RIT - Monthly Newsletter January 2024

Welcome to 2024! The last few weeks of 2023 felt like we were all hobbling to the end, but we're back, refreshed, with new year resolutions we will never keep. 

The whole disaster management sector has had a huge Christmas and New Year period, with storms leaving trails of destruction on the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused a great deal of damage, with subsequent flooding spreading across the Far North cutting access to communities.

Whether it was from a local, district or state level, we want to thank everyone who deployed to assist in the activations. We want to pass along our sincerest appreciation to all of those who gave up their time with families and friends over the last few weeks to be involved in the response and ongoing recovery work.

With less than six months to go until all services, people and functions are set to transition and be established, the disaster and emergency management reforms are picking up momentum, sharing all the characteristics of Newton's Second Law of Motion. Or as a more tangible example, like a 1965 Volkswagen Kombi going down a steep hill with it's original brakes.

So, let's get to it and through it with the latest updates from the RIT and around the agencies.

RIT

Acting Assistant Commissioner Marcus Hill is back at it again, adding to his YouTube portfolio.

Here's his latest update on what has happened, what is ahead for the RIT in 2024, along with an acknowledgement of the commitment and contribution of everyone involved in disaster response and the reforms program.

Have your say!  

• Submission: Emergency Services Reform Amendment Bill 2023
• Submission: State Emergency Service Bill 2023
• Submission: Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023

DM

Phase 3 has officially kicked off!

The final phase of the Disaster Management transition will include four components:

• Transition of the DM Systems
• Transition of the DM Functions to QRA
• Transition of the final DM functions to the QPS
• Finalisation of the build of the QPS Emergency Management Coordination Command (EMCC)

The road so far

Over the first two phases of the DM Project, we saw the transition of DM functions and staff to EMCC, as well as the transition of the SLAs for Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), Royal Life Saving Society Queensland (RLSSQ) and Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association (PCYC Queensland) Emergency Services Cadets Program.

As part of the transition from QFES to QPS, the new EMCC (Emergency Management & Coordination Command) within QPS has commenced SLA (Service Level Agreement) renewal negotiations with the following partners:

• Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ),
• Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland (RLSSQ), and the
• PCYC in support of the Emergency Service Cadets(ESC) program.

Negotiations have commenced, with the current SLA’s due to expire 30 June 2024 and renewed SLAs to commence from 1 July 2024, with varying terms.

The exceptional support by QFES towards the SLA partners during this transition has played a fundamental role in achieving a smooth handover to QPS. QPS and QFES continue to work closely together throughout the service agreement renewal process to ensure a positive and supportive experience for our SLA partners.

SES

SES crews have been working around the clock following the wild weather that has lashed Queensland in recent weeks.

A massive thanks is also extended to our emergency services colleagues south of the border in New South Wales and Victoria who were willing to lend a hand.

As mentioned above, public consultation has commenced on the disaster and emergency management bills.

The updated legislation aims to ensure Queensland's SES have the right foundations and legislative framework.

Last year was a busy time for the SES and the below video has been prepared reflect on the 12 months gone by and discuss a plan for 2024.

QRA

A special welcome to the new Deputies!

Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) recently welcomed two Deputy State Recovery Coordinators (DSRC) to work alongside CEO Jake Ellwood and QRA officers in recovery operations following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the south-east Queensland storms.

QFES Deputy Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM was appointed the DSRC role to lead recovery coordination following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and subsequent flooding.

DSRC Wassing has long played pivotal roles in disaster recovery in Queensland and Victoria, including the 2009 Black Saturday fires and 2017's Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Additionally, Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus is joining the enormous recovery task as DSRC to manage operations in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions.

DSRC Marcus brings a wealth of disaster recovery experience to the role, having played key roles in the response and recovery for both the 2011 and 2021-22 Queensland floods.

The two DSRCs will provide strategic advice to government agencies, oversee recovery operations, give regular updates on the recovery and meet with communities to better understand the disaster impacts.

QRA is proud to work with two highly experienced officers to support disaster recovery efforts in Far North Queensland and the south-east corner.

Support Australian service personnel and their families.

As our emergency services continue to respond weather events, everyone is being encouraged to get on board for Run Army 2024.

This year, the annual event will be held on the Anzac Day weekend (21 April 2024), with funds raised going towards supporting families of Australian service personnel.

Backed by RSL Queensland, the initiative that will see Queensland's emergency services join forces also represents support for our armed forces and first responders.

MRIP

The Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023 will establish Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) as an entity. The focus of this bill will be to strengthen the coordination of volunteers by establishing a single entity of marine rescue services whose aim is to keep Queenslanders safe in our waterways and ocean.

With a new identity and dedicated budget to support communities while on the water, MRQ will be recognised as Queensland’s integrated marine service.

Marine rescue volunteers play a critical role in keeping the community safe on the water by providing marine support and assisting with search and rescue operations.

The proclamation (before 30 June 2024) of the Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023 by Parliament is when Marine Rescue Queensland can officially operate, which means that until the legislation is enacted, no unit can operate as MRQ.

Volunteers from the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland (VMRAQ) and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) can join MRQ once it is established.

Once the legislation is proclaimed, marine rescue volunteers will be able to start their online induction in preparation for joining Marine Rescue Queensland on the nominated commencement date.

QFD

Instrumental role to play

After experiencing severe weather conditions in Far North and South East Queensland, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers stepped up and played a critical role in the recovery efforts. Their efforts are highly appreciated, as they continue to restore the affected areas to their original state.

The Fire and Rescue Service's (FRS) Technical Rescue and Swift Water Rescue crews were also actively involved in the disaster response. They played a vital role in rescuing residents following the inundation in impacted areas. These brave and skilled professionals worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the community, putting their own lives at risk to help others.

The dedication and hard work of both the RFS volunteers and the FRS crews were a testament to their professionalism and resilience to support their community in the face of adversity.

Work underway to establish QFD

Recruitment to new positions in RFS has commenced with eleven Brigade Training Support Officers now advertised.

Significant feedback has been received following Regional briefings for FRS that were held throughout December 2023, to discuss the proposed operating model, proposed FRS capability directorate and functions, and proposed regional organisational structures. The FRS leadership team is working through the feedback with stakeholders.

Design of QFD State Operations is progressing including capability analysis, structural design and process mapping. This work is building on impact assessments undertaken in late 2023.

Change impact assessments have also commenced in Strategy and Corporate Services to ensure there is a smooth transition of corporate support to QFD.  New reporting lines for the School of Fire and Emergency Services Training have been brought into effect this month. QFES has worked with the RIT Accommodation Committee on locations where staffing uplift will cause pressure on available accommodation and discussed the cross-agency approach to identifying accommodation solutions.

See below for a recap of the last QFD Townhall.

Keep informed!

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Last updated:

24 January 2024