emergency Worker of the Year (L-R) RACT representative Kathy Stocks, PJ Parssey Memorial Award winner winner Rod Warrington and RSL Vice President Kerry Roe. Gary Linnell, Betty Parssey and AIES President Tasmania Ron Jones. at Strahan, who won the 20th 7XS Betty Parssey, Peter’s widow, and a travel Tasmanian RSL Vice President Terry Emergency Service Volunteer Worker voucher presented by sponsor RACT Roe presented the three nominees of the Year Award. representative Kathy Stocks. with an RSL plaque and announced Each of these winners were In 2013, the AIES Tasmania formed Rod Warrington as this year’s winner automatically nominated for the 25th a partnership with the Tasmanian of the RSL Emergency Worker of annual PJ Parssey Memorial Award RSL to promote and support all the Year. along with Katrina Chivers from the emergency service personnel to become All of the volunteers in this year’s Tasmanian Police at Burnie who affiliated members of their local RSL sub awards were presented with a certificate was nominated directly. This special branch. This partnership has now grown from Volunteering Tasmania in award was established in 1990 and with the Tasmanian RSL wanting to recognition of their achievements. named in recognition of the late recognise the efforts of Tasmanian A favourite award each year is the Peter Parssey, a long serving board emergency service personnel by having Murphy Award, which recognises a member. It is supported by RACT their own award – the Spirit of the Anzac member for the ‘blooper’ of year. and open to all emergency service Emergency Service Worker of the Year. In our line of work, a little bit of humour personnel and groups to recognise their Nominees for this award included goes a long way. This could be awarded outstanding efforts to their service and Rod Warrington from the Tasmanian for a silly mistake or slip of the tongue. their community. Police, Ronald Denne from Longford Some great silly prizes are awarded. This year’s winner of the 2015 PJ Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service We don’t have any nominations for this Parssey Memorial Award was Gary and Brian Randall from Wynyard award as yet, but there is still time to Linnell, who was presented a trophy by Fire Brigade. dob in a mate! l

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 8

FEATURE STORY PSYCHOLOGICAL A QLD Police Officer inspects flooding at Queens Wharf, Brisbane, QLD. © IMPACT OF Jono Haysom, 2011 This peer-reviewed paper was FLOODING presented at the Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference in Stress during the rebuilding phase influenced Broadbeach, QLD, on 3-5 May 2015. This paper has been slightly edited mental health following two Queensland flood to meet the style of the National disasters more than the event itself. Emergency Response Journal. By Kelly M Dixon, Ian M Shochet and Jane Shakespeare-Finch from the Queensland University of Technology School of Psychology and Counselling

looding is the most common and although resilience (a brief transient participants attributed their psychological deadly kind of natural disaster, stress reaction followed by stable symptoms to flood-related stress factors F accounting for 48.2 per cent of functioning) is the most common that continued during the long rebuilding reported natural disasters and affecting psychological outcome (Bonanno et al., phase, which in many cases lasted over 32 million people globally in 2013 2007). A number of variables have been a year. They identified primary flood- (Crabtree, 2013; Guha-Sapir et al., 2014). identified as potential risk or protective related stressors such as danger from Floods are very common in Australia, and factors, including severity of disaster the floodwaters, damage to property and 2008 and 2011 saw widespread flooding exposure (Neria et al., 2008), subjective possessions, evacuation, issues related across the country. In early 2008 around trauma experience (Ozer et al., 2008), to being displaced, and living conditions two-thirds of the state of Queensland was self-efficacy (Benight & Bandura, 2004; while homes were damaged. They also affected by floodwaters and Queensland Hirschel & Schulenberg, 2009), and identified secondary stress factors such was again severely flooded in 2011, prior psychiatric history (McMillen et al., as disputes with insurance companies, including the state capital, Brisbane. The 2002; Ozer et al., 2008). However, it is builders and other agencies during this 2011 events were even more devastating not clear which of these factors are most repair phase. However, few quantitative in terms of lives lost and property damage. important in predicting positive and studies have investigated the impact The 2010-2011 series of floods and negative psychological outcomes. of the length of time taken to rebuild cyclones have been estimated to have In addition, while it is clear that it can homes, or the impact of secondary affected about 1.7 million Queensland take many months for life to return to stressors during the aftermath period. adults in some way, with 24,000 adults normal following a disaster, few studies There is a well-established literature reporting persisting distress five months have investigated the psychological causally linking both episodic and later (Clemens et al., 2013). impact of the protracted rebuilding chronic stress with depression, in Posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and recovery phase in the aftermath. A particular (Hammen, 2005). While most and anxiety are all commonly reported qualitative study of the Carlisle, UK, 2005 people who are exposed to a negative following disasters (Norris et al., 2002), flood (Carroll et al., 2010) found that life event do not become depressed,

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 9 FEATURE STORY FEATURE

Mackay floods, 2008. © Leanne Last there is strong evidence that the majority of episodes of depression are preceded by a stressful life event. Further, there is evidence that there is a strong relationship between the number and severity of stressful events and depression (Kendler et al., 1998). The research regarding chronic or Kids play in their flooded street near Mackay, 2008. ongoing stress, while receiving less research attention than episodic stress STUDY 1 occurred on the day of the flood and being hampered by difficulties The first study was a qualitative study and those that occurred during with definitions, provides evidence that of people affected by the 2008 flood the aftermath. Day of the flood chronic stress may be a more potent that impacted the northern Australian stressors included three dimensions: predictor of depression than acute stress town of Mackay. This study has been frightening experiences, worry (Hammen, 2005; McGonagle & reported on in more detail in Dixon et al. about others and feeling helpless. Kessler, 1990). (2015), and only relevant aspects will Table 1 provides illustrative quotes Stress (both acute and chronic) has be summarised here. The aim was to for each of these dimensions. been found to impact negatively on explore what it was like to live through All names are pseudonyms. mental and physical health. Current the flood, with a focus on the aspects Table 1. Day of the flood stressors. neurobiological understanding of of the flood and its aftermath that Frightening “I think that was the the physiological stress response were particularly stressful or helpful for experiences worst part, that strong suggests that very intense or prolonged affected people. current. So the worst, stress can result in inflammatory the most stressful processes in the brain that affect brain STUDY 1 METHOD thing was, yeah, I functioning and contribute to the onset Semi-structured interviews were thought we may well or maintenance of some psychiatric conducted 18-20 months post-flood, die.” (Patricia, 52) illnesses such as posttraumatic with 16 adults (10 females and 6 stress disorder, major depression, males). Participants ranged in age Worry about “The first thing the cat anxiety disorders and schizophrenia from 31 to 82 years, with a mean others did was jump down (García‑Bueno et al., 2008). age of 50.25 years (SD = 15.22). (including and start swimming The current research aimed to Participants were asked what they pets) back into the house… investigate the factors predicting found to be most stressful during their It’s really hard when psychological outcomes following flood experience; what support and you’ve got pets.” two Australian floods using a mixed services they found to be helpful or (Tracey, 31) methods design. The first study was a unhelpful; how the flood affected their Feeling “I suppose cause it qualitative study that aimed to explore psychological health and well-being; helpless was such a shock, which aspects of the flood and its and what strategies they found to be because there wasn’t aftermath affected people found to helpful in coping with the stress caused a warning and nobody be most stressful. The second study, by the flood. knew what was going using a questionnaire developed from on, it was sort of the themes identified in the first study, STUDY 1 RESULTS what do we do? Does investigated the role of flood-related The following is a summary of the anyone know, what’s stressors in predicting posttraumatic results regarding flood-related stress going on? We need stress symptoms and depression, while factors. Thematic analysis identified someone in charge.” a range of known predictive factors were two constituent themes concerning (Melissa, 33) held constant. flood related stressors: stressors that

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 10

Most participants described some aspect The most commonly mentioned aftermath STUDY 2 of the aftermath when asked what the stressors comprised eight dimensions. The aim of this study was to investigate most stressful aspect of the flood was. Table 2 provides some illustrative quotes. which factors best predicted psychological Table 2. Aftermath stressors. outcomes 7-9 months after the Brisbane 2011 flood and 3.5 years after the Mackay Insurance “My insurance company were a bit slow to come to the rescue. 2008 flood. In particular, this study aimed issues And they made me get quotes for absolutely everything. I had to to investigate the role of factors that write down every single thing that had been destroyed from you occurred in the aftermath of the floods know, like a tablecloth to a lawnmower and I had to then get that in predicting outcomes. In order to do quoted on by the big stores.” (Melissa, 33) this a questionnaire was developed using Clean up “There was a big thick mould all over the ceiling and all on the themes identified in the qualitative study. carpets. The sewerage had also backed up… So I think the Principal components analysis separated biggest problem with that was the mammoth clean-up process, the flood-related stressors into two factors: and things weren’t just wet.” (Rachel, 32) aftermath stress and insurance experience. Other independent variables were chosen Problems “The ongoing thing of what are [the builders] going to be like because they had been shown to influence with rebuild when I talk to them this time? You know, they haven’t done outcomes in previous research: severity this right… I think the time it took to get back into the house of disaster exposure, perceived trauma, was probably the thing. It just went on and on and on and on.” prior mental health, and self-efficacy. (Rachel, 32) FEATURE STORY The specific hypothesis to be Disruption to “We have a leasing business, our main source of income you tested was as follows: Symptoms of normal life could say, and I had a small [suitcase] full of documents. And that posttraumatic stress and depression will nearly drove me nuts keeping up with those and making sure be predicted by post-flood factors such they didn’t get in a mess [during multiple moves].” (Doug, 82) as severity of perceived stress in the aftermath of the flood and stress related Failure of “They don’t understand what it’s like. They don’t understand to the insurance claim process when expected how much work it is and say well, at least you’ve got insurance. controlling for known predisposing and support So yes, I have got insurance so that’s good. However they flood-related predictors such as flood don’t understand the work that’s involved in sorting it all out.” severity, perceived trauma, age, gender, (Darlene, 44) prior mental health, and self-efficacy. Loss of “If you’d had the time it would have been nice to sit down and possessions try and resurrect some of the photos… No money can return STUDY 2 METHOD those memories.” (Bill, 56) Participants: the sample comprised 158 participants: 65 from Mackay (46 female Relocation “We were out of the unit for about three months. We had six moves... and 19 male) and 93 from Brisbane It was stressful moving from one place to another.” (Mavis, 82) (66 female and 27 male). The mean age Living in “We had nowhere else to go. We had no running water, we was 50.98 years (SD = 14.28, range inadequate didn’t have proper toilet facilities, it was awful.” (Patricia, 52) 21‑87). Participants were recruited through conditions letterbox drops in Brisbane 7-9 months after the 2011 flood and doorknocking in Mackay three and a half years post- flood. An online version was distributed via email to community and university networks. There were no significant differences between the two samples on any dependent or demographic variables.

MEASURES: Posttraumatic stress symptoms: The Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R, Weiss & Marmar, 1997). The IES-R assesses posttraumatic stress symptoms during the last seven days in relation to a particular traumatic event and has three subscales: Avoidance (eight items eg “I stayed away from reminders about it.”); Intrusions (seven items eg “Pictures about it popped into my mind.”) and Hyperarousal (seven items Queensland floods, 2011. © Brad Marsellos eg “I was jumpy and easily startled.”).

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 11

It has 22 items measured on a five- Perceived trauma: Participants were and severity of flood exposure (water point Likert scale from 0 (not at all) to asked to rate how traumatic they height and repair time). Together these 4 (extremely). found the flood experience to be on a control variables entered in the first Depression: The Depression Anxiety seven‑point scale from (0) “Not at all” step explained 28 per cent of the Stress Scales (short form) (DASS-21, to (6) “Extremely”. posttraumatic stress variance and 27 Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). This scale : per cent of the variance in depression

General perceived self-efficacy STORY FEATURE comprises 21 items (seven of which The General Perceived Self-Efficacy scores. The addition of aftermath stress assess depression) scored on a four- Scale (GPSE, Scholz et al., 2002). It is and insurance experience added 9 point Likert-style scale from 0 (did not a 10-item scale using a four-point Likert- per cent to the posttraumatic stress apply to me at all over the last week) to style scale, ranging from 0 (Not true) explained variance (increasing the total 3 (applied to me very much or most of to 3 (Exactly true). Example items to 37 per cent) and a non-significant the time over the past week). Example are: “I can always manage to solve per cent of the variance in the case items include ‘‘I found it difficult to work difficult problems if I try hard enough,” of depression. up the initiative to do things,” and “I felt and “I can remain calm when facing Aftermath stress was the strongest that life was meaningless”. difficulties because I can rely on my predictor of posttraumatic stress Aftermath stress: Flood Experience coping abilities.” symptoms, as shown in the plot of Questionnaire (FEQ, developed by Prior mental health: “In the months semi-partial correlations in Figure 1. the current authors from dimensions prior to the flood I was suffering from Prior mental health and insurance identified in the qualitative study). This depression, anxiety or mental illness experience also significantly predicted factor assessed stress during the clean- (Scale of 0-5).” posttraumatic stress symptoms, but up and rebuilding phases after the perceived trauma, floodwater height floods. Item examples included “During STUDY 2 RESULTS and repair time did not. Aftermath the months following the flood I felt Hierarchical multiple regressions stress played a lesser role in predicting exhausted,” and “The clean-up following were performed in order to test the depression, but it approached the flood was stressful.” Items were rated hypothesis. The factors entered into significance and was a stronger predictor on a six-point Likert-style scale from 0 the first step were those found to than either floodwater height or (not at all) to 5 (extremely). A “Not be key predictors of psychological perceived trauma. Prior mental health, applicable” option was also included. outcomes in past research. These repair time and self-efficacy were the Insurance experience: FEQ. This included age, gender, prior mental strongest predictors of depression, factor assessed the degree to which health, perceived trauma, self-efficacy as shown in Figure 2. participants found the insurance claim Figure 1. Semi-partial correlations for the predictors of posttraumatic stress. process to be stressful. Item examples 0.070 included “My insurance company’s staff were helpful”; “I was given conflicting 0.060 information about what to do regarding 0.050 insurance;” and “Insurance adequately 0.040 covered my losses.” Items were rated on 0.030 the same six-point scale described for 0.020 Aftermath Stress.

Insurance coverage: Participants Semi-partial correlation 0.010 were asked “What level of insurance 0.000 did you have at the time of the flood?”.

Response options were: “Fully insured”; Insurance* Repair time Self-efficacy “Not insured at all or inadequately Water height Aftermath*** Perceived trauma insured”; or “Believed you were Prior mental health** *p<.05, **p<.01, ***p< .001 covered but the insurance company Figure 2. Semi-partial correlations for the predictors of depression. rejected the claim”. 0.050 Water height: Participants 0.045 were asked: “At the time of the flood, 0.040 how much water came into your 0.035 home?” Five response options ranged 0.030 from “No significant inundation to 0.025 0.020 home” to “Over 50cm water through 0.015 entire home”. 0.010 Repair time: Participants were asked Semi-partial correlation 0.005 “The time to repair your home to 0.000 satisfactory standard was: “More than six months”, “One to six months”, “Less Aftermath Insurance Water height Repair time** Self-efficacy* than one month”, No repairs required”, Perceived trauma or “Not applicable”. Prior mental health** *p<.05, **p<.01, ***p< .001

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 12

Royal Australian Air Force personnel assisted communities in the clean up after the 2011 floods. Playground at Colleges Crossing, Ipswich in South East Queensland, 2011.

One-way between groups analyses of (Norris & Uhl, 1993) found a mediating suggests that it is important that assistance variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni posthoc role for hurricane-related chronic stress continues for as long as there is a need. tests were performed to determine if there on the relationship between acute stress Rebuilding from a natural disaster can take were any differences in outcomes for the and outcomes, and (Burnett et al., 1997) months or even years, and disaster victims people who were fully insured, uninsured found that disruption during the rebuilding can feel increasingly reluctant to ask for

FEATURE STORY and those who had their claims rejected. phase following a hurricane predicted help as time goes on. Study 1 participants Having an insurance claim rejected was poor mental health outcomes. Despite who still had uncompleted repairs 18 associated with higher rates of depression, evidence that disaster aftermath stress can months post-flood spoke of hiding this F(1,157) = 3.46, p=.028, and the PTSD affect outcomes, it is not considered in fact from friends for fear of being seen symptom of avoidance, than being fully the majority of disaster research to date. as not coping, or complaining. This also insured, F(1,157) = 3.05, p=.048. This study found two ways in which suggests there is a role for community People who were not insured at all did insurance company practices can affect recovery personnel to raise community not differ significantly from either group. disaster victims’ mental health. Firstly, awareness about the protracted nature people who expected that their homes of disaster recovery and ongoing need DISCUSSION were fully insured but had their claims for emotional and instrumental support. The severity of stress in the protracted rejected were significantly more likely In addition to co-ordinating volunteer rebuilding phase following the floods was to be depressed or have the PTSD helpers, as occurred in Brisbane, the strongest predictor of posttraumatic symptom of avoidance than people who government agencies could further stress symptoms, even after controlling received an insurance payout. Secondly, assist community recovery by publicising for a number of other variables including a stressful experience with an insurance messages about effective helping, objective disaster severity and subjective company predicted posttraumatic stress identifying vulnerable people and areas, trauma. The predictors of depression symptoms, even when other variables and assisting people with finding temporary appear to be more complex, although were controlled for. Both findings have accommodation. A number of Study 1 aftermath stress was a stronger predictor significant implications for the insurance participants described difficulties finding than the events that occurred on the industry, and suggest that changes in alternate accommodation. Co‑ordination day of the flood. Interestingly, the length policies and practices could reduce of tradespeople so that they are not of time for homes to be repaired was a psychological distress following disasters. attempting to work on too many jobs key predictor of depression, suggesting The finding that the insurance claim at one time could reduce unnecessary that the length of time living in disrupted process was a significant stressor is rebuilding delays, and advocacy circumstances was associated with the supported by qualitative data from Study 1. or assistance, where needed, with development of depression. This finding Interviewees who found their insurance insurance companies and tradespeople supports previous research on the links company to be helpful described less might also reduce undue stress. between chronic stress and depression stress overall, whereas those who had Recommendations that have the (Hammen, 2005). difficulty with the insurance process were potential to reduce undue stress caused by The finding that aftermath stress more likely to describe the flood aftermath the insurance claim process include having predicted poor psychological outcomes period as extremely stressful. Some of the streamlined procedures that apply in the was corroborated by the qualitative data difficulties Study 1 participants described case of declared disaster situations; training and some aspects have also been found included long and stressful telephone staff in these procedures; and providing in previous research. Study 1 participants conversations, being given conflicting claimants with clear, easy to follow typically described some element of information by different insurance instructions on how to make their claim. aftermath stress when asked what they company staff members, waiting for the Study 1 participants reported that allowing found to be the most stressful aspect of insurance company to make a decision, photos of flooded items as evidence so the flood, as did the majority of Study 2 insurance companies not covering houses contaminated items could be removed participants. Post-disaster stressors have since the flood, or not being adequately from the house quickly was allowed by been found to impact psychological compensated for their losses. The finding some insurance companies but not others. outcomes previously. For example, that rebuilding time predicts depression Having to wait for an assessor to visit the

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 13 Table 3. Summary of Implications for Community Recovery and Insurance Companies García-Bueno, B., Caso, J. R., & Leza, J. C. (2008). Stress as a neuroinflammatory Implications for community recovery: condition in brain: Damaging and protective • assistance can be required for a year or more mechanisms. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral • raise community awareness about ongoing need for practical help and Reviews, 32(6), 1136-1151. emotional support Guha-Sapir, D., Hoyois, P., & Below, R. (2014). • co-ordinating volunteer helpers Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2013: STORY FEATURE • publicising messages about effective helping The Numbers and Trends. Brussels. • identifying vulnerable people and areas Hammen, C. (2005). Stress and depression. • assisting people with finding temporary accommodation Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, • co-ordination of tradespeople 293-319. • advocacy with insurance companies and tradespeople Hirschel, M. J., & Schulenberg, S. E. (2009). Implications for insurance companies: Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the Mississippi Gulf • clearly worded policies that reduce uncertainty about eligibility Coast: General self-efficacy’s relationship to PTSD • streamlined procedures that apply in the case of declared disaster situations prevalence and severity. Psychological Services, • training staff in these procedures 6(4), 293-303. doi: 10.1037/a0017467 • providing claimants with clear, easy to follow instructions on how to make their claim Kendler, K. S., Karkowski, L. M., & Prescott, • allowing photos of flooded items as evidence C. A. (1998). Stressful life events and major • not requiring quotes for all items in cases where all household contents have depression: Risk period, long-term contextual been lost threat, and diagnostic specificity.Journal of • providing adequate training for staff so conflicting information is minimised Nervous & Mental Disease. , 186(11), 661-119. Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). property before the clean-up was an added References Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Sydney: Psychology Foundation stress and made cleaning more difficult and Benight, C. C., & Bandura, A. (2004). of Australia. risky. Similarly, requiring quotes for all items Social cognitive theory of posttraumatic in cases where all household contents have recovery: The role of perceived self-efficacy. McGonagle, K., & Kessler, R. (1990). Chronic stress, acute stress, and depressive symptoms. been lost added an unnecessary burden Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(10), American Journal of Community Psychology, to disaster victims. Additionally, providing 1129-1148. 18(5), 681-706. doi: 10.1007/bf00931237 adequate training for staff so conflicting Bonanno, G. A., Galea, S., Bucciarelli, McMillen, C., North, C., Mosley, M., & Smith, E. information is minimised would reduce a A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The (2002). Untangling the psychiatric comorbidity of considerable amount of unnecessary stress posttraumatic stress disorder in a sample of flood on victims. Table 3 summarises these role of demographics, resources, and life stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical survivors. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 43(6), recommendations for community recovery Psychology, 75(5), 671-682. 478-485. doi: 10.1053/comp.2002.34632 personnel and insurance companies. Burnett, K., Ironson, G., Benight, C., Wynings, Neria, Y., Nandi, A., & Galea, S. (2008). A strength of this research was that it C., Greenwood, D., Carver, C. S., … Post‑traumatic stress disorder following sampled people from two different sites, Schneiderman, N. (1997). Measurement disasters: A systematic review. Psychological and despite there being some differences of perceived disruption during rebuilding Medicine, 38(4), 467-480. between the two flood events, the following Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Norris, F. H., Friedman, M. J., & Watson, P. J. hypotheses were supported in both Traumatic Stress, 10(4), 673-681. doi: (2002). 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part II. samples. This is important because the 10.1002/jts.2490100413 Summary and implications of the disaster mental majority of disaster research focuses on Carroll, B., Balogh, R., Morbey, H., & Araoz, health research. Psychiatry: Interpersonal single events. The generalisability of this G. (2010). Health and social impacts of and Biological Processes, 65(3), 240-260. study’s findings is enhanced because of this a flood disaster: responding to needs Norris, F. H., & Uhl, G. A. (1993). Chronic corroboration following two separate events. and implications for practice. Disasters, stress as a mediator of acute stress: The case A limitation of the current research was 34(4), 1045-1063. doi: 10.1111/j.1467- of Hurricane Hugo. Journal of Applied Social the smaller than optimum sample size in 7717.2010.01182.x Psychology, 23(16), 1263-1284. Study 2. A larger sample size could also Clemens, S. L., Berry, H. L., McDermott, B. M., Ozer, E. J., Best, S. R., Lipsey, T. L., & Weiss, D. have strengthened the power of all the & Harper, C. M. (2013). Summer of sorrow: S. (2008). Predictors of posttraumatic stress analyses that were performed. Also, as measuring exposure to and impacts of disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta- analysis. Psychological Trauma: Theory, it was not a representative sample, it is trauma after Queensland’s natural disasters of 2010-2011. MJA, 199, 552-555. Research, Practice, and Policy, S(1), 3-36. difficult to know if respondents were typical doi: 10.1037/1942-9681.S.1.3 of the population of flood-affected people. Crabtree, A. (2013). Questioning Psychosocial Resilience After Flooding and the Scholz, U., Dona, B. G., Sud, S., & Schwarzer, In conclusion, the key findings of this Consequences for Disaster Risk Reduction. R. (2002). Is general self-efficacy a universal research were that aftermath stress was a Social Indicators Research, 113(2), 711-728. construct? Psychometric findings from 25 key predictor of mental health outcomes doi: 10.1007/s11205-013-0297-8 countries. European Journal of Psychological following the floods, and a difficult Dixon, K. M., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Assessment, 18(3), 242-251. experience with an insurance company Shochet, I. (2015). Psychological impact, Weiss, D. S., & Marmar, C. R. (1997). The was also predictive of poor outcomes. stressors and protective factors following Impact of Event Scale—Revised. In J. P. Wilson These results open up a number of an Australian flood: A longitudinal qualitative & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological new avenues for disaster research and analysis. Manuscript submitted for trauma and PTSD. (pp. 399-411). New York, disaster recovery policy and practice. l publication. NY US: Guilford Press.

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For more information call us on 1300 131 809 or visit www.apsbs.com.au 16 ADAPTIVE APPROACHES TO DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY VIEWED THROUGH A PSYCHOSOCIAL LENS: SYDNEY SIEGE CASE STUDY COVER STORY

Disaster Recovery Chaplains volunteered in Martin Place to comfort the grieving. Photo by Wes Eggins.

This peer-reviewed paper was presented at the Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference in Broadbeach, QLD, on 3-5 May 2015. This paper has been slightly edited to meet the style of the National Emergency Response Journal. By Shona Whitton and Jessie Huard from the Australian Red Cross, and Rachel Nibbs and Lex Drennan from the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 17

families, the gunman and government. The removal of tributes became a form of reply to that conversation and needed to respect the public sentiment and the wishes of hostages and victims’ families both in terms of timing within that

conversation and how it was conducted. STORY COVER This paper firstly reviews the literature on collective trauma and public expression of grief, placing the Sydney siege in the context of the literature and recent international experiences in spontaneous expressions of grief. It then explores how existing recovery arrangements and agency competencies were adapted to new circumstances and successfully applied to manage challenging and complex issues. Lessons are drawn from the experiences The Lindt Café, scene of the 15 December 2014 seige at Martin Place, Sydney. Photo by Kel O’Shea. and recommendations made to ensure the learnings from this experience are not lost. n 15-16 December 2014, The community response to this a lone gunman held hostage event was significant with people leaving COLLECTIVE TRAUMA AND Oten customers and eight thousands of tributes (8 tonnes in total); SPONTANEOUS EXPRESSION employees of the Lindt chocolate café gifts, cards, shrines and an approximated OF GRIEF located at Martin Place in Sydney. 100,000 bouquets of flowers. Managing When crisis events, such as natural After a 16-hour stand-off, the siege recovery from this event required disasters or terror incidents, occur at the ended with three people (including collaboration by a number of agencies, community level there is a collective the gunman) dead, and three other and communication amongst agencies experience of distress, shock and grief hostages and a police officer injured. to the families of the victims as well as (Gortner & Pennebaker, 2003). These The NSW State Emergency Recovery survivors and to the broader community. events shatter people’s fundamental Controller (SERCON) was activated It required the adaptation of existing sense of safety, order and security leaving along with the NSW Recovery Plan and recovery structures and highlighted people feeling threatened and vulnerable Arrangements. The NSW Recovery Plan, the need for a guide to managing (Eyre, 2007). Following the Sydney siege, although based on an all hazards approach, spontaneous public memorials. a visitor to the flower tribute told the media: is predominantly applied to recovery Agencies who do not traditionally “I’m feeling bloody scared. It’s awful, operations for natural disasters. The Ministry work with one another were brought that someone would perpetrate that, for Police and Emergency Services (MPES), together to quickly plan and implement just over there’’ (Michael Marzano as the lead recovery agency, was cognisant strategies. This was against a backdrop quoted in Sydney siege: Amazing that the Martin Place Siege would test of intense media interest and public scenes as Sydneysiders empty florists to their adaptability. The arrangements scrutiny of political leaders from the fill Martin Place with flowers,The Daily demonstrated their flexibility and were Commonwealth, NSW State and Telegraph online, 17 December 2014). effectively applied in this situation. local government. The interests and Disruption to world view, the assumptions This event was a shock to the psyche investments of large and small business, people have about lives and communities of the Sydney CBD, New South Wales the psychosocial wellbeing of CBD- that make up their reality, occur and Australian community. For some based workers and the ongoing criminal most significantly following situations it hit upon unspoken fears, for others investigation all had to be managed. that are “unexpected, traumatic and it forced them to reflect on their own Although the barriers have been taken horrific”(Sullender, 2010). People’s traumatic experiences. Coming to terms down and flower memorial removed the psychological and faith-based assumptions with any emergency or disaster can be recovery process has not ended. There about their lives can be shattered and challenging for those both directly and are still many hurdles to overcome many people experience a crisis of indirectly impacted. Human-initiated such as the development of a public meaning or purpose (Sullender, 2010). events, such as this, often cause higher memorial and the first anniversary. The widespread media coverage of rates of negative outcomes for those The management of these milestones disaster events and growth of social impacted, directly and indirectly, because in a respectful way will impact on how media, which gives viewers access to they shatter fundamental beliefs about this event is viewed by the public in ‘real’ people affected, widens the reach vulnerability and human nature (Norris coming years. In this sense the tributes of these distressing events (Richardson, et.al 2002). This may be reflected in were framed early on as an expression 2010). In doing so the media allows the mass public mourning and the of mourning, protest and, most vicarious participation in these events exponential growth of the floral tributes importantly, as a conversation between which can result in trauma (Sullender, in Martin Place. the public and the hostages and their 2010). Significant media attention,

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 18 COVER STORY

“Each item or bouquet of flowers represents an individual, or group of individuals, who experienced emotion strong enough to motivate them to share their response publicly.” Photo by Kel O’Shea.

such as the rolling 24-hour coverage to, collective expression can hinder recovery The approximately 100,000 bouquets of on all major commercial channels and successful grieving following death. flowers left at Martin Place following the during the Sydney Siege, reinforces a Post-disaster rituals such as spontaneous siege were not unusual. sense of national tragedy. By extension, expressions of grief, commemorative and In the days after the siege thousands high profile media coverage reinforces memorial activities can assist to re-establish of people travelled to Martin Place socially appropriate forms of communal feelings of control, social solidarity and to pay their respects. A spontaneous expression of grief (Eyre, 1999). belonging after collective crisis (Eyre, 1999). expression of grief is not always Rituals, such as funerals, provide a The spontaneous expression of grief connected directly to the physical way for social groups and communities after disasters is predictable post-disaster site as can be seen in the location of to regain social balance and morale behaviour (Eyre, 1999). As such, large- memorials in response to the death of after a crisis. Post-death rituals provide scale spontaneous tributes and shrines are Princess Diana. After the Columbine a safe space for the expression of not uncommon after crisis events like the High School massacre approximately individual and communal grief and can Sydney siege. In fact, they are seen as the 125,000 people visited the spontaneous be an important therapeutic step in the rule rather than the exception following memorial. For many, the site of death grieving process (Rosenblatt, 1997). events that cause sudden and tragic death and tragedy becomes symbolic and holy Spontaneous expression of loss, sorrow, (Eyre, 2007). Following the Oklahoma City (Jorgensen-Earp & Lanziolotti, 1998). grief and disbelief in the form of informal, bombing in 1995 approximately 50,000 Jorgensen-Earp and Lanzilotti (1998) temporary memorials, such as the one mementos were left along the ‘Memory liken the site of public tragedy to the in Martin Place, often begin within hours Fence’ surrounding the Alfred P. Murrah deathbed where traditionally people could of the public having knowledge of the Federal Building (Doss, 2002); over 50 share the last moments of a loved one’s disaster (Eyre, 1999). People feel the need million bouquets of flowers were laid life. When death is sudden and tragic, to share their sorrow and acknowledge loss, outside Buckingham Palace and Princess being near, or at, the site of death can be even if they are not directly impacted by Diana’s London residence after her death “transformative” for survivors (Jorgensen- the event. Another prominent example of in 1997 (Brennen, 2008); more than Earp & Lanziolotti, 1998, p160). This ritual this was the spontaneous floral tributes that 200,000 items were collected after the behaviour, the giving of tributes, visiting the occurred after the sudden death of Princess 1999 Columbine High School massacre site and the development of memorials, Diana in 1997. This expression can be (Graham, 2013); and more recently after serve important psychological and social a healthy opportunity for expressing shock, the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre over functions (Eyre, 1999) and contributes to anger, disbelief, grief, and other emotions 60,000 teddy bears were left at, or mailed the “final story of the tragedy” (Jorgensen- associated with disaster. A lack of, or barriers to, the town of Newton (Pruden, 2014). Earp & Lanziolotti, 1998, p160).

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 19

Establishing the event as part of the with representatives from a variety of Mountains bushfires. In addition to Red community’s narrative or psyche is an government agencies and the City of Cross volunteers the Disaster Recovery important part of the healing process Sydney (Council). Through key contacts Chaplains services also had volunteers (Richardson, 2010). Two weeks after on the Committee, a broader range of in Martin Place. In each of the above, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing agencies and NGOs were engaged to NGOs adapted their existing skills to the city had begun to think about how support recovery activities, such as providing employ them in unchartered territory.

to preserve and archive the items from volunteer resources and Chaplains. The STORY COVER the spontaneous memorial at Copley Coordination Committee provided a focal REMOVAL OF FLORAL Square (Graham, 2013). This becomes point for engaging stakeholders for critical TRIBUTE AND MANAGEMENT the key issue in managing spontaneous decision-making. Its purpose was to: OF CARDS AND MESSAGES memorials, how to handle and what • Identify needs of the victims and families, Laying flowers and tributes at Martin Place to do with, the mass of objects and the community and small businesses served an essential part of the grieving organic matter. These items carry strong • Provide a forum for information process. Similarly, viewing the flowers emotions. As a curator for the New exchange between all agencies allowed visitors to consider the event England Museum Association said after • Coordinate activities between and the community’s response. Whilst the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013: agencies to address emerging needs this process continued, funerals were “That sneaker was a sneaker a minute • Ensure public communications were held for the two hostages killed during ago, but when a person places that consistent and coordinated. the siege. The family of one hostage sneaker on that pole, it’s infused with In this context, the officers in the statutory indicated they wanted to lay the funeral meaning and emotion.”(Graham, 2013). roles of the SERCON and Deputy flowers at Martin Place, in recognition of Each item or bouquet of flowers SERCON became boundary spanners and participation in the public grieving. represents an individual, or group of (Kapucu, 2006). They were able to use At the same time the tributes also individuals, who experienced emotion their legislated roles to communicate drew criticism and concern. The presence strong enough to motivate them to share authority and personal connections with of extensive memorials meant that Martin their response publicly. The psychosocial peers to rapidly engage broader support. Place was evolving into a destination implications of removing these cared for Their first activities were to identify rather than a shrine. This had implications and emotion laden items are significant. which agencies needed to participate for issues such as crowd control as well Poor or disrespectful handling of the in recovery coordination and reach out as positive and negative impacts for tributes can cause further distress to their executive. Through this process businesses and the community. to survivors, their families and the arrangements that had previously Small businesses in the Martin Place broader community. This was a leading functioned following natural disasters were area, many of which are snack bars and consideration in the management of adapted to new circumstances. However, cafés, expressed frustration that the tributes the tributes in Martin Place. the fundamental governance and and queues of people waiting to write in The general public is usually legislative structure remained constant. the condolence books were interfering with understanding of the need to remove For NGOs used to applying their skills foot traffic to their doors. The staff of nearby spontaneous memorials as they and knowledge to respond to natural businesses were also adversely affected by can engulf public meeting spaces, disasters this event challenged the the sadness and emotions associated with thoroughfares and high traffic areas. applicability of their skills to a diversity the tributes. Small businesses reported that The way in which items are removed of scenarios. A number of arrangements many of their staff needed to take leave can be controversial and needs to be usually reserved for natural disasters were as a result of what had happened and well thought through and planned. activated. While the siege was still active, this was challenging for their operations. Red Cross, Marine Rescue and State Those businesses still closed during COLLABORATION AND Emergency Service volunteers responded the immediate mourning period were ADAPTATION to enquiries from the general public also concerned that, if further protracted, The NSW Recovery Plan and Arrangements at the Public Information and Inquiry the tributes shrine and visitation would are written from an all hazards perspective, Centre (PIIC) located in the Police Local interfere with “getting back to normal”. and therefore are intended to apply to Area Command building in Surry Hills. These concerns were raised informally as person-made disasters and emergencies. Volunteers in this Centre answered over business owners were concerned that they However, these arrangements have 1,700 phone calls in less than 24 hours. would be perceived as lacking in empathy previously only been used to address In the days after the siege, Red Cross by returning to usual operations too soon. natural disasters. The Martin Place volunteers were in Martin Place using Navigating these issues, for which siege required a coordinated multi- their psychological first aid training to there were no ready solutions, was a agency approach to recovery in an support members of the public visiting constant challenge for agencies involved. unprecedented context. Whilst the the spontaneous memorial and leaving Other questions at the time for which governance framework existed, many of their own tributes. Red Cross volunteers there were no discrete answers included: the agencies who were ultimately involved usually employ these skills in evacuation how long will the public grieving in coordinating recovery had never and recovery centres, through outreach continue?; how long should it continue?; engaged with the arrangements before. into impacted communities and at and how long before the flowers and The SERCON directed the formation of community events in response to natural edible tributes completely decay? the Government Coordination Committee, disasters, such as the Victorian or Blue These questions were balanced against

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 20

in the movement and removal of the spontaneous tributes. The logistics of assembly, briefing, food, water and amenities were coordinated through the NSW Small Business Commission. The Commission was a member of the Government Coordination Committee and offered its offices as the staging point for the event. One hundred volunteers from Red Cross, Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service spent three hours picking up flowers and carefully placing them into boxes to be taken away. The City of Sydney provided unmarked vehicles to remove the flowers, intentionally to visually distance the activity from standard waste collection. This activity

COVER STORY was closely watched by the public and filmed live by numerous TV stations: On duty Police Officers inspect the growing number of flower bouquets left outside Martin Place in respect of “I was worried the floral tribute the victims of the Sydney Seige. Photo by Kel O’Shea. removal process would look like a council clean up. But it is so gentle other concerns, such as the approaching was conducted under the watchful eye and respectful with SES and other Christmas holidays, the Boxing Day sales, of the public and media. volunteers in full uniform slowly and then New Year’s Eve celebrations Research and communication with picking up each bunch and removing when tens of thousands of people would authorities in London and Boston cards ... There’s no ripping, no be coming to the Sydney CBD. Access informed the planning process. This chucking, no throwing. Each bunch to public space, safety, and whether the awareness of context, combined with placed in a box, cards in separate ongoing visual reminder of the siege the guiding principles, shaped how the bags. It was actually very moving to would be beneficial to the grieving agencies involved managed the event. watch ...” (Larry Emdur, The Morning process were concerns. Ultimately, the The Commissioners for the Rural Fire Show, Seven Network). unavoidable issue that arose was the Service and State Emergency Service, and Press releases and public statements weather forecasts for summer storms. Executive Director of Red Cross in NSW, from the Premier were coordinated Feedback from the hostages and their were contacted by the NSW Government with the removal to ensure the public families made it clear that preserving the and requested to provide volunteers to understood why the flowers had to be messages and cards was more important remove the flowers and tributes. removed and what was going to be done than the duration of the display in Martin Volunteers have a unique and significant with them after removal. It was essential Place. They felt, along with general role in emergency management in to communicate that the flowers were public sentiment, that these cards were Australia. They are members of the not going to landfill and they would be a direct conversation between the public community who give their time to treated with respect. This communication and themselves. With that guidance from support and protect their community. linked into longer term questions about key stakeholders, and considering the The high esteem in which they are held permanent memorials. The Committee upcoming major public events in the CBD, by the community also translates to was unable to answer those questions the Government Coordination Committee trust and appreciation of their efforts. in the immediate two weeks after the commenced planning for the appropriate This places them in a unique position of siege, and nor was it appropriate to do removal of the flowers and tributes. being a workforce that can be effectively so as this process will require extensive The City of Sydney was a key coordinated, tasked and managed by consideration and consultation. stakeholder in planning the activity, government authorities, yet belonging to Ultimately, over 8 tonnes of flowers as the agency with responsibility for and being part of the larger community. were clean mulched by the City of managing public space in the CBD. They are not disembodied government Sydney and placed in storage to Planning for the removal of the flowers workers. This dual nature made it compost for eventual placement at the and tributes was simultaneously an appropriate to engage volunteers to site of a memorial. The collected cards exercise in logistics and coordination remove the tributes. and messages were held in storage and and public event management. The For Red Cross, the organisation’s consultation undertaken with the State Committee understood that the process expertise in the psychosocial impacts Library regarding preservation, digitisation was akin to a public ceremony and of disasters and keen awareness of the and curation for display. The vast majority would receive extensive media attention. need for respectful management of the of the over 100,000 floral bunches had It was far removed from the standard floral tributes allowed them to transfer a card or message attached. Prior to process to cleaning public spaces and existing skills into the role of assisting digitising the cards, it was necessary to

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 21 sort through them and separate them into themes to enable future curation of a digital memorial. Once again, recovery agencies turned to volunteers and NGOs for assistance in this process. Red Cross and Anglicare provided over 300 hours

of service to read and sort the cards. Due STORY COVER to the emotional nature of this process they were supported by the presence of Disaster Recovery Chaplains and Red Cross volunteers accessed debrief support from the Australian Psychological Service. CONCLUSION: FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS The issue for Sydney in the future will be how to permanently remember this event. There is public expectation that References a permanent memorial of some kind Brennan, M. (2008) Condolence books: Graham, R. (2013) Boston’s Marathon will be installed at Martin Place or at Language and meaning in the mourning memorial: How much should we save? another location in the Sydney CBD. The for Hillsborough and Diana, Death Boston Globe http://www.bostonglobe. complex and profound emotions created Studies, vol. 32, pp.326-251. com/ideas/2013/05/25/boston- by disaster events means that most marathon-memorial-how-much-should- permanent memorial processes will Doss, E. (2002) Death, art and memory save/105FovJLefBTekWMzViUlK/story. be difficult and potentially controversial in the public sphere: the visual and html last accessed 27 March 2015 (Nicolls, 2006). Everyone will have material culture of grief in contemporary different views, opinions and desires. America, Mortality, vol. 7, no. 1, Jorgensen-Earp, C.R. & Lanzilotti L.A. Successful memorial processes, in pp.63‑82. (1998) Public memory and private grief: which all stakeholders are heard, must Edmur, L. (2014) The Morning Show, The construction of shrines at the sites be consultative. The stakeholders will be Seven Network https://www.facebook. of public tragedy, Quarterly Journal of broad and varied. The location, design com/themorningshowon7/photos/ Speech, vol. 84, no.2, pp150-170. and purpose of the memorial have to be a.292451796052.153075.2462 Kapucu, N. (2006) Interagency agreed upon by the community affected. 14236052/10152503037261053/ Communication Networks During Unfortunately this was not the first Eyre, A. (1999) In remembrance: Post Emergencies: Boundary Spanners in event of its kind and will not be the last. disaster rituals and symbols, Australian Multiagency Coordination, The American It is worthwhile noting that no guide Journal of Emergency Management, Review of Public Administration, vol. 36, exists to advise on the management of Spring 1999. no. 2, pp. 207-225 public memorials. Had it not been for Eyre, A. (2007) Community Nicolls, S. (2006) Disaster memorials the knowledge and experience of those commemoration after disaster. In as government communication, The engaged in coordinating the recovery Australian Journal of Emergency Rodriguez, H, Quarantelli EL & Dynes RR from this event and the removal of the Management, vol. 21 no. 4, pp36-43. (Eds.), Handbook of Disaster Research tributes from Martin Place its outcome (pp441-455) New York. Pruden, J.G. (2014) Burdens of grief: could have been very different and The rise of spontaneous memorial Godfrey, M. & Carswell, A. (2014) significantly negative in its impacts on sites, Edmonton Journal, http://www. Sydney siege: Amazing scenes as the families of the victims, the survivors edmontonjournal.com/Burdens+gri Sydneysiders empty florists to fill Martin and the community as a whole. ef+rise+spontaneous+memorial+sit Place with flowers, The Daily Telegraph A crucial factor in the successful es/10404027/story.html last accessed, online, http://www.dailytelegraph.com. response to this event, as it is with any, 27 Mar. 15 was the partnership between government, au/news/nsw/sydney-siege-amazing- Richardson J.F. (2010) Disasters and community and non-government scenes-as-sydneysiders-empty-florists- Remembrance: A journey to a new agencies. This partnership facilitated the to-fill-martin-place-with-flowers/story- place. Grief Matters. development of an inclusive picture of the fni0cx12-1227157698015 last accessed event and evolving community sentiment 27 March 2015. Rosenblatt, (1997) cited in Eyre, A., and “on the ground” issues. The rapid Gortner, E.M. & Pennebaker, J.W. (2003). 2007. Remembering: Community adaptation of existing plans, arrangements The archival anatomy of a disaster: commemoration after disaster, and agency competencies enabled the Media coverage and community- Handbook of Disaster Research, Government and NGOs to manage the wide health effects of the Texas A&M pp: 441-455, New York. public grieving process in a respectful and bonfire tragedy,Journal of Social and Sullender, R.S. (2010) Vicarious grieving compassionate way, while maintaining Clinical Psychology, vol. 22, no.5, pp. and the media, Pastoral Psychology, the City’s safety and security. l 580-603. vol. 59, pp191-200.

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Proudly Supporting the Emergency Response Services “Saving Lives For Over 50 Years” 23 POSTCARDS FROM INDIA CROSSING BORDERS CROSSING Khandala

visiting the convent retreat was playing in the water during an excursion. Without any warning the hydroelectric power plant upstream released a mass of water into the gully, turning the stream Bill Hoyles, MAIES into a raging torrent, sweeping some of the school children to their deaths. y wife and I holidayed with friends To get a different perspective on the The memories of that tragedy remain earlier this year at the recently view, we walked down to a shallow with the older nuns at the convent to this Mrenovated Convent Retreat House stream near the convent alongside day, and a sign by the stream now warns in Khandala – a hill station in Maharashtra which a number of families in extreme of the danger of being near the stream. situated between Mumbai and Pune. poverty lived in shanties. Learning of my background working with The Retreat House was surrounded by Kids were playing in the water while gangs and street kids in Sydney, Mother bushland – with wild monkeys cavorting some of the adults were washing their Superior Sister Prudence suggested we visit through the trees and spectacular views clothes in the stream. a special project in the neighbouring town of of a prominent rock formation known as We were told of a tragedy that occurred Lonavala – popular with local Indian tourists ‘The Duke’s Nose’. in 1960 when a Catholic school group and famous for its tasty Chikki sweets. Lonavala

At those times visitors sit on the steps y wife, our friends and I Lonavala has a number of spectacular and allow the cooling stream to flow visited the Don Bosco Home lookouts, dams, lakes and even a around them. At the side of the steps Mfor drug affected street children Waxworks Museum. are teahouses and cafes, complete with in Lonavala and met the charismatic We visited the extraordinary Tungarli dam changing rooms for men and women, priest in charge – Father Lester. in Lonavala with its prominent warning so that they can dry out and change after During a conducted tour of the sign reporting the annual death toll. the soaking. Inevitably some people try facility, he told us that most of the street After a short climb up a bone-dry rocky to swim in the dam and spillway despite kids come to the centre with solvent- spillway we reached a wide flight of the sign warning of the dangers…only to sniffing addictions, and described his steps that formed part of the dam wall. be swept away and drowned. treatment and rehabilitation methodology. Above the steep flight of steps were At the time of our visit in mid January We later donated boxes of Chikki and two wooden sluice gates, which are 2015 the warning sign advised against bags of savoury Chura (aka Bhuja) for opened in the rainy season when the swimming and noted that two people the kids. dam reaches capacity. had died last year and one this year.

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 24

Terrorist Targets: Mumbai, India CROSSING BORDERS

and walkers, past the High Court and I took the opportunity to visit the nearby Flora Fountain to Colaba and the travelled to Pune with my wife to attend a major targets of the 2008 attacks. Gateway of India. Standing at the water’s family member’s small low-key wedding En route to our hotel in New Marine edge, with tourist boats heading for the I– just five hundred guests at the reception Lines, Mumbai, my wife and I passed the Elephanta Caves bobbing in the water, that saw me wearing a traditional Shirwani. scene of the first terrorist attack Chatrapati we had an excellent view of the Taj Mahal Sitting in my friend’s apartment in Pune, Shivaji Terminus (previously known as Palace and Tower Hotel, which had been on the eve of the 66th Indian Republic Day Victoria Terminus or VT). It is a magnificent targeted in 2008. Watching the television (26th January – the same day as Australia heritage building and houses the main news broadcasts in Australia at the time of Day), the television news was dominated railway interchange in Mumbai. It was the attacks, I had been amazed to see the by President Obama’s arrival in India to after this attack that the only terrorist to top floors ablaze during the three-day siege. attend the Republic Day Parade in Delhi. be wounded was taken prisoner. At the Sad, as since I had first visited Mumbai in Indian television commentary centred time of our visit there was a major police 1978, I had fantasised about staying in that on a highly significant nuclear power presence in the area, with numerous hotel when I won the lottery. Now restored agreement that had been six years in the police carrying lathi sticks, others carrying to its former glory it remains a must-see making, and on a speech by Indian Prime rifles and their officers wearing sidearms. Mumbai icon – although staying there Minister Modi that called for America There was a coach full of police standing in remains an unaffordable dream. and India to fight terrorism together. reserve and a Mumbai Police water‑cannon We then walked a short distance to In his speech, Prime Minister Modi had been deployed in support. There have breakfast at another of the terrorist also demanded that Pakistan bring the were eight outside broadcast TV units in targets – the quirky Leopold Café on organisers of the Mumbai 2008 terrorist attendance to cover whatever protest was Colaba Causeway. attacks to justice. For me, this had special about to occur, and so, in line with general Established in 1871 the café has long significance as Pune’s Central Yerwada DEFAT advice, we steered clear of the been popular with foreign tourists and was Prison was where the only Mumbai area lest we become embroiled in a riot! more recently immortalised in Gregory terrorist to be captured alive in Mumbai The following morning we walked from David Roberts’ epic novel ‘Shantaram’. The was incarcerated and after a trial was our hotel, through the Maidan, an open café has many interesting wall decorations, hanged. Later, while visiting Mumbai, space full of cricketers, soccer players a framed t-shirt, a famous wall mural, and

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 25 CROSSING BORDERS CROSSING

signs advertising the Thai Spa upstairs. However, it also still bears the scars of the attack with bullet holes still visible in the walls and windows. Passing through security at the front café entrance our bags were scanned by one of the two security guards. We decided to have breakfast from the extensive menu of Indian, European and Chinese dishes, and purchase the obligatory Café Leopold souvenir t-shirt. Moving on – but only after several The hotel today has strict security with mis-directions by well-meaning locals vehicles being stopped for inspection – we finally located Nariman House, or at the gates, mirrors-on-wheels used to Chabad House, in a small side street not view underneath each vehicle and car too far from the Leopold Café. A Jewish boots being opened and their contents community outreach centre, Nariman checked. Security guards and metal House was also attacked by the terrorists. detectors are visible at the entrance for Security has been increased dramatically pedestrians. I noted with interest that the since the attack, with surveillance cameras, street at the rear of the hotel is named solid steel doors and bulletproof glass, but as well as the hole left in one wall by a after one of India’s legendary Freedom after expressing an interest to the security rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Fighters Ramnath Goenka. Ironically, I was officers (and showing our Australian Neither my wife nor I are Jewish but the watching the movie Die Another Day later passports) we were cordially invited in to hospitality shown to us at Nariman House that afternoon in my Mumbai hotel, when meet the rabbi and others in their prayer was extremely gracious. We were offered I heard 007 being reminded that ‘One room on the second floor. On entering chilled drinking water on arrival, and were man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom the prayer room there was an information asked polite questions about Australia fighter’. However, this could not be said board that detailed the names of the rabbis and its population with empathy being of Goenka as he was a newspaper who had died during the attack as well as expressed for our own terrorist experience publisher who evidently believed that the chronology and location of their deaths. at the Lindt Café in Martin Place. the pen was mightier than the sword. The room itself has been completely Another morning walk took us past Opposite the Oberoi Trident on the renovated, although bullet holes are still Church Gate railway station outside Marine Drive Promenade, three monkeys visible in the alcove where the holy book which was a memorial to the Mumbai with chains around their necks were is kept and one wall to the left of the room terrorist attacks of 2008 and the earlier performing for tourists to the beat of small has been preserved with its bullet holes taxi bombings of 2006. A plaque drums: dancing, doing back-flips, sleeping still visible. We were told that the holy book contained the insightful words of on command and standing guard duty was itself destroyed in the attack but has Mahatma Ghandi, ‘Peace is the most holding a miniature night-stick…all the since been replaced with the assistance of powerful weapon of mankind’. while being chained by their necks in other synagogues. A visiting Israeli tourist At a t-junction at the end of the street sharp contrast to the acrobatic freedom offered to take us up to the fourth and we turned left on Marine Drive (also known of the monkeys I had seen in the wild at fifth floors which were still awaiting as The Queen’s Necklace) and strolled Khandala. Not my cup of chai but other renovation. He showed us the numerous to the Oberoi Trident Hotel – another tourists still took photos and handed over bullet holes in the floors and ceilings, victim of the Mumbai terrorist attack. their rupees to perpetuate the cruelty. l

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 26

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES YOUNG VOLUNTEER AWARD

THE AWARD In addition, nominees must meet all of Young Endeavour’s The AIES Young Volunteer’s Award, proudly supported by mandatory selection criteria including: the Emergency Response Division of the Australian Maritime • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident Safety Authority, aims to reward one young person for their • be able to swim 50 metres and be in good health outstanding and ongoing contributions and commitment to • weigh less than 120kg their chosen emergency service. • complete a medical examination to the required standard The award winner will receive a fully sponsored voyage in the • not having completed a voyage in Young Endeavour previously sail training ship Young Endeavour where he or she can develop their skills in teamwork, leadership and communication. SELECTION Runners up will receive a certificate of commendation from The award committee will select the winner by assessing each the AIES. nomination against the selection criteria. The authenticity of all claims in the winning submission will be verified. NOMINATIONS The award committee’s decision of the winner of the AIES A member of the public, the young volunteer’s supervisor, Young Volunteer’s Award is final and no correspondence will manager or another emergency service member, can make be entered into. nominations. At least two referees who have known the nominee for a minimum of 12 months and who can attest to PRESENTATION the nominee’s volunteer service must second all nominations. Within three months of completion of the voyage, the awardee will be required to provide a written report on their voyage and NOMINATION CRITERIA make a presentation at an AIES Division meeting. The written The nominee will be assess on his or her: report will be published in the Institute’s journal National • commitment to the emergency services including continuity Emergency Response and by the award sponsor the Australian and length of service Maritime Safety Authority. • demonstrated willingness to learn and progress within the emergency service NOMINATIONS • current or future leadership potential Nominations should be marked CONFIDENTIAL and sent to the The nominee must: Registrar of the Division of the AIES in which the nominees resides. a. be a volunteer member of an emergency service Details can be found on our website at www.aies.net.au organisation for a period of at least two years Nominations must be received by 4pm 1st February b. be aged between 18 and 33 years of age each year. c. be available to undertake the voyage on the date nominated in the award TERMS AND CONDITIONS This award is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed Proudly supported by on the AIES website. MORE INFORMATION More information on the award can be found on our website, www.youngendeavour.gov.au www.aies.net.au

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response 27 EUREKA CLIMB 2015

he race to the top of Melbourne’s climb their way up 88 floors of one of For more information and to register tallest building is on again with the world’s tallest residential towers. www.eurekaclimb.com.au. T over 2,500 climbers set to raise Australia’s biggest vertical race consists Sunday 15 November, 2015 money for Whitelion and Interplast of 1,646 steps (88 levels) and ranks in Eureka Tower Australia and New Zealand and earn the top 20 (amount of stairs) of stair Riverside Quay, Southbank, Melbourne the ultimate view from the top of the climbs in the world. Registration from $50 Eureka Tower. With an entertainment precinct at Race kit collection is from 6.15am and Eureka Climb, proudly presented by the bottom of the Tower for friends, the climb is between 7am–1pm. l OsteoEze, is an event for people of all family and supporters, it’s a fun day ages and levels of fitness to walk/run/ for everyone.

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response We are dedicated to creating support mechanisms which empower those whose abilities are compromised, giving them Since 1970 the opportunity to build a life that is complete a life fi lled with the same adventures, challenges, joys and love that we all take for granted. Because a typical life is not a privilege it is a right.

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Completed Application forms with fees should be forwarded to the Division Registrar in the State where you normally reside. Further information may also be obtained by contacting your Division Registrar or Company Secretary of the Institute at the following addresses:

NATIONAL COUNCIL QUEENSLAND The Company Secretary The Registrar – QLD Division of Australian Institute of Australian Institute of Emergency Services (General Council) Emergency Services. PO Box 590 Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 Post Office Box 10530, Adelaide Business Centre, SA 5000 Email: [email protected] Ph: (08) 8347 2126 ML 0401 996 432 Email: [email protected] SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA National Web Site: www.aies.net.au AND NORTHERN TERRITORY The Registrar – SA Division of Australian Institute of Emergency AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Services. PO Box 10530 Adelaide Business Centre, SA 5000 The Registrar – ACT Division of Australian Institute of Email: [email protected], Emergency Services. PO Box 504, Civic Square ACT 2601 Email: [email protected] TASMANIA NEW SOUTH WALES AND NEW ZEALAND The Registrar – TAS Division of Australian Institute of Emergency Services. PO Box 1 Lindisfarne, TAS 7015 The Registrar – NSW Division of Australian Institute of Email: [email protected] Emergency Services. PO Box 695, Haberfield NSW 2045 Email: [email protected] VICTORIA The Registrar – VIC Division of Australian Institute of Emergency Services. C/O 44 Webb St, Warrandyte, VIC 3113 Email: [email protected]

THE INSTITUTE’S AIMS • The opportunity to use the initials of the particular membership To provide a professional body for the study of the roles and status after your name. functions of Emergency Services and Emergency Management • Corporate members receive a bronze plaque free of charge and Organisations throughout Australia, and the promotion and can advertise on the AIES website, as well as provide articles for advancement of professional standards in these and associated inclusion in the Institute’s journal. services. MEMBERSHIP THE INSTITUTE’S OBJECTIVES Costs • To raise the status and advance the interests of the profession Nomination Fee: $30.00 of emergency management and counter disaster services Annual Subscription: $60.00 administration. Fellows: $80.00 • To represent generally the views and interests of the profession Corporate Subscription: $500.00 and to promote a high standard of integrity and efficiency in the Note: Institute Fees may be tax deductible. skills of emergency and counter disaster administration. Classes • To provide opportunities for association among members and There are four classes of membership: students to promote and protect their mutual interest. • Members • Fellows • Life Fellows • Corporate • To facilitate full interchange of concepts and techniques There are five categories of affiliation with the Institute that amongst members. may be offered to persons who do not meet the requirements • To bring to the notice of the public such matters that are for membership: deemed to be important for safety and protection of the • Associate • Student Member • Retired Member community and to promote research and development of • Honorary Member • Honorary Fellow emergency services generally. • To establish a national organisation to foster international Eligibility • co-operation in counter-disaster services administration. Applications for membership will be considered from persons who are at least eighteen years of age and who: THE INSTITUTE OFFERS • Are members of a permanent emergency service or • An opportunity to be part of a progressive Australia-wide associated service, or Institute dedicated to the progression and recognition of the • Are volunteer members of emergency or associated services. Emergency Service role in the community. Admission as a member may be granted if in the opinion of • An independent forum where you can be heard and your the General Council the applicant meets all other conditions of opinions shared with other emergency service members. membership and passes such examinations and/or other tests • A journal with information from institutes and other sources as may be required by General Council. around the world in addition to the interchange of views between Divisions in Australia, as well as access to the MEMBERS Institute website. Our members come from • Ambulance Service • Community Services • Emergency • Reduced fees for members at Institute Seminars and Equipment Industry • Emergency Management Organisations Conferences and an information service supplied by • Fire Services • Health, Medical and Nursing Services • Mines professional experienced officers. Rescue • Police Service • Safety Officers • SES • Transport Services • A Certificate of Membership. • Volunteer Marine Rescue • Volunteer Rescue Associations

Spring 2015 • National Emergency Response AIES CONTACTS GENERAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected]

NATIONAL COUNCIL President Email: [email protected] Steve Jenkins MAIES CONTACTS Vice President Email: [email protected] Scott Milne FAIES Company Secretary Email: [email protected] Peter Schar FAIES National Treasurer Email: [email protected] David Mack MAIES National Membership Registrar/Webmaster Email: [email protected] John Rice LFAIES

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DIVISION President Email: [email protected] Scott Milne ESM FAIES Phone: 02 6267 5603 0400 332 780 Registrar Email: [email protected] PO Box 504 Phil Gaden MAIES Phone: 0413 137 761 CIVIC SQUARE ACT 2601

NEW SOUTH WALES/NEW ZEALAND President Email: [email protected] Anthony Macvean MAIES Registrar Email: [email protected] PO Box 695 Anthony Macvean MAIES HABERFIELD NSW 2045

QUEENSLAND President Email: [email protected] Steve Jenkins MAIES Phone: 0412 753 790 Treasurer/Registrar Email: [email protected] PO Box 590 Jenny Crump MAIES Phone: 0418 726 224 FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006

SOUTH AUSTRALIA/WESTERN AUSTRALIA/NORTHERN TERRITORY President Email: [email protected] Brian Mattner, MAIES Phone: 0421 618 773 Registrar Email: [email protected] PO Box 10530 Peter Bos MAIES Phone: 0401 426 812 ADELAIDE BUSINESS CENTRE SA 5000

TASMANIA President Email: [email protected] Ron Jones LFAIES Phone: 0427 008 705 Registrar Email: [email protected] PO Box 1 Neil Wright MAIES 0418 569 925 LINDISFARNE TAS 7015

VICTORIA President Email: [email protected] Alan Marshall C.StJ, LFAIES Phone: 0428 308 008 Registrar Email: [email protected] 44 Webb Street Alan Alder OAM, LFAIES Phone: 03 9844 3237 WARRANDYTE VIC 3113

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE JOURNAL Editor Email: [email protected] Kristi High Phone: 0407 366 466 32 EXERCISE NORTHERN SHIELD 2015

ustralian Army officer Lieutenant John Blunt (left), from the Ready Combat Team, conducts an after A action brief with 1st Class Constable Shelley McQueen from the Exmouth Police Force at RAAF Base Learmonth Western Australia during Exercise Northern Shield 2015, which ran from 19-24 September and involved 1,000 troops from the Army and Air Force. l

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