Disaster Preparedness and
Management Unit yearbook
July 2013 to June 2014
Contents
About Disaster Preparedness and Management Unit (DPMU)
1
Emergency and Risk Management
2
Education and Training
6
Medical Management
10
Logistics and Operations
12
AUSMAT
13
Incidents
15
Looking ahead
16
I
Figures
Figure 1 Leavers party ................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 2 ED nurse guber.............................................................................................................. 8
Figure 3 Disaster response kits ................................................................................................. 10
Figure 4 AUSMAT catering tent ................................................................................................. 12
Figure 5 DPMU disaster contingency warehouse ...................................................................... 12
Figure 6 AUSMAT classroom lecture ......................................................................................... 13
Figure 7 AUSMAT team building activity.................................................................................... 14
II
About Disaster Preparedness and Management
Unit (DPMU)
Our vision: To be a centre of excellence for health disaster preparedness and crisis
management.
Our mission: To provide health leadership in crisis management by using the identified
WA Emergency Management concepts of:
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all hazards approach
comprehensive approach (Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery)
all agencies (integrated) approach
graduated response
community risk management
prepared community
Our role: To continuously improve health disaster preparedness and crisis management
through:
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policy development and planning
risk management
logistic support
education and training
command, control and coordination
Our values:
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responsive
decisive
professional
teamwork
outcome oriented
learning
integrity
1
Emergency and risk management
Summary
The Emergency, Risk Management and Special Projects portfolio is a diverse portfolio and
is involved in many aspects of emergency management including the following.
Achievements
Emergency management
Emergency Management Advisory Group
Representative for WA Health on the Exercise Management Advisory Group (EMAG). The
EMAG was convened to provide a forum to develop, coordinate and monitor a three year
risk based State level exercise program and to develop a lessons learned database.
Emergo Train System (ETS)
The ETS is an educational simulation tool used to train and test disaster preparedness.
In 2013-2014 ongoing development of the ETS in WA has been achieved through:
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Conduct of annual Assistant and Senior Instructor courses,
Purchase of new kits to exercise pandemic, psychological and
decontamination aspects of Health; and
Conduct of an Emergo Train exercise at Albany Regional Hospital to test
their Code Brown Emergency Management plan.
ANZCTC Evaluation Course
As an ANZCTC Trainer assisted interstate trainers with the conduct of an Exercise
Evaluation Course at Joondalup Police Academy on 2-5 June 2014.
Mass Fatality Services Plan
Currently developing a Mass Fatality Services Plan to provide a framework for the
management of large numbers of deceased persons in an incident in WA.
Public health courses
Raising awareness of WA Emergency Management arrangements and Medical Risk
Classification for event management, with Local Government Environmental Health
Officers, through presentations at Public Health courses conducted in regional WA by the
Environmental Health Directorate.
2
Working with industry
Attended an Aircrash exercise conducted at Roy Hill Mining Ginbata aerodrome 110 kms
North of Newman as a member of the Exercise Control Team. The exercise provided the
opportunity to strengthen partnerships with the mining industry and provide them with
information on WA Health capability in the region and Emergency Management
arrangements in WA.
Risk management
Representative on the SEMC Risk Subcommittee, and DPMU participated in the seven
sudden onset natural hazard workshops conducted by the SEMC. The hazard Heatwave,
for which WA Health is the Hazard Management Agency, was one of the hazards
workshopped.
Event management
Event management incorporates both emergency and risk management elements. The
number and frequency of events conducted annually is increasing significantly each year.
In addition, there has been a significant increase in the number of extreme sport events.
Major Events of note during 2013-2014 included:
Leavers
DPMU continues to fund the Medical Zone at Dunsborough and work closely with both the
South West Leavers Planning Group and WA Police in order to minimise alcohol and drug
harm to school leavers.
Alcohol Injury Surveillance data collected
by the South West Public Health Unit at
Leavers identifies drinking and behaviour
trends of school leavers, and subsequent
analysis of that data, informs preventative
strategies and clinical service provision to
adequately respond to current demands
and emerging trends.
Data from the Public Health Unit showed a
12.3% increase in the number of
intoxicated school leavers presenting to the Figure 1 Leavers party
medical zone, and an 18.3% increase in
alcohol related injury from 2012 to 2013. Emerging trends also show an increase in both
synthetic drug and alcohol use.
From 2013 to 2015 there will be a 35% increase in the number of 18 year old school leaver
students, and if current drinking behaviour trends continue, there is potential for the
increase in the rate of alcohol related harm at Leavers.
3
HBF Rottnest Channel Swim
The HBF Rottnest Channel Swim is a 19.7km open water swim from Cottesloe Beach to
Rottnest Island. This event is highly regarded worldwide and is one of Western Australia’s
iconic events.
The event attracts 2,350 swimmers, approximately 2,000 spectators at the start line, 2,000
spectators on water and up to 10,000 spectators at the finish line on Rottnest Island.
Medical and first aid services for this event are provided by Royal Flying Doctor Service,
Sports Medicine Australia, St John Ambulance, Rottnest Island Nursing Post, Tri Events
and Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group.
In 2014, event health service provision and risk management was strengthened at the
interface between the on water and on land health service providers through the
development of an on land medical model. This medical model included the appointment
of a Health Coordinator at the finish line to facilitate communication between all health
service providers, the addition of roaming first aid personnel, an across-agency patient
assessment protocol, and guidelines for emergency evacuation decisions.
The model was very successful and minimised the impact of the event on the Rottnest
Island Nursing Post and has been formally adopted for future events.
Stakeholder engagement
Since 2012 there has been a significant increase in the number of high risk, extreme
sports and adventure type events.
In November 2013, due to concerns with these types of events, the Environmental Health
Directorate and DPMU conducted a seminar/workshop with first aid providers and event
organisers.
The purpose of the seminar/workshop was to raise awareness of the medical concerns
and risks associated with extreme sport events, and to consult with industry to enable
relevant issues to be addressed. A total of 62 people attended the seminar and
represented 36 different organisations.
Strategic initiatives
DPMU and the Environmental Health Directorate have formalised an Emergency
Management Group to ensure that both medical and first aid considerations and Public
Building requirements are considered and addressed for major events. The group meets
monthly to review recent and forthcoming events, and progress the review and
development of guidelines.
4
Upcoming in 2015
International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup 2015 (2015 ICC CWC)
In February and March 2015, Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the 2015 ICC
CWC, the flagship event of the international cricket calendar, and the biggest sporting
event in the world in 2015. More than a billion people are expected to watch the event on
television.
Visiting Health professionals are expected to accompany the competing teams and in
order to provide health services for their teams require Special Event Exemption to
practice legally in WA.
The Health Professionals (Special Events Exemption) Act 2000 (the Act), in general terms,
allows by Ministerial exemption, visiting health professionals to provide health care
services to visitors to Western Australia attending “special events” without the visiting
health professional having to be registered under the relevant WA Health Professional
Registration Act.
As the 2015 ICC CWC will attract a significant number of international participants and
attract worldwide media attention, it is considered that it will be a “special event” for the
purposes of the Act.
DPMU organises the approval process for Special Events Exemption and applications
from visiting Health professionals.
Challenges/trends
The two key challenges and trends in event management are:
 the increasing number of high risk, extreme sports and adventure type events; and
 the increase in synthetic drugs, and alcohol use at events.
5
Education and training
Summary
The Education and training portfolio develops and delivers teaches and courses which are
conducted throughout Western Australia (WA). The Major Incident Medical Management
and Support (MIMMS) Course and the Emergo Train System (ETS) are internationally
accredited courses we are licensed to run in Australia. We conduct training to medical,
nursing, paramedics and industry professionals.
WA has seven regions outside the metropolitan area. Each region receives a course at a
nominated local site each calendar year. The Training and Development team tailor
courses to suit each region whilst maintaining the licensing requirements for each course.
Achievements
The outer metropolitan areas of Perth expressed an interest in hosting a course closer to
their location to facilitate staff attending a MIMMS Team member course. We now host
one course per year in this area alternating between the Rockingham / Mandurah area to
the south and the Joondalup area to the north.
WebEOC is a web based Emergency Operations Centre platform which allows
communication across the state and within the region. DPMU has developed and conducts
Regional Executive Training which trains participants in using WebEOC.
We conduct training to over 300 people every 6 months.
Challenges
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The National MIMMS Group has received authorization from the Advanced Life
Support Group (ALSG) UK to conduct Hospital MIMMS which prepares WA Health
staff for mass casualty event from a hospital perspective rather than a pre-hospital
perspective in the current MIMMS course. Our challenge will be to train instructors
and integrate this course into the Health system.
Engaging all regions to elect the Regional Executive Training course. Most regions
have utilised the course but there are some who haven’t.
MIMMS
Major Incident Medical Management and Support courses (MIMMS) teach a systematic
and practical approach to field medical management at disasters. This approach can be
applied to any major incident.
The emphasis is on scene management and pre-hospital care learned through:
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Structured lectures
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Tabletop exercises
6
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Practical exercises in radio communication
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Casualty triage exercises
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Workshops
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Field exercises
Bombs, Blasts and Bullets
The course is aimed at providing participants with the base knowledge and skills to
respond effectively to such events. The course specifically reviews the risk, threat and
specific vulnerability to such an emergency, as well as the clinical management of
casualties with injuries relating to these events.
Speakers cover subjects such as:
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Tactical emergency medicine
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Types of devices
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Penetrating and blast injuries
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Burns management
Chemical, Biological and Radiological
The course is aimed at providing participants with the knowledge and skills to respond to a
major chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) incident.
Speakers cover subjects such as:
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Introduction to CBR hazards (e.g. cyanide, plague, anthrax, botulism and ricin)
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Chemical casualty management procedures
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Hospital preparedness for a CBR incident
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Existing framework for response to such an event
Regional training
This course involved presentations, workshops and concludes with an optional educational
disaster response simulation.
Speakers address issues such as:
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Risk management
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Preparing the hospital
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Triage
7
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Public health issues
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Displaced communities
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Recovery after a disaster
Emergo Train System
The Emergo Train System (ETS) is a Swedish designed system
developed in the 1990s as a disaster simulation exercise and training
system. The system uses a series of whiteboards and magnetic
symbols (gubers) to represent resources available, and a patient
bank with descriptions of injuries. It is an ideal system for testing
pre-hospital and hospital response to major incidents. An ETS
exercise held at a hospital or workplace can be used to help
demonstrate real time consequences of emergencies and the
plans in place to prepare, respond and recover.
There are two courses available; senior instructors course and
assistant instructors course. The senior instructors course
Figure 2 ED nurse guber
qualifies participants to conduct exercises using the ETS. The
assistant instructors course qualifies participants to assist senior instructors at an ETS
exercise and to hold small scale ETS training sessions.
8
Courses 2013/2014
2013
July
August
September
October
November
Bombs,
Blasts and
Bullets
Perth
Metro
UWA –
Disaster
Medicine
MIMMS Team
Member
(Peel)
December
Bombs, Blasts
and Bullets
MIMMS Team
Member
MIMMS Team
Member
Public Health
Disaster
Management –
A Health Focus
MIMMS
Advanced
UWA –
Disaster
Medicine
MIMMS Team
Member (Peel)
Public Health
Public Health
Regional
Executive
(Broome)
Regional
Executive
(Northam)
Regional
Regional
Executive
(Kalgoorlie)
MIMMS Team
Member
(Geraldton)
MIMMS Team
Member
(Albany)
RPH Burns
Management
(Albany)
2014
January
February
March
April
May
June
Chemical,
Biological and
Radiological
Perth
Metro
NDU –
Disaster
Medicine
MIMMS Team
Member
UWA – Disaster
Medicine
MIMMS
Advanced
ECU – Disaster
Medicine
MIMMS Team
Member
Emergo Train
Assistant
Instructor
Regional
Public Health
(Albany)
Regional
Executive
(Bunbury)
Public Health
(Margaret River)
MIMMS Team
Member
(Karratha)
RPH Burns
Management
(Karratha)
9
Medical management
Summary
The Medical Management portfolio works with hospitals to improve preparedness for
internal and external emergencies. The Medical Management portfolio also oversees a
variety of policies and systems required for the operation of the State Health Incident
Coordination Centre (SHICC). The SHICC is the operational centre at Royal Street that
coordinates a Health response to any incident requiring State-level intervention. The
SHICC is structured using the Australian Interagency Incident Management System
(AIIMS) structure and can be activated at very short notice in order to provide
communication, coordination and assistance to any significant incident.
Achievements
WebEOC
Web Based Emergency
Operations Centre (WebEOC) is
the software system used by WA
Health. Continuing improvements
to the system have been made
including the development of;
 Casualty allocation board
 Tasking board
Figure 3 Disaster response kits
 WebEOC user manuals
In addition to this, four regions comprising of Northam, Kalgoorlie, Broome and Bunbury
and over 100 WA Health staff have received WebEOC training in the past 12 months.
Lessons Learnt Database
Capturing lessons learnt in the response to disasters is critical in improving policies and
practices. 2014 saw the creation of a WebEOC based lessons learnt database to enable
WA Health to capture identified issues, recognise improvements and make changes
accordingly. Regular meetings will be conducted to discuss and resolve items as they
arise.
State Disaster Trauma Plan
The State Disaster Trauma Plan underwent a complete revision to align with the National
AUSTRAUMAPLAN format. Relevant experts were consulted and the revised State Burn
Disaster Subplan has also been included in this plan. The revised plans ensure up to date
practices prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in the response to major
trauma and burns disasters. The plan was formally endorsed in February 2014.
10
Challenges
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WA Health is partnering with the Bureau of Meteorology for a Pilot Heatwave
Forecast. Health and emergency services will evaluate the system at the end of
summer and develop a heatwave warning system for the future.
Medical Management will continue to review the pre-hospital response and casualty
allocation process, including the review of WA Health Disaster Hospital Response
Team Subplan.
11
Logistics and operations
Summary
DPMU provides operational and logistic functions to improve the State's preparation for
and response to major incidents.
Achievements
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DPMU received specialised shipping containers (20
foot) for Health deployments but they can also be
used to support to other agencies, such as the
Disaster Victim Identification team.
AUSMAT deployable treatment modules are
nearing completion. Complete to date are ED (50100 patients), Resupply (additional 500 patients)
and a Specialised Burns module (10 – 20 patients).
Nearing completion are Paediatrics (200 patients)
and a second ED module.
Enhanced the operational relationship and ongoing
training with Urban Search and Rescue and
Figure 4 AUSMAT catering tent
Disaster Victim Identification unit.
Provided an increased level of logistical support to
Leavers 2013 through utilisation of the existing medical stockpile.
Provided the equipment and training to Northam Regional Hospital and Peel Health
Campus for conducting CBR decontamination.
Assisted in the preparation of a team supporting the disaster relief operation in the
Philippines.
Developed a competency for AUSMAT WA Logistic
personnel.
Challenges
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The development of an outpatient field clinic
capable of treating 100 -150 patients per day,
during daylight hours, for a period of 14 days.
Figure 5 DPMU disaster contingency
warehouse
12
AUSMAT
Summary
The Western Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT WA) is a multidisciplinary
team that can deploy to the site of a disaster at short notice, to provide health support for
up to two weeks. The team can include physicians, nurses, allied health and paramedics,
and non-medical members such as logisticians. The team has the ability to be selfsufficient for up to two weeks and has the capacity to provide its own shelter, power, food,
water, medical supplies and communications.
Achievements
Operation Philippines Assist 2013
In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines. It was one of the
most powerful storms on record. Two national AUSMAT teams (Team Alpha and Team
Bravo) were deployed under Operation Philippines Assist to provide support to local health
services.
DPMU deployed six AUSMAT WA personnel as part of Team Bravo, who worked in the
AUSMAT filled hospital based at Tacloban airport. The teams provided a range of services
including trauma surgery, outpatient services and basic obstetric services.
Annual AUSMAT WA Team Member Course
In March 2014 the annual AUSMAT WA Team Member Course was held at the Irwin
Barracks, Perth. There are two components of the exercise; AUSMAT Team Member
training and Logistics training. The former is aimed at training AUSMAT personnel for
medical assistance on deployment and the latter is to train logistics personnel for camp
establishment and maintenance on deployment.
At the 2014 exercise there were 28 participants, 24 in
the Team Member stream and 4 in the Logistics
stream. Participants included AUSMAT WA nurses
and medical staff, paramedics, Department of Fire and
Rescue Urban Search and Rescue personnel, and
interstate AUSMAT WA personnel.
The Team Member training is run over three full days
and incorporates lectures, field activities and a
simulated field scenario covering the following areas:
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Figure 6 AUSMAT classroom lecture
Safety and security awareness
Command and control
Survival in austere environments
Equipment management/familiarisation
13
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Humanitarian systems/international frameworks
Health standards/Clusters/Sphere principles
Australian government and agencies awareness
Cultural awareness and language
Team operations and dynamics
Code of conduct
Negotiation principles
The Logistics Officer Training is a five day course and has the following learning
outcomes:
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Establish and maintain shelters
Provide potable water
Provide appropriate electrical power
Manage human and general waste
Establish and maintain communications
Provide and manage resources
Manage a team
Figure 7 AUSMAT team building activity
Challenges
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Transitioning to new volunteer management technology.
14
Incidents
The following is a list of incidents that DPMU were involved in from July 2013 - June 2014:
19 July 2013
Pathwest Failure
9 September 2013
Mundaring Chemical Spill
18 September 2013
Geraldton Plane Crash
19 September 2013
Wangara Chemical Spill
8 October 2013
Karratha Ammonia Exposure
20 October 2013
NSW Bushfires
11 November 2013
Typhoon Haiyan Philippines
28 December 2013
Tropical Cyclone Christine
3 January 2014
Plantagenet Bushfires
6 January 2014
Metro-wide PACS Failure
10 January 2014
Perth Metropolitan Heatwave
12 January 2014
Mundaring Bushfire
8 February 2014
MUA Kellerberrin
26 February 2014
Goldfields Earthquake
8 March 2014
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370
10 March 2014
South West Telecommunication Failure
21 May 2014
Gidgegannup Bus Rollover
15
Looking ahead
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Emergency management
- To attend the ETS workshop to be conducted in Sydney in November 2014, and
provide training for one additional ETS Educator for WA to supplement the three
existing Educators in the State.
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Risk management
- Ongoing representation on the Risk Subcommittee, and collaboration with the
SEMC State Wide All Hazards Risk Management Project to consider Risk
Management workshop planning for Human Epidemic and Chemical Biological
Radiological and Nuclear hazards.
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Event management
- Ongoing collaboration with EHD to:
 Develop specific guidelines for event management on Rottnest Island.
 Workshops with first aid providers, event organisers
 Ongoing education EHO’s
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Education and training
- The education and training portfolio is aiming to redevelop the online e-learning
disaster management module. We have a public health student on practicum
who will make this her project with assistance from the Training and
Development Coordinator.
- There has been a purchase of an interactive product titled ‘Keepad’ which will be
integrated into the presentations for courses. This will allow training and
development to test user knowledge uptake and comprehension of subject
matter during a course.
- We have been approached by one of the regions to develop a WebEOC based
course for non-executive staff who may be utilised within an incident, our ability
to develop this course will depend on the available capacity of development
staff.
- There has also been an increase in requests to provide disaster management
sessions to differing university groups such as paramedicine students.
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Medical management
- Development of a Pilot Heatwave Forecast and a heatwave warning system for
the future.
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Logistics and operations
- Strive to attain a level of treatment and sustainment capability similar to the
National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.
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AUSMAT
- A new national database is planned for implementation in late 2014, for use by
AUSMAT WA.
- The annual AUSMAT Team member Course in 2015.
16
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© Department of Health 2014
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