Vol. 4 Issue 3. 2017

Winter 2017
The
Aftermath
of Cyclone
Debbie
Australian
Authorities
Combating
Terrorism
Drones?
Our Eyes
In The
Skies

Mate helping Mate
Neighbour helping Neighbour
People helping People
132 500 Fact Sheet
For emergency help in floods and storms
Need emergency help in floods and storms?
If you need the assistance of the State Emergency Service in
non-life threatening emergency situations during floods and
storms, you can:
• Call 132 500; or
• Lodge a request here: www.132500.qld.gov.au; Or
• Lodge a request on our 132 500 SES Assistance App available
for both Apple and Android devices.
SES volunteers help protect people and properties from storms
in QLD by:
• Educating people about how to protect their family and
property from floods and storms
• Temporarily repairing properties from further hail, heavy
rain or strong wind
• Clearing roads and property to give emergency access
• Rescuing people trapped or injured by flood or storm activity
• Providing emergency assistance in flood situations
??How can I help??
R Use a BUCKET to capture leaking water
R MOVE furniture from under leaks
R Internally TARP furniture
R SANDBAG entry points to your
house/business
R HELP your neighbours
R HELP your family
Handy Hints
P SES volunteers carry
out temporary repairs in
emergency situations
P Property owners should
seek professional trades
people to permanently
repair any damage caused
by storms or floods
P It is the responsibility of
the landowner to remove the
debris from their property
Call
132 500
Australia
Wide!
If your emergency
is life threatening
call 000 (triple zero)
For more information, contact us as per below:
© State of Queensland (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services) 2016
All Queensland Fire and Emergency Services material in this document – except any material protected by a trademark, and
unless otherwise noted – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
www.ses.qld.gov.au

CONTENTS
Editor’s Note
2
Latest Events
• Red Cross says Thank You
• Survive & Thrive 2
Symposium
• Resilient Australia Awards
2017
The Aftermath of Cyclone
Debbie
Eyes in the Skies
Emergency Kit Essentials
How to stay connected
Combating Terrorism
Changes to the CFA
Enhancing Disaster Warnings
Acupuncture used in
Emergency Rooms
Apps for an Emergency
3
4
5
6-9
10
12
14-17
20-23
24
26
28
33
Front cover image from Japan Meteorogical Agency
australian
emergency
services magazine
www.aesj.com.au
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1

EDITORS NOTE
2
Just as our Autumn edition
was being distributed, Cyclone
Debbie was forming off the east
coast of Queensland. None of us
could have predicted the extent
of the devastation or deluge that
followed.
The continuous powerful winds
that hit North Queensland then
developed into an intense rain
depression that caused flooding
from Queensland to New South
Wales and as far reaching as New
Zealand. It certainly was one of
the largest systems Australia has
seen for some time as the satellite
images from space showed us.
(See front cover)
Yet again our Emergency services
departments went into overdrive
and provided assistance to
thousands of Queenslanders
immediately affected. The
Australian Red Cross held a
barbeque to say thankyou to
these agencies for their continued
support.
In this Winter edtion of Australian
Emergency Services Magazine, we
look at the particularly unusual
system Cyclone Debbie was and
the flooding that followed in
Northern New South Wales. As
you will read the weather system
was quite unpredictable.
An interesting article on some
new technology helping us to
know how to stay connected
with your mobile when often
during these natural disasters our
communication lines are affected.
There is also an interesting
development occuring in our
emergency departments with
the use of alternative therapies
such as acupuncture to treat pain
management.
To all our members and
supporters we hope you and your
families have a safe and warm
winter ahead and look forward to
our next edition as we gear up for
the warmth of spring!
Happy Reading
Emma Parker
Editor

LATEST NEWS
RED CROSS AND TEYS AUSTRALIA THANKS EMERGENCY
SERVICE AGENCIES
The Australian Red Cross and Teys
Australia hosted a barbeque in April
to say thankyou to the emergency
responders that worked tirelessly in
the wake of Cyclone Debbie.
250 people took the opportunity
to attend the barbeque enjoying
the chance to wind down and
acknowledge the hard work and new
friendships and partnerships formed
during the response to the latest
Queensland cyclone.
Australian Red Cross Central
Queensland Regional Manager
Janeen Miesch said, “Red Cross was
involved in the response to Cyclone
Debbie, and we saw emergency
services people work long hours,
under pressure, giving their time and
effort, and sharing their expertise.
“The fantastic work that was carried
out by each of the agencies, and the
partnerships between organisations,
is truly worth acknowledging.
“The barbecue is an opportunity to
pat our colleagues on the back and
of course to help us recover from our
own personal impacts of this natural
disaster.
“Red Cross and Teys have been
keen to show their appreciation for
the work of agencies, by both staff
and volunteers. Personnel from the
disaster response agencies stepup
repeatedly at times that can be
challenging for themselves and
their own families; they do this
considering their community and
their colleagues.”
General Manager for Teys Australia
in Rockhampton, Wasantha
Mudannayake said Teys and Red
Cross have been keen to show their
appreciation for the work of agencies,
by both staff and volunteers.
“This barbecue offers an opportunity
for us to acknowledge their
contributions and hard work in
response to Cyclone Debbie. The
contributions of these agencies
will have made such a significant
difference to a large number of
people, and for a long time to come,”
said Mr Mudannayake said.
The event was also supported by
Rockhampton Regional Council,
by Lions Club, Mt Archer and
Castlemaine.
3

LATEST NEWS
SURVIVE
AND THRIVE 2
Paramedic Resilience Symposium
Following Following the the resounding success Confirmed presenters:
and interest generated in the first
and Survive interest and generated Thrive Symposium in the first Tony Presentations Walker – Ambulance
include:
Survive held and in 2016, Thrive Survive Symposium
and Thrive 2 Victoria CEO – working together
held will in 2016, build on Survive the commitment and Thrive of 2 with Beyond Blue
will build ANZCP, on PA the and commitment
CAA to address Liz Thyer – Burnout in Australian
mental health of our paramedics paramedics
of these in Australia three and organisations
New Zealand. Ari Peach – Is counselling
to address Paramedics mental are four health times of more working for paramedics?
our paramedics likely to suicide in than Australasia any other Erin Smith – The long-term
and health New Zealand. professional, Paramedics
we don’t want impact of 9/11 on first responders
to own this statistic.
Sean Thompson – Peer group case
are four times more likely to studies of mental health issues
suicide and support.
Join than us in Melbourne, any other keep health the Terry Savage – Paramedic
professional, conversation we alive don’t and take want back Personal Story
the learnings to your fellow Personal Non-member paramedic rate stories $88 (inc and GST)
to own this statistic.
paramedics so we can build beating mental illness
paramedic resilience.
Black Dog Institute supporting
4
A one-day challenging symposium | Friday 23 June 2017
Victoria University, Flinders Street, Melbourne Campus
Presented by Paramedics Australasia, Australian
Join us in Melbourne, keep the conversation alive and take back the
learnings to your fellow paramedics so we can build paramedic resilience.
• Tony Walker – Ambulance Victoria CEO – working together with beyondblue
• Lisa Holmes – Sharing the wisdom of our veteran paramedics
• Liz Thyer – Burnout in Australian paramedics
• Ari Peach – Is counselling working for paramedics?
• Erin Smith – The long-term impact of 9/11 on first responders
• Personal paramedic stories and beating mental illness
• Chris Mawson – Art therapy in PTSD
• Mental health for rural and remote paramedics.
Experts, presentations, panel session, personal stories, research
PA and ANZCP member rate $66 (inc GST)
(includes full day symposium and catering)
Register at www.paramedics.org/events/
first responders
Mental health for rural and
remote paramedics
Experts, presentations, panel
session, personal stories, research
and support
Visit the Symposium webpages
with all the details

LATEST NEWS
2017 RESILIENT
AUSTRALIA
AWARDS
The Resilient Australia Awards is a
national program that recognises and
promotes initiatives that strengthen
community disaster resilience across
the nation.
By celebrating innovation and
exemplary practice, the awards
showcase work that is often unseen,
motivating others to think about how
they can be better prepared and more
disaster resilient.
The awards program started in 2000,
and has a solid history in Australia’s
emergency management sector.
For more information, email
ResilientAustraliaAwards@ag.gov.au.
Applications for the 2017 Resilient
Australia Awards are now open and
close on the 30th June.
Entries for this year’s awards must
relate to projects/initiatives which
commenced after 1 January 2015, or
demonstrate significant outcomes or
enhancements since 1 January 2015.
The Resilient Australia Awards are
proudly sponsored by the Australian
Attorney-General’s Department
in conjunction with the states and
territories.
Award eligibility information and
judging criteria is detailed in the
following guidelines:
2017 Resilient Australia Awards
Guidelines that can be found on the
website
To submit an application, visit the
2017 Resilient Australia Awards
website.
Award categories
This year’s state and territory award
categories are:
• Resilient Australia Business
Award
• Resilient Australia Community
Award
• Resilient Australia Government
Award
• Resilient Australia School Award
• Resilient Australia Photography
Award - People’s Choice.
The winners of the state and territory
award categories will automatically
progress to consideration for the
three national award categories:
• Resilient Australia National
Award
• Resilient Australia National
School Award
• Resilient Australia National
Photography Award.
If you have a project which
crosses over three or more states
or territories, you may enter your
project directly into the Resilient
Australia National Award category.
If you have a project which crosses
over two states or territories, you may
select a lead jurisdiction and enter it
in the appropriate award category in
that jurisdiction.
The Resilient Australia National
Awards will be presented at a
ceremony in November-December
2017.
5

THE AFTERMATH
OF CYCLONE
DEBBIE
6
The devastating flood damage
wreaked by Tropical Cyclone
Debbie has left many residents in
northern New South Wales facing
an enormous cleanup that could
take months.
Any Lismore local will tell you
that flooding is a fact of life in the
Northern Rivers. In the floods of
1954 and 1974, the Wilsons River
rose to a record 12.17 metres. This
time around, the river peaked at
11.59m, breaching the flood levee
built in 2005 for the first time.
So what are the conditions that
caused those historic floods? And
are they any different to the conditions
of 2017?
Like the current flood, cyclonic
rains also caused the 1954 and
1974 events. But unlike those past
events, both of which were preceded
by prolonged wet weather,
almost all of the extreme rainfall
from ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie
fell within 24 hours.
More interesting still is the fact
that we are not currently experiencing
La Niña conditions,
which have historically formed
the backdrop to severe flooding in
eastern Australia. The 1954 flood

was preceded by an east coast low
from February 9-11, followed by
a decaying tropical cyclone from
February 19-22. Thirty people
were killed as flood records were
set in Lismore, Kyogle, Casino,
Nimbin and Murwillumbah.
Some places received more than
1,000mm of rain in 14 days.
In 1974, former Tropical Cyclone
Zoe unleashed torrential rain over
Lismore, Wyrallah and Coraki.
From March 10-13, some stations
received almost 1,000mm in just
four days. One analysis described
the flood as a once-in-70-year
event.
This time around, the remains of
Tropical Cyclone Debbie delivered
extreme rainfall to northern
NSW towns including Murwillumbah,
Chinderah and Lismore,
despite having crossed the coast
several days earlier and more than
1,200km to the north. Floods
as far apart as Rockhampton in
central Queensland and northern
New Zealand show the storm’s
colossal area of influence.
During the event, 20 rainfall stations
in Queensland and 11 sites
in NSW recorded their wettest
March day on record. Mullumbimby,
in the Brunswick River
catchment, received a staggering
925mm during March – over half
the annual average in a single
month – causing major flooding
in the region.
The heaviest rainfall in the Wilsons
River catchment was at Terania
Creek, which received 627mm
over March 30-31, 99% of it in
the 24 hours from 3am on March
30. Lismore recorded 324.8mm
of rain in the 18 hours to 3am on
March 31, its wettest March day
in more than 100 years. A little
further out of town, floodwaters
submerged the gauge at Lismore
Airport, so unfortunately we do
not have reliable figures for that
site.
The main difference between the
current flooding and the 1954 and
1974 floods is that the previous
events both occurred against a
background of sustained La Niña
conditions. These tend to deliver
above-average tropical cyclone
activity and high rainfall totals,
which increase flood risk.
During the early 1970s, Australia
experienced the longest period of
La Niña conditions in the instrumental
record. This unleashed
phenomenal deluges across virtually
the entire country. By the end
of 1973, many catchments were
already saturated as the wet season
started early, culminating in the
7

wettest January in Australia’s rainfall
records.
In 1974 the Indian Ocean was
also unusually warm (what meteorologists
call a “negative Indian
Ocean Dipole (IOD) phase”),
further enhancing rainfall in the
region. When negative IOD events
coincide with La Niña conditions
in the tropical Pacific, the warm
sea temperatures reinforce one
another, resulting in more evaporation
and increased rainfall.
This double whammy resulted in
the exceptionally wet conditions
experienced across the country
during 1974.
In January 1974, the Northern
Territory, Queensland and Australia
as a whole recorded their
wettest month on record, while
South Australia and New South
Wales recorded their second-wettest
January on record. Torrential
monsoon rains in the gulf country
of Queensland transformed the
normally dry interior into vast
inland seas, flooding all the way
to Lake Eyre in the arid zone of
South Australia.
In contrast, Tropical Cyclone
Debbie formed under neutral
conditions, rather than during
a La Niña. In fact, the Bureau of
Meteorology is currently on El
Niño watch, meaning that there
is double the normal risk of an El
Niño event bringing low rainfall
and high temperatures to Australia
by mid-2017.
So, unlike the 1950s and 1970s,
the current flooding happened
despite the absence of conditions
that have driven major flooding
in the past. It seems extraordinary
that such a damaging cyclone
could develop under these circumstances,
and deliver such high
rainfall over such a short time.
This suggests that other factors
may be at play.
A rapidly warming climate means
that storms are now occurring in
a “super-charged” atmosphere.
As temperatures increase, so does
the water-holding capacity of the
lower atmosphere. The oceans
are also warming, especially at
the surface, driving up evaporation
rates. Global average surface
temperature has already risen by
about 1℃ above pre-industrial levels,
leading to an increase of 7% in
the amount of water vapour in the
atmosphere.
Of course, it is hard to determine
the exact impact of climate change
on individual storms. However,
climate scientists are confident
about the overall trends.
Australia’s land and oceans have
warmed by 1℃ since 1910, with
much of this warming occurring
since 1970. This influences the
background conditions under
which both extremes of the rainfall
cycle will operate as the planet
continues to warm. We have high
confidence that the warming trend
will increase the intensity of extreme
rainfall experienced in eastern
Australia, including southeast
Queensland and northern NSW.
While it will take more time to determine
the exact factors that led
8

to the extreme flooding witnessed
in March 2017, we cannot rule
out the role of climate change as a
possible contributing factor.
CSIRO’s latest climate change
projections predict that in a hotter
climate we will experience intense
dry spells interspersed with
periods of increasingly extreme
rainfall over much of Australia.
Tropical cyclones are projected to
be less frequent but more intense
on average.
That potentially means longer and
more severe droughts, followed by
deluges capable of washing away
houses, roads and crops. Tropical
Cyclone Debbie’s formation after
the exceptionally hot summer of
2016-2017 may well be a perfect
case in point, and an ominous sign
of things to come.
First published on “The
Conversation”
Joelle Gergis
ARC DECRA Climate Research
Fellow, School of Earth Sciences,
University of Melbourne
9

10
EYES IN THE SKIES

In Australia, unmanned aerial
vehicles – or drones – are now being
used by the police in most states as a
tool to help fight crime or to assist in
rescue missions.
For example, drones are being used
to locate people on the ground and
transmit GPS coordinates back to an
operator during bushfires. They can
also be used to create 3D maps of
terrain in advance of an upcoming
operation. And some drones can even
detect chemicals or radiation.
Drones are increasingly being used
in law enforcement as well as in the
military and by intelligence agencies.
Yet, despite their benefits, some
members of the public have resisted
their adoption. There has also been
friction between police services, civil
aviation authorities and regulatory
bodies that monitor privacy.
The main concern is that drones,
flown by either the police or the
public, could unintentionally capture
footage of people going about their
normal life.
Current privacy laws do not
specifically address drones flown
by the public or non-governmental
organisations, leaving privacy
controls largely undetermined and
prosecution in the case of misuse
somewhat arbitrary.
Another concern is whether police
will receive proper training in
operating drones before they are
given appropriate licenses by the
relevant civil aviation authorities –
especially since training can be quite
expensive.
Despite assurances from the police
that drones are intended to be used
only for specific rescue and crime
fighting missions, Australians may
not be convinced until formal
legislation regarding privacy
protection is enacted. This is
particularly the case for monitoring
drones flown by the public as a
recreation.
In the US, the debate has been even
more hotly contested as drones are
being openly used for surveillance.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation,
which is a civil liberties advocacy
group, had filed a lawsuit against the
Federal Aviation Authority to find
out which organisations had sought
permission to fly drones.
Uses and abuses
As with any other form of technology,
benefits come with the potential for
misuse. Drones are readily available
and pose a risk if flown without care
or training, as was case of the drone
that crashed during the Cricket
World Cup final at the MCG and
others.
The use of drones in a public
environment exposes the user to
prosecution. Civil aviation authorities
in various countries, such as the
UK, have setup a modus operandi
covering how they are meant to be
operated by the common user.
Further, drones can be used by
criminals or spies to attain valuable
information or even as a way to
smuggle small items. Since drones
are typically quite discrete, many
law enforcement agencies are using
unconventional means to obstruct
them, such as using other larger
drones or eagles.
Most current policing operations
of drones have limited contact with
the common user as they are mostly
restricted to information gathering.
However, with the advent of drone
technology and an increase in
autonomy, one can expect people to
be much more involved.
Eyes on the eyes in the skies
With the growing use of drones in
public environments, it is important
to understand whether people
accept them and how they react to
drones. So we recently undertook
a large-scale survey to determine
public reaction to drones in different
scenarios.
Our research shows that the
perception of drones is a delicate and
complicated issue, and it is influenced
by several factors such as cultural
background and even gender.
One interesting result was that
women tended to think drones were
more friendly. We can only speculate
on why this was the case. But the
answer may lie in gender differences
observed in the perception of agentbased
technology.
Men are thought to prefer active and
autonomous behaviour in agents
and robots whereas women are more
sceptical of such characteristics.
Given that the drones generally
operate discretely or in a subtle
fashion, this may have led to women
appreciating them more.
Yet the two points of utmost
importance for our survey
respondents were safety and privacy.
Some even remarked that they would
feel intimidated if a drone were
used in a public environment. Other
research has also triggered an ethical
debate on the deployment of drones
in war.
As with any other forms of
technology, the assimilation and
deployment of drones in society will
require careful deliberation, proper
testing and the establishment of
relevant legislation.
Omar Mubin
Western Sydney University
11

EMERGENCY KIT
ESSENTIALS
HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO
PREPARE FOR, SURVIVE AND COPE WITH EMERGENCIES.
Know
All householders need to
know where your
Emergency Kit is kept.
On this page is a list of items which should be in your
kit at all times. There is also a list of extra items which
if you do not keep at all times you should add to your
kit during storm or cyclone season.
FOOD AND WATER
COMMUNICATIONS
Check
and update the contents
of your kit regularly, to
ensure everything is in
working order and has
not expired.
Discuss
your Emergency Kit
with all householders
and make sure everyone
knows what to do in an
emergency.
KNOW YOUR
EMERGENCY
CONTACTS
Range of non-perishable
MEDICAL AND
SANITATION
food items
Bottled water
First Aid Kit and manual
Essential medications,
prescriptions and dosage
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Soap/shampoo
Personal hygiene items
LIGHT
Flashlight/torch with
extra batteries
Battery powered lantern
Battery powered radio with
extra batteries
Traditional wired telephone
Prepaid wired telephone
Prepaid phone cards and
coins for phone calls
CLOTHING AND
FOOTWEAR
Warm jumper, waterproof
jacket, hat and gloves
for everyone
Closed-toed shoes or
boots for everyone
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
Whistle, utility knife,
duct/masking tape
12

Plastic garbage bags, ties
Safety glasses and sun glasses.
MISCELLANEOUS
Special items for infants
(nappies, formula etc)
Special items needed by
elderly or people with
special needs
Spare house and car keys
Pet food, water and
other animal needs
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Keep original or certified copies of
these documents in your Emergency
Kit.
Scan copies of them and save the
files on a USB memory stick or CD
to include in your kit. Keep all these
items in sealed plastic bags.
Insurance papers for your
house and contents, cars
and for valuable items
Inventory of valuable
household goods
Wills and life insurance documents
House deeds/mortgage documents
Birth and marriage certificates
Passports/visa details
Stocks and bonds
Medicare, pension cards,
immunisation records
Bank account and credit card details
A back-up copy of important
computer files
Household Emergency Plan with
emergency contact numbers
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DOWNLOAD AN
EMERGENCY PLAN FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD GO TO:
www.qld.gov.au/emergency/dealing-disasters/emergency-kit
13

14

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED
WHEN THE NETWORK IS
DOWN
When Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit
Queensland this week, one of the
casualties was the region’s mobile
phone network.
Phone towers can stop working
because they have been damaged by
the wind, or because they have run
out of diesel to run their generators.
Whatever the cause, the end result
is the same: a number of people
will find their mobile phones not
connected to the network, leaving
them without communications for
an extended period of time.
It’s not just tropical cyclones that
can affect mobile communications.
Bushfires and other disasters can
also lead to a break in the network.
This loss of communication is
extremely isolating, and potentially
very dangerous. Whether it’s the
inability to call an ambulance or the
absence of regular safety warnings,
a lack of communications can be
life-threatening.
The sensation of being cut off from
the rest of the world also brings
with it a danger of a different kind.
Severe isolation can cause concern
15

for our loved ones. This very human
problem is what led me to start my
research in this area.
So how can we let people
communicate using their mobile
phones, when the phone network
isn’t available?
For nationwide communications,
you really do need phone towers
and their supporting infrastructure.
There currently just aren’t any good
alternative solutions to providing
communications on such a large
scale.
But if you change the scope of the
solution to focus more on internal
communications within smaller
communities, alternatives suddenly
begin to present themselves.
I have spent the past seven years
designing low-cost devices and
free software to try to solve this
problem. From this research and
design process emerged the Serval
Project. The concept is simple: we
create Mesh Extender devices that
act as communications hubs.
Mobile phones connect to Mesh
Extenders using ordinary Wi-Fi.
The Mesh Extender devices then
relay communications between
other mobile phones using an app
that can be downloaded from the
Mesh Extender itself. No internet or
cellular network is required.
Compatibility is currently limited
to Android devices with the hope of
expanding to other providers as the
project grows.
Installation of the app is all that is
required to connect a mobile phone
to the Mesh Extender system, and
all communication that takes place
on the network is encrypted, so the
user’s privacy remains secure.
They system currently operates
within a closed network, only
connecting with mobile phones
that already have the app installed.
To connect with existing phone
networks, partnerships with
existing mobile operators would
need to be formed in the future.
The advantage of using Wi-Fi is that
it is already in almost every mobile
phone on the planet. Its range,
however, it still quite limited.
So to make our system work
over useful distances, the
Mesh Extenders have a second
radio installed. That radio can
communicate over several
kilometres, as long as there are no
significant obstacles.
The Mesh Extenders can also
automatically relay among
themselves, moving messages like a
bucket brigade. This fully automatic
operation makes it easy to build
larger networks quickly, and also
lets the network connect around
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16

obstacles, such as hills, that might
prevent a direct link.
At the moment, this idea is still
experimental. We have built
prototype devices and apps, but
they have not yet been widely
tested.
This is starting to change. In
2016, the Serval Project was
selected as one of five winning
innovators to take part in the
Pacific Humanitarian Challenge,
a program by the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT)
InnovationXchange that aims to
rethink the Australian response
to humanitarian disasters in the
Pacific.
We are now getting ready to test
our technologies in Vanuatu later
this year. Our goal is simple:
to understand how useful our
solutions are today, and to identify
the areas where we can improve
them.
The pilot is an important step
in our quest to provide effective
communication alternatives.
Not only will it help us to meet
the needs of vulnerable Pacific
Island populations during times
of disaster, but it will also help
us to better understand how this
technology could be used locally in
Australia.
Its use in cyclones and bushfires
here immediately come to mind.
But our technology could also
be used to assist remote, isolated
Australian communities with little
to no communication options.
If you can make something simple
and robust enough to use during a
natural disaster, then it’s going to
be able to handle a variety of other
uses as well.
These technologies can be used
to create an internet-less system,
similar to the “Internet of Things”,
but one that connects a range of
devices without the need to be
online.
Farmers, for example, in regions
where connection to the internet is
impossible, could use this system
to remotely control water pumps or
monitor feral dog traps, saving time
and vehicle wear.
More efficient land management
increases the capacity and
productivity of the land. The end
result is more profitable farms.
Unlike some existing farm
automation systems, our
technologies are cheap and simple
enough for the smallest of family
farms to use.
Being able to help family farms
is important. It is these farming
families that build the heart and
soul of our remote communities,
through the need for schools, shops,
hospitals and other services.
If we can make their lives easier,
safer and more productive through
better local communications, we
stand a chance of improving the
long-term financial prosperity of
farms
So what started out as a foreign aid
project has evolved to incorporate
the needs of Australians into its
design.
Paul Gardner-Stephen
Senior Lecturer, Flinders University
First published on “The
Conversation”
17

18

19

AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR
COMBATING TERROR
20

ITIES
ISM
The recent terror attacks in London
and Manchester have raised concerns
about whether authorities here in
Australia are doing enough to combat
terrorism.
These events have led to accusations
that police and security agencies are
not being upfront about the threat
of terrorism – in particular Islamist
terrorism. It has been suggested
they are in denial about the link
between terrorism, refugees and
Islam, and are too concerned with
maintaining good relationships with
the Muslim community. Much of
this commentary overlooks some key
points.
First, the threat we face from
terrorism in Australia is completely
different from the UK or the rest of
Europe. These countries face a higher
number of terrorist threats from
returning foreign fighters, and more
people on terrorist watchlists.
This is not to diminish the threat we
face domestically. Hence Australian
authorities have on all fronts
been developing comprehensive
responses. These include the
introduction of laws targeting foreign
fighters, preventive legislation
aimed at detained terrorists,
deradicalisation programs in prisons,
the establishment of state-based
diversion teams that target those
identified as at risk of radicalising to
violent extremism, counter-terrorism
hotlines and various local projects
supporting grassroots efforts to tackle
radicalisation and violent extremism.
Some commentators may argue
we don’t actually know if these
approaches or programs work, or
that these have failed to prevent
terrorism. But it is early days and
some programs have only recently
been established.
Tackling violent extremism is an
evolving issue. But there is much
evidence to indicate Australian
authorities’ strategies hold great
promise.
When an individual commits a
terrorist act – particularly someone
previously known to police – it is
a hard reminder of the limits of
counter-terrorism efforts. It should
be an opportunity to reflect on
whether we have the right mix of
legal and preventive responses, while
remembering that legal responses
based on detection and detention
have their limitations.
If we really want to be able to tackle
violent extremism, we need to have
an open debate and deal with some
21

difficult issues.
As I have argued before, we need to
consider a range of causes. Singling
out and overemphasising one – such
as religion or refugee intakes from
Muslim countries – only inhibits a
comprehensive policy response.
Leading academics in terrorism
research have argued that we need to
take the role of faith-based ideology
seriously in understanding terrorism
and its prevention. This is because
groups like Islamic State take it
seriously. They emphasise ideological
rationalisations to justify their actions
and attract fellow Muslims to their
cause.
But this does not mean it is the
most significant factor in leading
Muslims to commit acts of terrorism.
Likewise, just because a number of
terrorist episodes in Australia have
involved individuals with a refugee
background, that does not mean one
causes the other. In other words,
correlation doesn’t equal cause.
Attacking the head of ASIO as
somehow being in denial about
the link doesn’t not help us get any
closer to how we can best tackle the
threat of violent extremism. There
are multiple pathways into and away
from violent extremism.
For instance, research has shown that
peers, associates and families play key
roles in the radicalisation process.
That is, they help reinforce personnel
grievances and the jihadist ideology,
providing the intent and capability to
commit acts of terrorism.
This is why former prime minister
Tony Abbott’s comments, made
after the London attacks, that
“officials were too concerned
about maintaining relations with
the Muslim community” or that
“Islamophobia, unlike terrorism, has
never killed anyone” are mystifying.
The police maintaining good
relations with the Muslim community
is essential to the passing of
intelligence to police and in helping
to identify youth at risk. Episodes of
Islamophobia only further alienate
the Muslim community. Making
Muslims feel like they don’t belong
is an identified pathway into violent
extremism.
It’s important to keep in mind that
one of the aims of terrorism is not
just to take human life, but to instil
fear in the broader population.
The loss of life to terrorism
understandably provokes a demand
for a forceful response. Tough
language like “enough is enough”
is important in offering public
reassurance governments are taking
the issue seriously.
But we have to keep in mind that a
goal of terrorism is to provoke an
overreaction and create divisions in
society. Jihadi ideologue Abu Bakr
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Naji in his treatise the Management
of Savagery – the textbook that
has guided much of Islamic State’s
brutality – stated that this should be
a key goal of violent jihad. We should
be mindful of not falling into this
trap.
Adrian Cherney
Associate Professor, School of
Social Science, The University of
Queensland
First Published “The Conversation”
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CHANGES TO THE
CFA
VOLUNTEERS ONLY
24
The CFA will be a volunteer-only
firefighting service and the role of
volunteers further enshrined under
law, while a new organisation Fire
Rescue Victoria will be established
to fight fires in Melbourne and major
regional centres, in much-needed
and overdue reforms to the state’s fire
services that will keep Victorians safe.
Victoria has some of the best
firefighters in the world, but they
currently operate under systems and
structures that have not changed
since the 1950s.
In just the last decade, eight reviews
have been undertaken into Victoria’s
fire services, including the Victorian
Bushfires Royal Commission. They
have made it clear that the state’s
services are in need of modernisation.
The Victorian Government’s changes,
outlined as part of the Fire Services
Statement, will respond to these
issues, and ensure Victorians can rely
on modern and local fire services to
keep them safe, regardless of where
they live.
Under the reforms, the CFA will
be further protected under law as a
volunteer service and our 1,220 CFA
brigades will continue to serve their
communities as they have always
done, as well as providing vital surge
capacity during major emergencies.
Importantly, CFA volunteers

currently serving at one of the state’s
35 integrated stations will be able to
remain at that station, co-locating
with Fire Rescue Victoria services.
Additionally, the Government will
make sure CFA volunteers have the
equipment and support they need,
with a dedicated $56.2 million CFA
Support Fund to strengthen volunteer
recruitment, training, brigade
support and leadership.
The new Fire Rescue Victoria will
be established to fight fires in major
regional cities and Melbourne,
bringing together the MFB and career
staff from the state’s 35 integrated
CFA stations, including the 450 extra
career firefighters currently being
delivered.
Fire Rescue Victoria will be based
on other successful police and
emergency services organisations,
including the model in New South
Wales, and be led by its own
Commissioner.
Consistent with Recommendation
63 of the Victorian Bushfires Royal
Commission, an independent
Fire District Review Panel will
also be established. The Panel
will conduct future reviews of the
boundary between fire services,
based on population growth, urban
development and the volume of
Triple 000 calls.
Victoria’s emergency services will
also have the very best facilities and
equipment, with the establishment
of a new Emergency Services
Infrastructure Authority. One of
the first tasks for the new authority
will be to work with the CFA on
delivering a new $44 million station
building program.
The reforms include driving cultural
change, including an ambitious target
to quadruple the number of career
female firefighters in our fire services
from 100 to 400, within 4 years. We
will also increase the number of
women in CFA brigade leadership
roles from 265 to 909 over the same
period.
To roll out these reforms, an
Operational Implementation
Committee will be established and
chaired by Mr Greg Mullins AFSM,
former Commissioner of Fire and
Rescue NSW.
Fire and rescue services will continue
as normal, and the amount collected
through the Fire Services Property
Levy will not change over the next
two years while the reforms are
implemented.
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ENHANCING EMERGENCY WARNINGS
26
With the multitude of warnings
issued when an emergency hits, how
can emergency services ensure their
critical safety advice is received and
acted upon, rather than dismissed
as noise? Bushfire and Natural
Hazards CRC research undertaken
through the Queensland University
of Technology is helping emergency
services warn communities when
danger strikes.
The research involves testing the
wording and structure of warning
messages to better understand how
messages are understood and how
they might be translated into direct
action. The Connecting Communities
and Resilience team, led by Professor
Vivienne Tippett, is supporting both
individual organisations and national
initiatives, providing reviews and
assisting with the development of
evidence-based warning doctrine.
The researchers are collaborating
closely with the industry, with the
Inspector-General of Emergency
Management Queensland,
Queensland Fire and Emergency
Services, Emergency Management
Victoria, Victoria State Emergency
Service, Country Fire Authority,
NSW State Emergency Service,
Country Fire Service, the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services
Western Australia and the Bureau of
Meteorology all requesting reviews of
their warnings information.
Katherine Philp, Manager Regional
Engagement at the Bureau of

Meteorology, believes the research is
providing valuable insights that will
make a difference.
‘We are working to constantly
improve our communication,
particularly during severe weather,
so the observations and findings of
this research are of huge interest,’ Ms
Philip said.
Local councils are also benefiting.
The Bundaberg Regional Council
is looking at the frequency of
their warnings, the wording of the
information they disseminate during
an emergency, and the delivery
methods.
‘Improvements to existing, preformatted
warnings will be captured
in the next review of the Bundaberg
Local Disaster Management Plan and
subordinate plans,’ said Matt Dyer,
the council’s Disaster Management
Officer.
The council is also considering
how to involve the community
in future warnings development
and identifying how local citizens
could best receive warnings that are
effective and timely.
Minds have been expanded;
opportunities have been glimpsed
and a realisation had that there
is an existing and emerging
body of information that can be
integrated into local arrangements.
The Bundaberg Local Disaster
Management Group is proud to
model an example of how to build
relationships across sectors to the
greater disaster management good,’
Ms Dyer said.
SEQwater, a statutory authority in
Queensland, is also benefiting from
the study. The organisation has
sought input from the team on how
to improve their messaging about
releasing water from dams during a
flood. The aim is to achieve proactive
action by the community.
This research has wide-reaching
implications. The Australian
Broadcasting Commission local
radio in Wide Bay, Queensland is
working with the research team to
look at ways they can improve their
emergency broadcasting.
Nathan Maddock, Bushfire and
Natural Hazards CRC
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27

EMERGENCY ROOMS USING
ACUPUNCTURE TO TREAT
PAIN
A recent study conducted by RMIT University looks at the use of acupuncture
for pain relief across Australian hospitals. The study has been published in the
Medical Journal of Australia
28

Emergency medicine is not all about life and death
situations and high-tech solutions. Our study,
the largest of its kind in the world, shows using
acupuncture in the emergency department can relieve
acute pain.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of
Australia, finds acupuncture is as effective as
medication in treating pain for lower back pain and
ankle sprain. But it took more than an hour for either
to provide adequate pain relief.
Our study builds on previous research to show the
effectiveness of acupuncture to treat chronic (longterm)
pain.
Yet, there are several barriers to using acupuncture
routinely in emergency departments.
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What is acupuncture and who
practices it?
Using acupuncture to relieve pain
involves placing needles in various
parts of the body to stimulate the
release of endorphins and other
neurochemicals, which can act as
the body’s naturally occurring pain
relievers.
For generations various cultures
around the world have used
acupuncture to treat multiple
conditions, including providing
pain relief. And in Australia, it is
reimbursed through the Medicare
Benefits Schedule when administered
by a medical doctor.
Acupuncture is one of the most
accepted forms of complementary
medicine among Australian general
practitioners. It also appears in
treatment guidelines for doctors in
how to manage pain.
Why we ran the study and what we
did
Anecdotally, we were aware that
several emergency department
doctors, in both public and private
hospitals in Australia, were treating
patients’ pain with acupuncture.
But until this large federally-funded
study, no-one had set up a trial like it
to show how effective it was.
Our trial was an “equivalence” study,
which means we aimed to see if the
different treatments were equivalent
rather than seeing if they were better
than placebo. We did this as it would
not be ethical to give a placebo to
people coming to an emergency
department for pain relief.
So, we randomly assigned more
than 500 patients to receive standard
painkillers, standard painkillers plus
acupuncture, or acupuncture alone
when they presented with back pain,
migraine or ankle sprain at four
Melbourne hospitals (some private,
some public). While the patients
knew which treatment they had, the
researchers involved in assessing their
pain didn’t (known as a single-blind
study).
The type of acupuncture we used
included applying needles at specific
points on the body for each condition,
as well as along points chosen by the
treating acupuncturist. This was to
reflect what would happen during
regular clinical practice.
Doctors who were also qualified
medical acupuncturists and
practitioners of traditional Chinese
medicine (registered in Victoria with
the Chinese Medicine Registration
Board of Australia) performed the
acupuncture.
After treatment, we assessed patients’
pain after an hour, and every hour
until discharge. We also rang them
for an update 24-48 hours after being
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discharged.
What we found
We found acupuncture, either alone
or with painkillers, was equivalent to
drugs-alone in providing pain relief
for lower back pain, ankle sprain, but
not for migraine.
When patients looked back on
their treatment, the vast majority
(around 80%) were satisfied with
their treatment regardless of which
treatment they had.
However, no treatment provided
good pain relief until after the first
hour.
What are the implications?
Our findings suggest acupuncture
may be a viable option for patients
who come to the emergency
department for pain relief. This
is especially important for those
who cannot or choose not to have
analgesic drugs.
This is also an important finding in
light of the potential for side effects
and abuse with opioid analgesics,
which might otherwise be used
to relieve pain in the emergency
department.
Previous research shows using
acupuncture to treat chronic pain
is comparable to morphine, is safer
and doesn’t lead to dependence. Our
findings suggest acupuncture also has
a role in treating acute pain.
However, our research raises
several issues, not only about
conducting such research but also
in implementing our findings in
practice.
We had to overcome many ethical,
policy and regulatory issues before
we started. These included issues
around the qualifications of medical
and non-medical acupuncturists
and employing traditional Chinese
medicine practitioners to deliver
acupuncture in a western medical
hospital.
And to more widely implement our
findings, we need to discuss the type
of practitioners best placed to deliver
acupuncture in hospital, what type
of training they need to work in the
emergency department and what type
of conditions they should treat.
Hopefully, our study will spark
further research to address these
issues and lead to the development
of safe and effective protocols for
acute pain relief that may involve
combining both modern and
ancient forms of medicine to achieve
rapid and effective analgesia for all
emergency department patients.
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BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY EVENT PLANNING
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT
PEOPLE FROM BUSHFIRES.
Our clients come from both the private and public sectors, across Victoria and interstate. They range
from individuals needing bushfire assessments for their properties, to private land developers and
government agencies such as local governments and environmental agencies requiring strategic planning
solutions.
32
Some well known Music Festival
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Event Bushfire & Emergency
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Event Emergency Plans - Bushfire
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The EMP will:
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• A prioritised works plan for
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Ecotide’s previous work has included
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APPS TO HELP
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EMERGENCY
TECHNOLOGY IS FOREVER CHANGING AND IN MOST CASES TRYING
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Australia. The app finds your location using a map and will give relevant information
around you. It also allows you to choose a location. The app also
provides information on total fire bans.
The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency
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The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a Triple Zero
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Emergency AUS App - delivers warning and incident information issued
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33

EMERGENCY
CONTACTS
For Police, Fire & Ambulance across Australia dial 000
SES PoliceLink Crimestoppers
131444 132500 1800 333 000
13HEALTH Health Direct Australia Bureau of Meteorology
1343 2584 1800 022 222 1300 659 213
International Incident Emergency Helpline
1300 555 135
Victorian Country Fire Authority
1800 240 667
FOR LOCAL NUMBERS OR INFORMATION PLEASE REFER TO YOUR STATE OR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE
&
For more
information or to
support Lifeline,
visit lifeline.org.au
facebook.com/LifelineAustralia
twitter.com/LifelineAust
building
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34

Medical Emergency Plan
If a medical emergency occurs at your workplace,
every second counts!
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately and ask
for AMBULANCE
• You will be asked a series of questions by the NSW Ambulance Call Taker which will assist us to provide the
most appropriate response to your emergency.
• Once you have answered these don’t hang up, stay on the phone as the NSW Ambulance Call Taker can
provide you with further first aid instructions or assistance if required.
• Keep the contact phone number you gave the NSW Ambulance Call Taker free in case they have to call back.
Write your organisation’s address and contact details below before it is needed in an emergency.
Suburb:
Street name and number:
For large buildings, identify a prominent meeting point.
Nearest cross street:
If in a rural area, note identifiable landmarks.
Emergency vehicle access point:
For rural addresses, GPS location (gates, house, landing strip etc).
Phone number you are calling from:
First Aid Officer
Contact your workplace first aid officer on telephone number:
Emergency vehicle meeting point
Ask a co-worker to meet the paramedics at the following meeting point:
Access
• For rural addresses or locations hard to find, have someone wait
outside the building/location to wave the ambulance down.
• Leave the front light on at night or use marker ribbons, vehicle
hazard or other lights to indicate entry gate or incident site.
• Clear hallways of obstructions to allow paramedics easy access.
• Reserve goods and services lift if required for stretcher access.
• Advise your receptionist that an ambulance has been called.
Reception telephone number:
If there is a dangerous incident, serious injury or illness, or a death,
you must report it to SafeWork NSW immediately and notify your
insurer within 48 hours. Call 131 050.
SafeWork NSW

www.rta.nsw.gov.au
When you’re on the road and feeling tired, what do you do? Well, despite all the ways you think
you can beat fatigue, there’s really only one quick fix.And that’s sleep. So don’t die for a deadline.
PLAN YOUR TRIP, PLAN YOUR STOPS AND MANAGE FATIGUE
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4567