AESM Vol 32, ISSUE 1 2023

VOL 32: ISSUE 1, 2023
NURSE
PRACTIONERS
COULD SAVE
RURAL HEALTH
BLACK SUMMER
BUSHFIRES
DISSECTED BY
200 EXPERTS
DROWNING FOR
LOVE - 5 WAYS
TO PROTECT
YOUR OWN LIFE
ANYONE CAN
SAVE A LIFE
- EVEN YOUR
KIDS

Get
storm
ready.
Storms can strike at any time, that’s why it’s important
to always be prepared.
Prepare your home
Stay safe while driving
Trim trees and branches close to your house
Secure loose items in your backyard
Clear gutters, downpipes and drains
Get your roof checked for damage or corrosion
Make sure all shades, sails and awnings are
properly fitted
Get your insurance up-to-date
Always follow flood warning signs
Never drive through flood water
Shelter vehicles under cover, not under trees
Avoid driving when a storm is coming
Get your insurance up-to-date
Helpful hints:
You can ask the council or energy
company to check trees on your street
that may pose a threat to your property or
powerlines.
Even if you’ve cleared your gutters
recently, they can soon fill up with leaves
and other debris, especially after a
downpour. On average you should check
they’re clear every couple of weeks.
If you don’t already know your neighbours,
go and introduce yourself. They might
need a hand getting storm ready. Plus,
when bad weather strikes it’s important to
be able to tell the SES who lives nearby.
Make sure everyone in your household
knows what to do in severe weather.
For tips on developing a house
emergency plan use the SES guide at
www.stormwise.com.au
If you do need help during a severe storm, call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500
Principal Partner
G018213 11/16

ARE THEY TRIPLE OK?
Look beyond the uniform of your peers and
family and friends in the emergecy services
and ask “are you OK?”
Learn more ruok.org.au

FEATURE
CONTENTS
FEATURE
6 Lessons From
Black Summer
200 Experts dissected
the Black Summer
Bushfires in detail.
Here are the 6 lessons
that came from this
analysis
What to Expect From
an El Nino
Not all La Nina’s have
been wet and not all El
Nino’s have been dry. It
is surprising to learn that
it depends where you live
in Australia
11
FEATURE
Free Satellite Data
to Monitor Natural
Disasters
A closer look at the
software that is available
for free to monitor
environmental changes
and natural disasters
7
Anyone Can Save A
Life
It can be vital to have the skills
to save a life if necessary.
Even our children should
be taught basic CPR as they
are often the ones at home
with a loved one in a medical
emergency.
Research with Impact
The Natural Hazards Research
Forum 2023, held at RMIT
University in Melbourne from
1st - 3rd May
17
Disaster Survivors
Need to Stay
Connected
Disaster survivors need help
staying connected to family
and friends after a natural
disaster.
25
21
15
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

THE REGULARS
• Editor’s Note
• Recent Events
Celebrating more than 3000 years of service in
the NSW SES
Understanding Black Summer Research
CFA VFVB State Championships
• My Health Record - Is it worth saving
• In the Spotlight - Port Hedland Volunteeer Group
• Emergency Breaks - Canberra
3
4
5
6
37
39
41
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34
Drowning For Love
5 Ways to protect your own
life when called upon to save
a life of someone you love in
the water.
MAGAZINE CONTACTS
27
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Editorial Content
editor@ausemergencyservices.com.au
Advertising Enquiries
advertise@ausemergencyservices.com.au
Distribution Enquiries
distribution@ausemergencyservices.com.au
Paramedics At The
Frontline Of Child
Abuse & Neglect
Paramedics could sound
early warnings of child abuse
and neglect as they are often
first witnesses. However
they need more support and
training.
Each edition features a
profile on a person, team,
partnership, squad or unit
to showcase their unique
contribution to the Emergency
Services industry.
EMERGENCY BREAKS
Explore local surrounds, or
new places that are only a
short plane trip or drive away,
so you can maximise every
minute of those days when
your name doesn’t appear
next to a call sign on the roster
POSTAL ADDRESS:
Suite 112, Locked Bag 1
ROBINA TC, QLD 4230
Scan Me
to download the AESM App
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

With the training to diagnose, test,
prescribe and discharge, nurse
practitioners could help rescue rural
health
It can be tough to access frontline
health care outside the cities
and suburbs. For the seven million
Australians living in rural communities
there are significant challenges in
accessing health care due to serious
workforce shortages, geographic
isolation and socioeconomic
disadvantage. This results in rural
people having poorer quality of life,
and long-term poor health outcomes.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON PG 31
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au
DISCLAIMER
The Australian Emergency Services Magazine
is a community educational resource
publication and does not promote itself
as a charity or fund raising institution, nor
solicit on behalf of charities and is no way
financially supported by or associated
with any government, union or similar
institution. The Australian Emergency Services
Magazine is an independent publication that
is not associated with any services or similar
entities.
Distribution of the publication is quarterly
and is circulated via a database of interested
parties, including business, subscribers,
advertisers, volunteer organisations,
emergency service sectors, emergency
and disaster management, government,
universities, TAFE and council libraries. A
digital magazine is distributed to a targeted
database in each State & Territory.
Every effort is made to ensure that material
presented in the Australian Emergency
Services Magazine was correct at the time of
printing and is published in good faith, no
responsibility or liability will be accepted by
AESM Pty Ltd.
The views and opinions expressed are not
necessarily those of AESM Pty Ltd and its
employees. The content of any advertising
or promotional material contained within
the Australian Emergency Services Magazine
is not necessarily an endorsement by AESM
Pty Ltd.
Published by AESM Pty Ltd
ABN: 97 659 160 899
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
We are always looking for new
and relevant content that
our readers will enjoy. If you
would like to be featured in
the magazine there are many
options. You may have a story
you would like to share, or
perhaps be featured in our “In
the Spotlight” regular column.
Please submit all articles or
expressions of interest to the
Editor for consideration at:
editor@ausemergencyservices.
com.au
Articles should be no more than
1000 words and be relevant
to the content within the
Australian Emergency Services
Magazine.
3
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

RECENT EVENTS
Almost 250 New South Wales State
Emergency Services (NSW SES) volunteers
in the Greater Sydney area, with more
than 3,000 years combined service, have
been honoured at the NSW SES Metro
Zone Award Ceremonies.
Volunteers were commended for their
courage, professionalism and service, as
well as the crucial roles they’ve played in
protecting local communities.
NSW SES Acting Commissioner Damien
Johnston was proud to celebrate
volunteers’ service as they were
recognised in front of their peers and
loved ones.
“Whether their service has spanned
decades or the past year, which saw
a prolonged and mammoth effort in
the face of unprecedented rainfall and
flooding, our volunteers have gone above
and beyond to save lives and create safer
communities,” Acting Commissioner
Johnston said.
“The awards not only commend our
volunteers, but also their loved ones who
have supported their service to the NSW
SES.”
Among the recipients are Blacktown Unit
Commander Barry Wademan and Mount
Druitt Deputy Unit Commander Geoffrey
Hickson, who were awarded the Life
Membership Award and Commissioner’s
Commendation for Courage respectively.
Mr Wademan’s Life Membership
recognises his service to the NSW SES,
which began in 1977 and has seen him
deployed to various major incidents,
including the Thredbo landslide disaster
and the Black Summer bushfires. Mr
Wademan has also helped pioneer swift
water rescue techniques.
Mr Hickson’s commendation celebrates
his courageous actions during a flood
rescue of a family in the Colo River in
2021.
The family of four were in a vessel rapidly
taking on water and moving downstream
with the strong currents before it
capsized and trapped them. Mr Hickson
safely rescued the father and, with the
assistance of other emergency services,
helped to retrieve the mother and two
children.
NSW SES Metro Zone Commander, Chief
Superintendent Allison Flaxman, was
delighted to see the awardees celebrated
for their efforts.
“Through their time as NSW SES
volunteers, they have safeguarded lives
and homes and helped local communities
CELEBRATING COURAGE AND MORE THAN
3,000 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NSW SES
become more resilient, while also
balancing the demands of everyday life.
The service our volunteers provide to their
local communities, and what they have
achieved is nothing short of amazing,”
Chief Superintendent Flaxman said.
Approximately 300 awards were
presented to nearly 250 recipients at the
NSW SES Metro Zone Award Ceremonies
at Rydges Parramatta, including:
• National Medals and/or Clasp:
Awarded for 15 years’ service and
a clasp for each further 10 years
thereafter through Government
House.
• Long Service Awards and/or Clasps:
Awarded in the form of a certificate
for five years’ diligent service and
every five years thereafter.
• NSW SES Commissioner’s Unit
Citations: Awarded to groups, teams
or Units for outstanding service.
• NSW SES Commissioner’s
Commendation for Courage:
awarded for an act of courage where
circumstances were hazardous and
worthy of recognition
• NSW SES Commissioner’s
Commendation for Service: Awarded
for exemplary service to the NSW
SES. This includes, but is not
restricted to, special project work, an
initiative or innovation that improves
the NSW SES.
• NSW SES Commissioner’s Certificate
of Appreciation: Awarded for service
that is worthy of recognition.
• NSW SES Life Membership Award:
Awarded to members who have
made an outstanding contribution
to the NSW SES over a prolonged
period.
• NSW SES Commissioner’s Certificate
of Appreciation (groups or units)
• NSW SES Commissioner’s Unit
Citations (individuals)
• NSW SES Commissioner’s Certificate
of Recognition
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 4

RECENT EVENTS
Black Summer research report increases understanding of bushfires
Science is shaping how Australia can better prepare for devastating bushfire seasons with the release
of comprehensive research based on the major issues of the 2019-20 Black Summer fire season.
The wide-ranging Black
Summer research program
was undertaken by Natural
Hazards Research Australia
and the Bushfire and
Natural Hazards Cooperative
Research Centre in the
years since the 2019-20 fire
season, with funding from
the Australian Government
and partners. The program
drew on the expertise of
Australia’s best fire and
climate scientists, human
geographers, land managers
and public health and
recovery experts at 28
research institutions, First
Nations organisations and
fire and land management
agencies.
A new report –
Understanding the Black
Summer bushfires through
research – summarises the
research findings from
23 projects. The report
presents an integrated view
of the way forward from the
fires, including exploring
why the 2019-20 fire season
was so devastating, what
new capabilities can be
implemented and how
Australia can best learn
from its worst fire season
on record. Some projects
focused on what could
be learned at a national
level, while others analysed
specific fire behaviour or
technology in Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia and Western
Australia.
Insights from the research
provide Natural Hazards
Research Australia partners
in government, fire and
emergency management
agencies and community
organisations with an upto-date
scientific basis for
decisions on how best to
allocate resources, manage
the environment and help
communities prepare,
respond and recover.
Andrew Gissing, CEO of
Natural Hazards Research
Australia, said the research
was based on the issues of
the 2019-20 fire season, but
the findings can be applied
to bushfire management,
safety and community
resilience for all natural
hazards around Australia.
“This is vital new Australian
science about how to keep
our landscapes and people
safe from bushfire. Our fire
seasons are getting longer
and dangerous bushfire
days are becoming more
frequent. We need to be
smarter and use this new
scientific knowledge and
research to improve the
ways we live with fire,”
Gissing said.
“The 2019-20 bushfires were
long and challenging. This
research has improved our
understanding of how the
extremely dry conditions
and record-breaking
temperatures impacted
our weather in ways that
previously were not as wellunderstood.
“This research will guide
how bushfire risk can best
be managed through better
science, policy and practices.
The strength of the science
was its multi-disciplinary
approach that will lead to
action – better bushfire
modelling, better warnings,
better land management
including enabling cultural
fire and better recovery
after a disaster for those
affected will come from this
research.”
Natural Hazards Research
Australia also hosted two
webinars to share the
findings from selected
projects with the sector.
Understanding the Black
Summer bushfires through
research and the webinar
recordings are available at
www.naturalhazards.com.
au/black-summer
By Nathan Maddock, Natural
Hazards Research Australia
5
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

RECENT EVENTS
CFA/VFBV STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP
UP FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Beazley’s Bridge’s victory in the inaugural Outstanding Female Team Trophy
Urban and Rural Brigades
from across the state
travelled to Mooroopna
across two weekends to
participate in Junior and
Senior Championships.
A deluge just days before
the second weekend of
events caused minor
flooding and fallen debris
at the event site. After a
massive clean-up effort by
CFA volunteers and staff,
with help from the City
of Greater Shepparton,
spectators were treated to
nearly perfect weather as
they cheered on teams in
intense
competition.
Members from local
brigades like Natalie Dobbyn
from Mooroopna joined
members from further
afield such as Shymma
Harris from Pakenham
returned to participate in
the competitions side by
side, bringing a great sense
of camaraderie to both
weekends.
The corporate tent again
featured displays such
as the latest training and
infrastructure highlights,
and the site was also utilised
midweek to promote fire
safety for school children.
On the second weekend,
the local community were
treated to a Torchlight
Procession through the
streets of Shepparton,
highlighting the value of
tradition in CFA, while
Beazley’s Bridge’s victory in
the inaugural Outstanding
Female Team Trophy
provided a glimpse into the
future of CFA.
CFA Chief Officer Jason
Heffernan said the state
championships are not only
important to our juniors,
they are a highlight of the
CFA annual calendar.
“The State Championships
are a big part of CFA’s
volunteer culture, and
promotes the important
values of teamwork and
respect, as well as engaging
Napoleons-Enfield Brigade who are the overall winners for the Rural Juniors events
our members in some
friendly competition with
likeminded competitors,”
Jason said.
Congratulations to
Napoleons-Enfield Brigade
who are the overall winners
for the Rural Juniors events
and congratulations to
Hurstbridge A, winners of
the Rural Seniors Division 1
aggregate.
Melton A were the overall
winners of both the Urban
Seniors and Urban Juniors
events, held across both
weekends.
A full list of the 2023 Rural
Championship and Urban
Championship results
can be found on the VFBV
website.
Congratulations to all
brigades who competed
and thankyou to all who
attended this year’s
competitions.
In 2024, we look forward
to welcoming more of our
volunteers, brigades, and
local community members.
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 6

200 experts dissected the
Black Summer bushfires in
unprecedented detail.
Here are 6 lessons to heed
The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20
were cataclysmic: a landmark in Australia’s
environmental history. They burnt more than
10 million hectares, mostly forests in southeast
Australia. Many of our most distinctive, ancient
and vulnerable species were worst affected.
A new book released in February, titled Australia’s
Megafires, synthesises the extent of the losses.
The work involved contributions from more than
200 scientists and experts. It provides the most
comprehensive assessment yet of how the fires
affected biodiversity and Indigenous cultural
values, and how nature has recovered.
The work reveals a picture of almost unfathomable
destruction. More than 1,600 native species had
at least half their range burnt. And hundreds
of species and ecosystems became nationally
threatened for the first time, or were pushed
closer to extinction.
We must use Black Summer as an opportunity to
learn – and make fundamental changes. Here, we
outline six lessons to heed.

Libby Rumpff
Senior Research Fellow,
The University of Melbourne
Brendan Wintle
Professor in Conservation Science,
School of Ecosystem and Forest Science,
The University of Melbourne
John Woinarski
Professor (conservation biology),
Charles Darwin University
Sarah Legge
Professor,
Australian National University
Stephen van Leeuwen
Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity
Environmental Science,
Curtin University
This article was first published on The Conversation

1. NATURAL SYSTEMS ARE
ALREADY STRESSED
Problem:
Even before Black Summer, most
Australian ecosystems were already
struggling due to multiple threats.
The threatened alpine bog
communities in the Australian Capital
Territory, for example, were already
being damaged by climate change,
weeds and feral animals. Then the
Black Summer fires came through
and burnt 86% of known sites.
Put all these threats together, and
recovery for these ecosystems –
which are slow to develop – will not
be easy. They may be lost altogether,
along with threatened animals that
call the bogs home, such as the
broad-toothed rat.
Solution:
Managing crises such as fires
is not enough on its own. Our
natural systems must be made
more resilient. More effective
legislation and management is
needed to control all threats that
degrade nature. And in some cases,
threatened species may need to be
relocated to put them out of harm’s
way.
2. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT, OR
WHERE, ALL SPECIES ARE
Problem:
Thousands of Australian species are
not (or barely) known to science. It’s
very hard to protect a species if we
don’t know it exists, where it lives or
how it responds to fire.
For example, it’s likely that the Black
Summer fires sent many invertebrate
species – such as insects and spiders
- to extinction. But we’ll never know
because they were never described
by Western science, and their
distributions were never traced.
Only about 30% of Australia’s
estimated 320,000 invertebrate
species have been described by
taxonomists. Of those that are
described, most are known from only
one or two records, which provides
only limited insight. Information is
similarly poor for fungi.
Solution:
We need to gather more information
about how species and environments
respond to fires, and to what extent
conservation efforts after fires are
working. This is especially true for
poorly known species groups. And
the data should be made accessible
to all who seek it.
3. EMERGENCY RESPONDERS DON’T
HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION
Problem:
Emergency responders told us that
during the fires, they didn’t have the
information to prioritise the most
important areas for conservation.
We found across 13 agencies,
just two threatened species were
covered by a specific and accessible
emergency plan: the Wollemi pine
and the eastern bristlebird. These
plans told emergency responders
what rescue action was needed.
For example, a plan was in place
to protect the only known natural
stand of Wollemi pines, in New
South Wales. This prompted an
extraordinary firefighting effort
during the Black Summer fires. The
effort was successful.
Solution:
More than 1,800 of Australia’s
plant and animal species are at
risk of extinction. We must identify
which are a priority, where they
are, and how to protect them from
bushfires. This information must
be communicated to emergency
responders and incorporated into
regional fire management plans.
9
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

4. BIODIVERSITY USUALLY
COMES LAST
Problem:
Traditionally, the hierarchy of what
to protect in disasters goes like this:
first human life, then infrastructure,
and finally biodiversity. If this
hierarchy continues, some of our
most significant species and natural
environments will be lost.
In one example recounted to the
book’s researchers, fire authorities
decided to prioritise saving a few
farm sheds over 5,000 hectares of
national park.
Solution:
There are cases, such as avoiding
extinctions, where protecting
nature is more important than
saving infrastructure. Community
priorities should be surveyed, and the
information used to inform planning
and policy.
Legal obligations to protect
biodiversity in fires are few. The
current re-working of federal
environment laws provides an
opportunity to change this.
5. CONSERVATION FUNDING IS
GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT
Problem:
Decades of sustained management
effort is needed to recover many
species and environments affected
by fire. Unfortunately, funding for the
task is short-term and inadequate.
For example, both state and federal
governments invested heavily in
controlling feral herbivores, such as
deer, in the months after the fires.
This was done to protect unburnt
and regenerating vegetation. Yet,
eventually the funding dries up and
feral populations rebound.
Extra funding for some short-term
recovery projects flowed in the wake
of the Black Summer fires – from
governments, the private sector
and the community. But for many
species, recovery will be a long-term
proposition – if it happens at all.
Solution:
Governments must stop seeing
spending on the environment as
optional. It’s as fundamental to our
society and well-being as health and
education – and funding levels should
reflect this.
6. FIRST NATIONS KNOWLEDGE
HAS BEEN SIDELINED
Problem:
First Nations people have used fire
to manage forested landscapes
for millenia. Yet their knowledge
and perspectives have not been
incorporated into forest fire
management and recovery.
So how has this come about?
Barriers identified in the book include
inadequate employment and training
opportunities for First Nations
people to undertake cultural burning
activities. Also, First Nations people
are frequently denied access to
Country to rekindle and develop their
land management skills, and lack the
legal authority to undertake cultural
burning.
And as the book shows, cross-cultural
challenges mean non-Indigenous fire
officers can have limited appreciation
or knowledge of Indigenous cultural
burning protocols.
Solution:
Indigenous people should be
supported to rekindle cultural
fire practices in forests. And non-
Indigenous fire managers should, with
consent from First Nations people,
incorporate these practices into
policies governing fire management
and recovery.
What’s more, species and sites that
are culturally important to First
Nations people should be prioritised
for protection and recovery.
Harnessing our grief
The Black Summer fires showed
people care. The disaster triggered
an outpouring of grief from Australia
and around the world. We understood
one thing clearly: we were losing what
enriches our lives.
But protecting our precious natural
assets requires a fundamental reset of
Australia’s fire management.
More broadly, the Black Summer
fires kickstarted a huge collaborative
recovery effort from governments,
conservation and research
organisations, and First Nations
groups. If we’re to be better prepared
for future megafires, this impetus
must continue.
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 10

What to expect
when you’re
expecting an El Niño
(the answer might
surprise you)
La Niña and El Niño are wellknown
terms in Australia these
days. Linked to them are certain
expectations: we expect wet
conditions in La Niña and dry
conditions in El Niño.
These expectations have certainly
been met over the past couple of
years, when regions across Australia
experienced record-breaking
rains and severe floods during
consecutive La Niña events.
It might surprise you to learn,
however, that not all La Niñas have
been wet, nor El Niños dry. Step
back to spring 2020, for example,
and Australia was relatively dry and
warm, despite a La Niña.
Officials have declared the recent La
Niña as over, and now we’re on an
El Niño watch. You might therefore
be wondering: how often can we
expect it to be dry in Australia
during El Niño? Our new research
sought to answer this question, and
the converse for La Niña.
We found La Niña and El Niño are
good indicators of wet and dry
conditions in eastern Australia as
a whole. But at some locations,
including Sydney, they do little to
shift the normal odds of wet and
dry conditions.
What we did
We focused on the spring season

ecause spring rainfall has the
strongest historical relationship with
La Niña/El Niño. We used a simple
approach known as “tercile analysis”.
First, we ordered the past 72 years of
rainfall data from the wettest spring
to the driest. We then split the data
into thirds. Springs with rainfall totals
in the bottom third are considered
“dry”; springs in the middle third are
considered “average”; and springs
with rainfall totals in the top third are
“wet”.
Splitting the data in this way means
we can say that any spring normally
has a 33% chance of being dry, 33%
chance of being average and 33%
chance of being wet. Our aim was to
see if these “normal” odds change
during El Niño and La Niña events.
Do La Niña and El Niño change
rainfall odds in eastern Australia?
For rainfall averaged across eastern
Australian states, the short answer
is yes.
The figure below shows the rainfall
data split into wet, average and dry
boxes and also La Niña, neutral and
El Niño boxes. If La Niña and El Niño
did not change the rainfall odds, we
would expect to see an even number
of dots spread across all the boxes.
However, this is not the case.
The almost empty “dry” box in La
Niña and “wet” box in El Niño show
very low odds in eastern Australia
of experiencing dry conditions
in La Niña or wet conditions in El
Niño. On the other hand, La Niña
approximately doubles the normal
33% chance of experiencing wet
conditions and El Niño doubles the
chance of dry conditions.
This result is helpful in setting broad
expectations across eastern Australia.
But it doesn’t necessarily apply in all
locations, as we discuss below.
What about individual locations?
We applied the analysis approach
described above to 5km grids across
Australia.
For parts of northern and
southeastern Australia, including
the Murray-Darling Basin, La Niña
and El Niño significantly increase the
normal odds of wet and dry springs
respectively (orange and red areas).
But in some places, La Niña and El
Niño do not markedly change the
normal odds of wet or dry conditions.
13
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

These locations include large parts
of Western Australia, southwestern
Tasmania, and southern and
eastern coasts of mainland
Australia, including the eastern
seaboard (yellow and white areas).
The eastern seaboard is the
easternmost part of Australia,
between the east coast and the
Great Dividing Range. The seemingly
weak relationship between La
Niña and El Niño and the eastern
seaboard might seem surprising.
After all, just consider the large
amount of rain that’s fallen on the
east coast over the past couple
of years during La Niña, including
Sydney’s record-breaking 2022.
Historically, though, rainfall on the
eastern seaboard has had a weak
relationship with La Niña and El
Niño. Why? Because the rainfall in
this region is particularly sensitive to
the frequency with which the local
Australia’s climate, it is not the
only driver of dry conditions in
Australia. Processes including the
Indian Ocean Dipole, Southern
Annular Mode and other related
or unrelated weather systems all
contribute to Australia’s climate
variability.
So it’s important to consider
these factors, as well as your
specific location in Australia,
when interpreting what an El Niño
forecast means for you.
winds blow from the east to west.
But that wind flow is not necessarily
strongly linked to La Niña.
In 2022 there were more of these
east-to-west wind-flow events than
usual, resulting in high rainfall in
Sydney.
In the Sydney region, the normal
chance of experiencing a wet
spring is 33% – and this increases
only slightly in a La Niña to 38%.
It suggests La Niña is not a strong
indicator for wet conditions in this
region.
When you’re expecting an El Niño,
location matters
The declaration of an El Niño
watch this early in the year carries
considerable uncertainty. But it’s
still got people thinking about the
possibility of dry conditions.
The odds of experiencing dry
conditions in El Niño, however,
change according to where you’re
located in Australia.
In the above-right map, regions in
orange and red could expect an
increased chance of dry conditions.
Regions in red are very likely
to be dry, based on historical
relationships. The chance of a dry
spring is around normal (33%) in
other regions.
Of course, while El Niño plays
a large role in moderating
Suthors
Carly Tozer
Senior Research Scientist,
CSIRO
Nandini Ramesh
Senior Research Scientist,
Data61, CSIRO
This article was first published on The Conversation

RESEARCH WITH IMPACT AT THE NATURAL
HAZARDS RESEARCH FORUM 2023
Natural hazards research – what is it, what’s being done now, how can we
effectively use it and what still needs doing in the future? You are invited to
contribute to these discussions at the 2023 Natural Hazards Research Forum
from 1–3 May at RMIT University’s City Campus in Melbourne.
The Natural Hazards Research
Forum, hosted by Natural Hazards
Research Australia and supported
by RMIT University, will ensure that
new natural hazards research is
relevant, useful and dynamic to the
changing needs of our society.
Bringing together a diverse group of
people from research, government,
industry and community, the Forum
is your chance to share knowledge
and learn more about the current
state of natural hazards research to
impact the future.
The three-day program includes
keynotes, presentations, panel
discussions and workshops
tailored for an audience of natural
hazards researchers and industry
representatives, with plenty of
opportunity to network.
With a strong emphasis on
engagement, discussion and
knowledge sharing, the Forum
presents a unique opportunity to
learn more about and get involved
with the Centre’s current natural
hazard research projects.
You will hear firsthand of the
wide range of natural hazards
research projects currently being
undertaken around the country,
and how you can use the research
to resolve some of Australia’s
most urgent disaster management
issues. Topics covered include
First Nations research, land-use
planning and resilient recovery,
flood and extreme weather risk
mitigation, bushfire and prediction
risk mitigation, next generation
capability and more.

Session spotlight: Urban Heat
The Forum opens with a special
session on Day 1 about urban heat
impacts, unpacking how urban heat
has become increasingly worse in
some cities due to a combination of
climate change, local geography and
rapid urbanisation.
Heat causes major liveability and
resilience problems, including
critical impacts on human health,
infrastructure, emergency services
and the natural environment. Using
both the City of Melbourne and
Western Sydney as case studies,
you will hear keynote presentations
from Tiffany Crawford – Director of
Climate Change and City Resilience
at City of Melbourne council – as well
as Kelly Gee and Judith Bruinsma
from Western Sydney Regional
Organisation of Councils.
The afternoon will continue by
expanding our innovative thinking
on natural hazards with a guided
interactive session that asks:
once we understand our current
understanding of natural hazards,
what are our big ideas that will enable
real and significant improvements in
a world increasingly challenged by
natural hazards?
Session spotlight: Yarning with First
Nations research teams
Throughout Day 2 of the Forum,
guests will hear from four different
First Nations-focused research teams
from the NT, NSW and Victoria, who
will be sharing their knowledge,
stories, goals, progress and ways that
the research can be used. Each of
these projects are either led or co-led
by First Nations researchers, who are
using First Nations knowledge and
practices to create more resilient
and sustainable communities and
landscapes across the country. At
the end of Day 2, there is a special
interactive yarning session with lead
researchers from each of these
four teams, where guests can learn
firsthand from these teams.
Session spotlight: Disaster Resilience
and Leadership
The Forum will also include a special
session on Day 3, open to the public,
that will help us understand some
of the world’s most urgent disaster
resilience issues through the eyes of
global leaders.
Guests will first hear a special
keynote presentation from Prof
Daniel Aldrich, a professor of political
science and Director of the Security
and Resilience Studies Program at
Northeastern University in the United
States.
Prof Aldrich is a leading expert in
disaster resilience and how social
infrastructure can be supported to
save lives and improve resilience.
An award-winning researcher and
author, he has published five books,
more than 90 peer-reviewed articles,
and written op-eds for the New York
Times, CNN, HuffPost, and many
other media outlets. He has spent
more than 5 years in India, Japan,
and Africa completing fieldwork
and his work has been funded
by the Fulbright Foundation, the
National Science Foundation, the
Abe Foundation, the Rasmussen
Foundation, and the Japan
Foundation, among others.
Following the keynote, Prof Aldrich
will be part of the Forum’s closing
panel discussion alongside Christine
Ferguson PSM – the Deputy
Secretary, Forest, Fire and Regions
at the Department of Energy,
Environment and Climate Action
(DEECA; formerly DELWP) in Victoria
– and Hannah Wandel OAM – the
Acting First Assistant Coordinator
General at the National Emergency
Management Agency.
Learn more, register to attend and
download the program at www.
naturalhazards.com.au/nhrf23.
Author:
Bethany Patch,
Natural Hazards Research Australia
Image: The Natural Hazards Research Forum is coming
to Melbourne on 1-3 May. Credit: Natural Hazards
Research Australia
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 16

How to use free satellite data to
monitor natural disasters and
environmental changes
Qiusheng Wu
Assistant Professor of Geography
and Sustainability,
University of Tennessee

If you want to track changes in the Amazon rainforest,
see the full expanse of a hurricane or figure out where
people need help after a disaster, it’s much easier to do
with the view from a satellite orbiting a few hundred
miles above Earth.
Traditionally, access to satellite data has been limited to
researchers and professionals with expertise in remote
sensing and image processing. However, the increasing
availability of open-access data from government
satellites such as Landsat and Sentinel, and free cloudcomputing
resources such as Amazon Web Services,
Google Earth Engine and Microsoft Planetary Computer,
have made it possible for just about anyone to gain
insight into environmental changes underway.
I work with geospatial big data as a professor. Here’s a
quick tour of where you can find satellite images, plus
some free, fairly simple tools that anyone can use to
create time-lapse animations from satellite images.
For example, state and urban planners – or people
considering a new home – can watch over time how
rivers have moved, construction crept into wildland
areas or a coastline eroded.
Environmental groups can monitor deforestation, the
effects of climate change on ecosystems, and how
other human activities like irrigation are shrinking
bodies of water like Central Asia’s Aral Sea. And disaster
managers, aid groups, scientists and anyone interested
can monitor natural disasters such as volcanic
eruptions and wildfires.

Putting Landsat and Sentinel to work
There are over 8,000 satellites
orbiting the Earth today. You can
see a live map of them at keeptrack.
space.
Some transmit and receive radio
signals for communications. Others
provide global positioning system
(GPS) services for navigation. The
ones we’re interested in are Earth
observation satellites, which collect
images of the Earth, day and night.
Landsat: The longest-running Earth
satellite mission, Landsat, has been
collecting imagery of the Earth since
1972. The latest satellite in the series,
Landsat 9, was launched by NASA in
September 2021.
In general, Landsat satellite data has
a spatial resolution of about 100 feet
(about 30 meters). If you think of
pixels on a zoomed-in photo, each
pixel would be 100 feet by 100 feet.
Landsat has a temporal resolution of
16 days, meaning the same location
on Earth is imaged approximately
once every 16 days. With both
Landsat 8 and 9 in orbit, we can
get a global coverage of the Earth
once every eight days. That makes
comparisons easier.
Landsat data has been freely
available to the public since 2008.
During the Pakistan flood of 2022,
scientists used Landsat data and
free cloud-computing resources
to determine the flood extent and
estimated the total flooded area.
Sentinel: Sentinel Earth observation
satellites were launched by the
European Space Agency (ESA) as
part of the Copernicus program.
Sentinel-2 satellites have been
collecting optical imagery of the Earth
since 2015 at a spatial resolution of
10 meters (33 feet) and a temporal
resolution of 10 days.
GOES: The images you’ll see most
often in U.S. weather forecasting
come from NOAA’s Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellites,
or GOES. They orbit above the
equator at the same speed Earth
rotates, so they can provide
continuous monitoring of Earth’s
atmosphere and surface, giving
detailed information on weather,
climate, and other environmental
Landsat satellite images showing a side-by-side comparison of southern Pakistan in August 2021 (one
year before the floods) and August 2022 (right) Qiusheng Wu, NASA Landsat
conditions. GOES-16 and GOES-
17 can image the Earth at a spatial
resolution of about 1.2 miles (2
kilometers) and a temporal resolution
of five to 10 minutes.
How to create your own
visualizations
In the past, creating a Landsat timelapse
animation of a specific area
required extensive data processing
skills and several hours or even
days of work. However, nowadays,
free and user-friendly programs are
available to enable anyone to create
animations with just a few clicks in an
internet browser.
For instance, I created an interactive
web app for my students that
anyone can use to generate timelapse
animations quickly. The user
zooms in on the map to find an area
of interest, then draws a rectangle
around the area to save it as a
GeoJSON file – a file that contains the
geographic coordinates of the chosen
region. Then the user uploads the
GeoJSON file to the web app, chooses
the satellite to view from and the
dates and submits it. It takes the app
about 60 seconds to then produce a
time-lapse animation.
There are several other useful
tools for easily creating satellite
animations. Others to try include
Snazzy-EE-TS-GIF, an Earth Engine
App for creating Landsat animations,
and Planetary Computer Explorer, an
explorer for searching and visualizing
satellite imagery interactively.
This article was first published on The Conversation
19
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

Disaster survivors
need help remaining
connected with friends
and families –
and access to mental
health care
Daniel P. Aldrich
Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Urban
Affairs and Director, Security and Resilience Program,
Northeastern University
Yunus Emre Tapan
Ph.D. Student in Political Science,
Northeastern University

The earthquakes that struck
southeastern Turkey and
northern Syria in early
February 2023 have killed at least
47,000 people and disrupted
everyday life for some 26 million
more.
Survivors of big disasters like these
earthquakes – among the worst
in the region’s history – certainly
need food, water, medications,
blankets and other goods. But they
also need psychological first aid –
that is, immediate mental health
counseling along with support that
strengthens their connections with
their friends, relatives and decisionmakers.
As scholars who study how disaster
survivors benefit from preserving
connections to people in their
networks, we know that these
social ties help with the recovery
from traumatic events that cause
significant upheaval.
But often in the rush to keep
survivors fed, warm and housed,
we’ve observed that the flow of
support that focuses on meeting
their psychological needs falls short
of what’s needed.
Emergency response underway
The Turkish government
agency responsible for disaster
management – the AFAD – focuses
strongly on the delivery of tents,
medical care and physical aid.
And the few nongovernmental
organizations providing mental
health care, such as the Maya
Foundation and Turkish
Psychological Association, have
received less than 10% of the
donations channeled through the
Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund.

Many international aid groups, private
companies and NGOs have launched
campaigns to support search and
rescue operations and response and
recovery through disaster diplomacy.
The United Nations invited its
member states to raise US$1 billion
to support aid operations. The U.S.
is providing more than $100 million
in aid.
All this assistance is funding
emergency response efforts and
humanitarian aid that largely consists
of food, medicine and shelter in the
area.
The Turkish government has
announced it will begin building
30,000 homes in quake-hit areas in
March and will give cash aid to those
affected.
Psychological aspects of disasters
Research conducted after a wide
variety of catastrophes has shown
that mental health problems become
more common after these events.
Many survivors experience anxiety,
depression and post-traumatic stress
disorder because of everything they
have been through.
One reason for this is that disasters
can cut people off from their routines
and sever access to the sources of
emotional support they previously
relied on. Often moved to emergency
shelters, and away from their doctors,
neighbors and friends, survivors
– especially those without strong
networks – regularly experience poor
mental health.
Further, when there are many
casualties after major disasters of
any kind, families may have lost loved
ones and still not have a gravesite
at which they can mourn. Within
seven weeks of Hurricane Katrina in
2005, for example, nearly half of the
residents of New Orleans surveyed by
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention had PTSD symptoms.
An important lesson we’ve drawn
from researching what occurs
after disasters is that robust social
networks can soften some of the
blows from these shocks. Even after
someone loses a home and a sense
of normalcy, staying in close touch
with family and friends can minimize
some of the sense of loss.
People who are pushed out of their
routines but manage to remain
connected to their neighbors – who
are often going through the same
ordeal – tend to have lower levels
of PTSD and anxiety. Their friends
and relatives can provide emotional
support, help them stay informed,
and encourage the use of mental
health treatment and outside help
when it’s needed.
One of us participated in a research
team that surveyed nearly 600
residents of a town located near the
Fukushima Daiichi power plant after
the nuclear meltdowns in March
2011. More than one-fourth of these
survivors of the catastrophe had
PTSD symptoms. Those with strong
social networks, however, generally
had fewer mental health problems
than other survivors with weaker
connections to their friends and
loved ones.
Another study of Japan’s Great
Eastern Earthquake and tsunami
in 2011 that one of us took part in
showed that survivors of that disaster
with stronger social ties recovered
more rapidly and completely
following a disaster.
4 strategies that can help
In our view, relief organizations that
operate in Turkey and Syria and
government aid agencies need to
focus and spend more on mental
health priorities. Here are four good
ways to accomplish this:
Include psychologists, therapists,
social workers and other mental
health professionals in the mix of
aid workers who arrive immediately
after disasters to begin group and
individual therapy.
Ensure that local faith-based
organizations and spiritual leaders
play key roles in the recovery process.
Get as many public spaces, such as
cafes, libraries and other gathering
spots as possible, up and running
again. Even virtual get-togethers
using Zoom or similar software can
help maintain connections with
displaced friends and loved ones –
as long as survivors have working
cellphone service, at a minimum.
Disaster recovery efforts should
make communications technology a
high priority. In addition to spending
on food, tents, blankets, cots and
medical supplies, we recommend
that basic disaster aid should include
access to free phone calls and Wi-Fi
so that people whose lives have been
upended can stay in contact with farflung
friends and loved ones.
Given the likelihood of more largescale
disasters in the future, we
believe that it’s essential that relief
efforts emphasize work that will
strengthen the mental health and
social networks of survivors.
This article was first published on The Conversation
23
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

How would you stay connected
during a natural disaster?
Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Communications
Taking a trip? 5 steps you can take to prepare
1. Plan ahead. Think about how you would communicate if your mobile, landline
and internet service were not available.
2. Pack a portable radio. Include a spare set of batteries and a backup power
source for your devices. For remote travel, consider taking a personal locator
beacon, UHF radio or satellite phone.
3. Check local weather forecasts. Adjust your travel if bad weather is predicted.
4. Share your travel plans. Let loved ones know where you’re going and take a
paper copy of their contact details.
5. Familiarise yourself with the area. When you reach your destination find
out where the evacuation meeting points are and make a note of the local radio
stations and their frequencies.
Remember, if communication networks go down and you’re concerned for your
safety, don’t wait to be told to evacuate – prepare and leave early.
Find out more
www.communications.gov.au/STAND

Anyone can save a life,
including kids. Here’s
why they should learn
CPR and basic life
support

With over 26,000 cardiac
arrests occurring every year
in Australia and over 76%
of them occurring in the
home, some of our youngest
Australians are learning how
to help.
But why kids? It’s simple.
Anyone can learn to save a
life.
Basic life support
includes cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) and using
a portable defibrillator (AED)
if required. These emergency
procedures aim to save the
lives of people in cardiac
arrest.
What is a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest occurs when
the heart stops beating.
This means the heart stops
acting like a pump, which
stops oxygen getting to the
brain. When this happens,
the person quickly becomes
unconscious and stops
breathing. Without immediate
CPR, the person is likely to die.
Performing CPR involves
pushing down on the chest,
which mimics the pumping
action of the heart and
pushes blood and oxygen
around the body and,
importantly, to the brain.
An AED works by analysing
the person’s heart rhythm
and delivering an electric
shock, if necessary, to restore
a normal heartbeat. AEDs are
designed to be used by the
public, and typically provide
recorded audio instruction
and visual prompts to guide
users through the process.
Anyone can perform these
life-saving skills, and the
quicker they are performed
the more likely the person
will survive. The Australian
Resuscitation Council, of
which we are both members,
believes teaching basic life
support skills, CPR and how to
use an AED in schools is the
best way to reach and train
whole generations how to
save a life.
A patchy approach in schools
The current Australian
curriculum supports basic life
support education in some
years. But schools vary in
its implementation. Some
schools have organisations
come in to teach students,
like the Red Cross or St John
Ambulance, but teachers are
also well placed to provide
this education.
The Aussie Kids Save Lives
program, an initiative
being run by the Australian
Resuscitation Council and
partners, is aiming to provide
teachers with the resources
to be able to teach high
school students.
A pilot study is currently
underway in Victoria.
Teachers are guided in
instruction and students
are practising skills using
Ambulance Victoria’s Call,
Push, Shock kits that instruct
young people how to call
for help, perform push
(compressions) and deliver
lifesaving shocks with a
defibrillator.
So far, more than 550
Victorian Year 7 and 8
students have been taught
in the pilot, with more than
3,000 expected to be taught
in 2023. Early data from the
ongoing evaluation of this
program is encouraging, with
teachers and students finding
the materials engaging and
effective.
The Australian Resuscitation
Council plans to use a report
of the evaluation to lobby
the federal government
to introduce two hours of
mandatory training in every
year of school.
How young is too young?
The World Health
Organization has endorsed
two hours of teaching CPR
to children every year from
the age of 12. However, this
isn’t to say younger children
shouldn’t be taught how to
respond to emergencies.
Children as young as
four years of age can be
taught how to recognise an
emergency and how to call an
ambulance.
Progressive annual learning
can help children of all ages
learn how to save a life. Initial
learning should use simplified
methods of instruction, such
as Call, Push Shock. Older
students can be taught the
more technical DRSABCD
acronym that guides them
to look for danger and
responses, send for help, and
check airways and breathing
before starting CPR and
defibrillation.
There is an added bonus in
teaching children, as they
can be encouraged to pass
their learning on to their
family, perhaps as homework.
This increases community
awareness of basic life
support skills.
Intervention is vital
Data reported by the
Australasian Resuscitation
Outcomes Consortium
shows that even though CPR
instructions are given in 000
calls and the person is asked
if there is an AED available,
only 38% of Australians
in cardiac arrest receive
bystander CPR and less than
2% receive an AED shock.
Research listening to
emergency calls has
uncovered this often happens
because the caller lacks
confidence in their ability
to perform CPR skills. Most
callers do not know what a
defibrillator is.
But areas of Australia with
higher rates of trained
community members have
higher rates of bystander CPR.
Help at home
We encourage parents
to advocate for basic life
support training in their
children’s schools and even
teach their children simple
CPR themselves using online
videos.
While it may take some
time, it is vital to have every
Australian know what to do if
they find someone collapsed
in cardiac arrest, including
our youngest. Without any
intervention, the person is
likely to die. Any attempt is
better than nothing.
Janet Bray
Associate Professor, Monash University
Kathryn Eastwood
Lecturer, Paramedicine, Monash University
This article was first published on The
Conversation

Paramedics could sound early
warnings of child abuse or neglect
but they need support and more training
Simon Sawyer
Adjunct Senior Lecturer,
Australian Catholic University
Alex Cahill
Research Officer,
Australian Catholic University
Daryl Higgins
Professor & Director,
Institute of Child Protection Studies,
Australian Catholic University
Navindhra Naidoo
Program Director: Paramedicine,
Western Sydney University
Stephen Bartlett
Senior Lecturer,
Paramedic Science,
Queensland University of Technology
Child abuse and neglect is,
unfortunately, a far more common
occurrence in Australia than many
people realise.
In Australia in 2020–21 (the most
recent figures available), there were
more than half a million notifications
to child protection services. Around
180,000 children and young people
are receiving child protection support
and 46,000 are in out-of-home care.
These figures are all on the rise.
Child maltreatment can be hidden.
Often children don’t know what they
are experiencing is maltreatment,
and they can find it hard to speak
up. People who notice something
isn’t right may not know how to get
support. And those inflicting the harm
may go to great lengths to cover it up.
Protecting children and young people
is everyone’s business, but there
are some groups who can play a key
role. Teachers, for example, are in a
unique position to build trust with
children and observe changes over
time and are responsible for around
one-quarter of all notifications.
There is another workforce who
encounter children and young people
at risk of maltreatment. They have
the advantage of being regularly
asked to enter people’s houses, and
are able to observe children at home:
paramedics.
A unique view into the home
Emotional abuse (when a child is
made to feel worthless, isolated or
frightened) is the type of harm child
protection services most commonly
hear about (around half the cases
in Australia). This is followed by
neglecting to provide essential care
for children’s physical or emotional
development (21%), physical abuse
(14%) and sexual abuse (10%).
Child maltreatment is not usually the
result of an unknown, “evil” person
preying on vulnerable children. The
harm is more likely to be inflicted by
a family member, or someone known
to the child, and it’s also not always
because they want to harm the child.
Sometimes caregivers simply do not
have adequate resources to properly
care for their children. They may
have poor access to health care or
medications, or be in the grips of food
insecurity.
In the past five years, 764 children
(aged 0–17) were flagged by
a paramedic for suspected
maltreatment in Victoria alone. It is
likely this is only a tiny fraction of the
true number of children experiencing
maltreatment who are seen by
paramedics.
Paramedics are in a unique position
to witness early signs of abuse and
neglect that may otherwise remain
hidden. Despite this potential, they
have very little education on child
maltreatment, and they report feeling
unprepared and unsure how to help.
This is likely a major contributor to
the low reporting rates.
How well do paramedics recognise and
report child maltreatment?
We asked 217 Victorian paramedics
about their knowledge of child
maltreatment. They mostly
understood how to make a report to
child protection services. However,
when we gave them ten short written
portrayals of child maltreatment
paramedics commonly encounter and
asked them what they would do, the
results were different.
Paramedics are quite good
at identifying visible signs of
maltreatment, such as physical or

sexual abuse or neglect, but struggle to identify less-visible
forms, such as emotional abuse or exposure to family
violence.
They are also less likely to make a report about cases
involving emotional abuse, which is worrying considering
emotional abuse accounts for half of all substantiated cases.
Paramedics want to make sure children and young
people are safe, but feel unsure and don’t act unless the
maltreatment is obvious. They are being reactive – rather
than taking a proactive, risk-based approach to prevent
maltreatment before it occurs.
Typical reasons health-care professionals don’t make a
report when they suspect child maltreatment include not
feeling supported by their employer to do so. There are a
few simple things we can do to address this.
Change is needed
Paramedics could fill a huge gap in our child protective
services, undertaking an “early warning system” role to help
prevent maltreatment before it occurs. This would fall within
the existing scope of practice for all paramedics in Australia,
who have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the
safety of their patients.
To do this we first need legislative change. In Australia there
is legislation in each state making it a crime for certain
people to fail to report suspected child maltreatment.
Paramedics are not listed in the legislation, despite nurses,
doctors and teachers being listed.
Adding paramedics to this group would ensure there
is a sufficient legal impetus for them to make a report.
Mandatory reporting increases the visibility of maltreated
children and does not appear to significantly discourage
people from using a health service.
Next, we need to improve paramedic education so they
have a full understanding of all forms of child maltreatment
and interrupting cycles of violence. This must emphasise
less visible forms of maltreatment and early warning signs.
Ambulance services should ensure paramedics understand
their obligations, have access to clear policies and
procedures, and feel supported.
Perhaps most importantly, we need to train our paramedics
to be proactive, rather than reactive. Our research shows
paramedics are reluctant to make a report until they
see clear signs maltreatment has occurred. Because
maltreatment often escalates over time, the earlier warning
signs are identified, and children and caregivers connected
with supportive services, the safer children will be.
If you are under 18 and reading this
You can always tell a paramedic if you don’t feel safe.
Paramedics are caring and trustworthy adults and will be
able to find the right people to help you.
You can also call the Kids Help Line if you want to talk to
someone on 1800 55 1800.
This article was first published on The Conversation
29
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000)
To contact the police, fire or ambulance in an emergency, call
Triple Zero (000) from any telephone in Australia. Calls are free.
When to call Triple Zero (000)
You should only call Triple Zero (000) in life
threatening or time critical situations when
an urgent response is required from police,
fire or ambulance.
What will happen when I call
Triple Zero (000)?
The operator will ask you which emergency
service you require—police, fire or ambulance
—and will connect you. The operator may also
ask where you are calling from.
What if I have difficulty speaking English?
If you have difficulty speaking English, you
can ask for an interpreter once you have been
transferred to the emergency service you
requested. You will not have to pay for the
interpreter.
When you call Triple Zero (000), stay calm,
stay on the line and clearly answer the
operator’s questions.
www.triplezero.gov.au

AUTHORS
Jane Mills
Professor and Dean
La Trobe Rural Health School,
La Trobe University
Fiona Burgemeister
Research Officer,
La Trobe Rural Health School,
La Trobe University
Leesa Hooker
Associate Dean Research and Industry
Engagement,
La Trobe Rural Health School,
La Trobe University,

With the training
to diagnose, test,
prescribe and
discharge, nurse
practitioners
could help rescue
rural health
It can be tough to access front-line health
care outside the cities and suburbs. For
the seven million Australians living in rural
communities there are significant challenges
in accessing health care due to serious
workforce shortages, geographic isolation
and socioeconomic disadvantage. This results
in rural people having poorer quality of life,
and long-term poor health outcomes.
Primary health care is the entry point into the health
system. It includes care delivered in community settings
such as general practice, health centres and allied health
practices. It can be delivered via telehealth where face-toface
services are unavailable.
But there is a critical shortage of general practitioners
(GPs) in rural areas. The Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners (RACGP) paints a grim picture of an ageing
GP workforce, a declining interest in general practice as
a career choice and unequal distribution of GPs between
urban and rural areas.
Experts are searching for ways to “fix the GP crisis”, but
we can look at the broader picture and ask: “How else
might we address the primary health care needs of rural
communities?” Highly trained nurses in rural areas could be
part of that response – if we support them properly.
What makes a nurse practitioner?
There are more than 2,250 nurse practitioners currently
trained, qualified and registered to provide services in
Australia. Nurse practitioners are the most senior and
experienced clinical nurses in the health care workforce.
Nurse practitioners complete a master’s degree and have
a minimum of eight years of consolidated clinical practice
and expertise.

But nurse practitioners can’t access Medicare rebates or the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme unless they enter into a
collaborative arrangement with a GP.
Under this arrangement, GPs effectively “supervise” the work of
nurse practitioners. This fails to recognise nurse practitioners’
high levels of clinical expertise and skills, which should allow them
autonomy.
What nurse practitioners can do
In Australia, nurse practitioners are not working to their full
capacity or “scope of practice” according to the Australian College
of Nurse Practitioners. This scope gives them the legal authority
to practice independently and autonomously, unlike registered
nurses.
They can assess and diagnose health problems, order and
interpret diagnostic tests, create and monitor treatment
plans, prescribe medicines and refer patients to other health
professionals. Nurse practitioners are qualified to admit and
discharge patients from health services, including hospitals.
At the public health level, nurse practitioners can collaborate
with other clinicians and health experts to improve health care
access, prevent disease and promote health strategies, improving
outcomes for specific patient groups or communities.
The federal government’s Strengthening Medicare Taskforce lists
nurse practitioners as primary carers and puts general practice
“at the heart of primary care provision”. But the RACGP and
Australian Medical Association (AMA) say nurse practitioner care
should be GP-led. They contend any change to this arrangement
would lead to inferior care, a disruption in continuity of care,
fragmentation of the health system, and increased care
complexity, inefficiency and cost. We have looked closely at these
arguments and found they are not supported by evidence.
What works overseas
Nurse practitioners have been working as lead practitioners
internationally for many years, which means there is a body of
evidence looking at patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Experts found nurse practitioners provide equivalent and, in
some cases, superior patient outcomes compared to doctors
across a range of primary, secondary and specialist care settings
and for a broad range of patient conditions.
Nurse practitioners were more likely to follow recommended
evidence-based guidelines for best practice care and patients
were more satisfied with the care they received, reporting
communication regarding patient illness was better compared to
GP care.
Employing nurse practitioners also resulted in reduced waiting
times and costs.
Finally, these studies found while patient consultations were
slightly longer for nurse practitioners and the number of
return visits slightly higher compared to doctors, there was no
difference in the number of prescriptions or diagnostic tests
issued, attendance at Emergency Departments, hospital referrals
or hospital admissions.
Clearing the way
GP practices are closing in rural communities all over Australia,
leaving people without access to vital, cost-effective primary
health care services. Yet the majority of nurse practitioners are
ready and willing to work in rural areas, with 2019 workforce
distribution data clearly showing many nurse practitioners
already work in rural, remote and very remote communities.
A new way of working is required, one that includes nurse
practitioners working both independently and in collaboration
with health care teams in rural communities.
International evidence shows allowing nurse practitioners to lead
patient care and work with greater flexibility and freedom will not
fragment the primary health care system, it will enhance it.
This article was first published on The Conversation
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‘Drowning for love’
5 ways to protect your
life while you’re trying to
rescue someone in trouble
in the water
The news headlines show summer
is a deadly period for drowning in
Australia. Sadly, between December
1 and January 9, 35 people died due
to drowning.
There are a range of reasons why the
season is one of heightened risk for
water-related incidents. Our research
shows drowning risk is twice as high
for children during school holidays and
similarly increased for adults on public
holidays.
People may be more likely to visit
unfamiliar places and waterways not
patrolled by lifeguards. They may seek
relief in the water on hot days and
consume alcohol while swimming,
fishing or boating. Such risks can, and
do, lead to tragedy at our beaches,
rivers and pools.
Two recent summer tragedies have
involved bystanders who have drowned
trying to rescue someone from the
surf. On January 1, an off-duty police
officer drowned while rescuing his son
who was caught in a rip current at a
beach south of Narooma, New South
Wales.
Amy Peden
Research fellow,
School of Population Health,
UNSW Sydney
Rob Brander
Professor,
School of Biological, Earth &
Environmental Sciences,
UNSW Sydney
Just a few days later, a man drowned
after trying to rescue his daughter
from a rip current at Black Head
Beach on the NSW mid-north coast.
A nearby surfer was able to bring the
girl ashore, but returned to assist her
father and found him unresponsive.
Both incidents involved rip currents at
unpatrolled beaches and bystanders
who drowned trying to save a child.
Researchers have a name for this
tragic scenario: Aquatic Victim Instead
of Rescuer syndrome or “drowning for
love”.

One chance, 5 ways to protect yourself
On average five people drown while
performing a bystander rescue each
year in Australia.
Our research shows most people
who rescue others will perform
only one rescue in their lifetime.
Their altruism will most likely be
directed to family members including
young children. Men are more likely
to perform a rescue at a coastal
location, while women are more
likely to save a child struggling in a
swimming pool.
So what steps can you take to reduce
your risk of needing to perform a
rescue in the first place? If you do
need to perform a rescue – and most
parents will want to do anything
necessary to save a child – how do
you do so safely?
Here are five evidence-based tips to
help you avoid danger this summer:
1. Choose a patrolled beach
The guidance for beach safety
in Australia tells us to “swim
between the red and yellow flags”.
Unfortunately, few beaches in
Australia outside of populated areas
are patrolled by lifeguards (who
are paid professionals) or lifesavers
(volunteers affiliated with community
clubs).
Our research also shows people
choose to swim at unpatrolled
beaches because they are closer to
their holiday accommodation or are
less busy. Worryingly, many of those
we surveyed at unpatrolled beaches
were infrequent beachgoers with
poor rip current hazard identification
skills. Many did not observe safety
signage, yet intended to enter the
water knowing no lifeguard was
present.
If you’re heading to the beach, plan
your trip. Consult resources such as
BeachSafe or download the app to
find your nearest patrolled beach. It’s
worth the extra 15 minute drive to
find one.
2. Understand rips and learn how to
spot them
Rip currents, or rips, are strong,
narrow offshore flowing currents that
exist on many of the world’s beaches.
They begin close to the shoreline and
flow offshore to the end of the surf
zone (where waves are breaking) and
various distances beyond. They are
a global phenomenon because they
are found on any beach with waves
breaking across a surf zone.
Rip currents can be notoriously
difficult to spot and are often
appealing to swimmers due to the
calm appearance of the water. They
are dangerous because they can
sweep even the strongest swimmer
out to sea.
Learn how to spot a rip and, if in
doubt, swim between the flags or
speak to locals who know the safest
places to swim.
3. Stay calm and make a plan
In the heat of the moment, it can
be hard to think logically. But it’s
imperative to take a moment to
assess the situation.
There are a range of rescues you
can make without having to enter
the water. These include talking to
the person in trouble, throwing them
something buoyant, wading or rowing
to them or reaching out.
If you do need to enter the water,
ensure someone else calls for help.
4. Take a flotation device with you
Our research shows those who
drown while performing a rescue
on the coast usually do not take a
flotation device with them.
When adrenaline wears off and
exhaustion kicks in, or if you need
to support the weight of another
person, having added buoyancy is
vital. If you have a traditional flotation
device such as a life jacket or boogie
or surfboard, that’s great. If not,
the humble esky or cooler, a pool
noodle or even an empty soft drink
bottle can provide some flotation
assistance.
5. Learn how to perform CPR
Many people are alive today after
almost drowning due to quick
and effective cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR). First aid and CPR
skills can assist someone who has
been rescued from the water while
you await emergency services.
While any attempt is better than
no attempt, hands-only CPR (chest
compressions without rescue
breaths) is not recommended
in a drowning situation, given
the importance of oxygen to the
drowning victim. Consider enrolling in
a CPR and first-aid course.
It’s already been a heartbreaking
summer for too many families.
Heeding these tips may just save a
life and ensure you and your loved
ones enjoy time at the beach, river or
pool safely.
This article was first published on The Conversation

Every
drop
counts
Health Services
Blood Drive
1 April to 30 June 2023
1 donation can save up to 3 lives.
Count yourself in. Join the blood drive
with your Lifeblood Team today.
Give life. Give blood.
blood drives

My Health Record is meant to empower
patients – but with little useful information
stored, is it worth saving?
Australia’s My Health Record is a national,
integrated electronic record, intended to
overcome the problem of having personal
health information “siloed” in different
systems.
People can access their own My Health
Record via MyGov or an app. Any of their
treating health professionals can access it,
too.
My Health Record can hold various past
information, including a shared health
summary, records of health conditions,
allergies and medications, summaries of
cancer treatment, test and scan results,
hospital discharge notes, vaccination
records, organ donation choices, and notes
entered by patients themselves.
But is the system actually being used?
Why is it, when people access their My
Health Record, they often find little helpful
information? Earlier this year, Health
Minister Mark Butler promised an overhaul
as part of the Strengthening Medicare
Taskforce. But what needs to happen for it
to be finally fit for purpose?
How many My Health Records are there?
More than 90% of Australians – over 23.5
million people – have a My Health Record.
The rate of uptake has not changed much
since the opt-out period ended.
My Health Record has operated for more
than ten years, undergoing a controversial
change to an opt-out system in 2018–19.
The federal government has invested heavily
in My Health Record and given financial
incentives to general practices to use it.
Large-scale communication campaigns have
tried to inform and educate people about it
too.
What’s in them?
The Digital Health Agency, which manages
the My Health Record system, reports a vast
number of documents have been uploaded
to it: some 4 billion documents by June
2022.
Over 98% of My Health Record profiles have
something in them.
The Digital Health Agency’s monthly
reports reveal that in January there were
355 million clinical documents in the My
Health Record system – mainly pathology
reports, but also diagnostic imaging reports,
hospital discharge summaries, shared
health summaries and other things. There
were 494 million prescription and dispense
records that had been uploaded by
providers such as pharmacists and GPs.
This seems promising. But two things are
important.
Megan Prictor
Senior Lecturer in Law,
The University of Melbourne

First, these numbers are only a small
fraction of the health reports and
summaries that are being generated
in Australia. For instance, the health
minister recently said that only
20% of diagnostic imaging reports
are uploaded to My Health Record.
Images themselves cannot be
uploaded.
Second, the large majority of what’s in
My Health Record is simply Medicare
and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) data – some 2 billion and 1
billion documents, respectively (as of
July 2022).
How handy is this information?
The usefulness of this information
to patients and clinicians is limited.
Medicare data contains virtually no
clinically relevant information. It only
provides the date of a clinic visit or
a test, a brief description (such as
“consultation at consulting rooms” or
“iron studies”), and the provider name.
This information might help a patient
remember – or a provider to track –
the timing of certain health events,
but little else.
PBS prescription information in My
Health Record is a little more useful
– providing medicines names and
doses, dates of prescription and
supply, and the number of tablets and
repeats. This could assist in the oftentouted
situation of patients attending
a new doctor or the emergency
department without a list of their
medications.
Information from the Australian
Immunisation Register and the Organ
Donor Register is also automatically
deposited in the My Health Record.
Still, this type of information is fairly
basic, and available elsewhere.
It might not meet consumers’
expectations of their “health record”.
Who is using the My Health Record?
Nearly all GPs, pharmacies and public
hospitals in Australia are connected
and “have used My Health Record”,
according to the Digital Health Agency.
But again, the devil is in the detail.
Use by specialists is still very low,
with only 32% registered to access
the system. Allied health is virtually
absent.
Fewer than one in four people
viewed their My Health Record in
2022. Less than 10% of the pathology
reports in the system were viewed by
consumers.
While usage in some health sectors
is rising, even public hospitals tapped
little of the system’s potential, viewing
fewer than 2.8 million documents
uploaded by another organisation, in
the 12 months to January 2023. This
is a tiny proportion of the My Health
Record’s contents. The vast majority
of documents have probably never
been viewed (and even less, used), by
health-care professionals or patients.
One of the most common arguments
in favour of an integrated electronic
health record is in the context of
patients presenting to emergency
departments. There, the ability to
quickly understand a patient’s health
problems, medications and recent
test results could be vital. So, recent
research on the use of My Health
Record in emergency departments is
especially telling.
The Australian Commission on Safety
and Quality in Health Care analysed
use of My Health Record by more
than 1,000 emergency department
staff for 130,000 patients across
four sites nationwide, in 2019.
The Commission found low staff
awareness of the system. My Health
Record was viewed in less than 1% of
emergency department presentations.
And in one-third of the presentations
studied, the person had an empty My
Health Record.
A 2021 survey of a major Melbourne
hospital found My Health Record “has
not been adopted as routine practice
in the emergency department” by
most clinicians.
So, is it worth saving?
Consumer advocates hoped the
arrival of My Health Record would
empower consumers.
But a frustrating lack of useful
content, not enough usable consumer
resources, low understanding of the
system, and privacy and security
concerns have all contributed to a
sense of missed opportunity.
The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce
recommendations to modernise
the platform could increase the
information the system holds and
make it easier to use.
But it will need investment and
technical improvements to develop
it beyond the “outdated, clunky,
pdf format” described by the health
minister last month.
This article was first published on The Conversation

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
In each edition of the Australian
Emergency Services Magazine
we feature a profile on a person,
team, partnership, squad or unit to
showcase their unique contribution
to the emergency services industry.
If you would like to be featured or
know someone who deserves some
recognition get in touch with our team.
Flashback
PORT HEDLAND VOLUNTEER
MARINE RESCUE GROUP
Port Headland Volunteer Marine Rescue Group was the very first
“In the Spotlight” for the Australian Emergency Services Magazine.
We take a look back at their valuable contribution.
Led by a strong young Commander, the
Port Hedland Volunteer Marine Rescue
Group battles wild weather in the home of
the largest bulk minerals port in the world.
When Commander Zachary Slaughter first
joined the Port Hedland Volunteer Marine
Rescue Group in 2014, there were only a
handful of members and the group was
on the brink of failure.
“We recruited a couple of our mates and
slowly, but surely people in town started
volunteering,” he said.
They have now brought new life to the
Port Hedland VMR with a crew of 36
members.
With the median age of the group sitting
at 31, they are the youngest volunteer
marine rescue group in Western Australia.
In fact, over 50% of their volunteers are
between the ages of 25 and 34 with no
volunteers over the age of 54.
The young age of the volunteers is a
reflection of the transient Port Hedland
mining community as is the short tenure
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period, with most usually remaining in the
VMR for an average of two years.
The transient environment here,
combined with the remoteness of its
location and limited recreational activities,
make volunteering attractive to the Port
Hedland residents.
Mr. Slaughter says, “They wanted to
increase their marine knowledge, come
out and do rescues and be a part of a
community group.”
As a part of the VMR, its members receive
regular training and the senior skippers
complete Coxswain training, a course
that equips them with the necessary
skills to command, safely and efficiently,
a commercial vessel engaged in inshore
operations.
Marine Rescue Port Hedland are involved
with the busy port of this region by
supporting them in Marine Emergency
Management.
This, sometimes dangerous, workload
can include rescuing individuals who have
fallen overboard from commercial vessels,
searching for ditched helicopters and
their pilots, rescuing recreational vessels
and clearing them from the main shipping
channel, removing capsized vessels from
marine trafficked areas, and much more.
As Port Hedland has the largest bulk
export port in the world and the largest
iron ore loading port in Australia, it’s no
wonder these brave rescue volunteers are
kept busy.
The 2018/19 period saw 6,147 vessel
movements through Port Hedland as well
as 513,302,391 tonnes of commodities
shifted through its waters. Though iron
ore is this region’s main export, making up
99.1% of the tonnage exported here last
year, others include salt, lithium, copper,
and manganese.
The busy port of this region not only sees
a great number of vessel movements,
but also incredibly large ocean swells as
it sits in the most cyclone-prone region
of Australia. Port Hedland saw a 7.5
metre tide in March of this year. To make
matters worse, this also coincided with
Cyclone Veronica, which brought storm
surges to the Pilbara Coast.
The port of Port Hedland measured
an additional almost 1.5 metres above
the high tide of 7.5m. Tides like these
significantly impact the vessel response
operations of the VMR and have
sometimes seen volunteers having to wait
hours to retrieve vessels.
The Port Hedland’s Volunteer Marine
Rescue group’s main purpose is to
preserve life at sea and the professionally
trained personnel are ready to assist
those within their community 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. They manage to do
this through wild weather and on top of
full- time work. “I work a full-time job in the
railway up here, and when I’m not working,
I’m down here at the rescue service,” says
Commander Zachary Slaughter.
Mr. Slaughter’s commitment to the VMR is
evident as he says, “I try to be out on the
water, running this organisation, training,
recruiting new members, and doing our
community days.”
It is no wonder that he has recently been
awarded with the Department of Fire and
Emergency Service Award for Outstanding
Individual Achievement in recognition
of his tireless efforts in rebuilding Port
Hedland’s Volunteer Marine Rescue
service.
Thanks to a bright young commander
who took it upon himself to rebuild
the struggling Port Hedland Volunteer
Marine Rescue, this mining community
on Western Australia’s Pilbara Coast can
rest easy knowing they have a team of
skilled, effective and efficient volunteers
monitoring their coastline no matter what
conditions this region throws their way.
For more information visit:
www.vmrsporthedland.com.au
Words: Jess Le Fanu
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 40

TRAVEL
EMERGENCY
Breaks
Words: Brooke Turnbull

We’ve taken you to a lot of places throughout
Emergency Breaks. From the tropics to the snow
and everywhere in between. Canberra is one of
those inbetween places. A place that houses our
capital, our political futures and some of the nation’s
major decisions, but not a place that’s often
considered for a tourist holiday. However, the
opposite is true. It was made the capital in 1908
after arguments between Melbourne and Sydney
about where the capital should be located, the
Yass-Canberra area was agreed upon and building
commenced. By 1927 the city was ready and the
capital relocated from Melbourne. Canberra has
a lot to take advantage of and if you find yourself
with a long weekend to explore, it’s well worth it.
Location:
Canberra is the capital of Australia
and is about 5 hours from Sydney
and houses it’s own airport, both
domestic and international. So
you’re able to fly directly into the
city itself. Honestly, unless you’re
on a road trip and are looking to do
some exploring in your own vehicle,
we would advise flying directly. This
allows you to be in the hub and the
public transport is some of the best
in the country. However, hiring a car
is always a great option as it does
give you more freedom to travel
around, and is a great idea if you’re
travelling with kids.
Things to do:
There are more things to do in
Canberra than there are politicians
to poke a stick at, so if you find
yourself in the city there are plenty
of things to take up your time.
Honourable mentions go to the big,
touristy things like the Australian
War Memorial and the Grave of the
Unknown Soldier - this is a must
to do for any Australian to pay
their respects to our veterans and
ANZACs.
The Old and New Parliament
Houses also get a mention, you
might not agree with decisions
being made in the senate, but the
chance to take in the architecture
and stately appearance of the
buildings themselves should never
be passed up. If you plan well, you’ll
be able to sit in for Question Time
at the House of Representatives and
the Senate, this is open to the public
and takes place at 2pm each day
Monday to Friday.
Now we’ve got the big ones out of
the way, let’s move onto the ones
we loved.
First up is Questacon, the science
centre. This one is great for kids and
adults alike and will have you bound
and fascinated for hours, exploring
breakthroughs our Australian
scientists have made in everything
from geology to cancer research to
understanding of A.I and the robots
that we can and will use in every
day life from now to the future.

Every space within the centre is thought out perfectly
to allow you to think, decipher and explore your own
understandings and knowledge and is a great day
out. The final rooms, both the toddler rooms and the
Excite@Q room contain the most fun, interactive exhibits
of the day. With the Free Fall, a 2-storey, vertical drop
into a slide, and the ability to face off against a robot in
a hockey game, the Excite@Q room has something for
everyone in the family.
After you’ve finished at the science centre, we highly
recommend hitting up the National Arboretum for lunch
with a view. About 15 minutes away from Questacon, it’s
a drive or a bus ride away, but it’s well worth the trek out
to the outskirts of the city. The wine and food on offer at
Ginger at the Arboretum is second to none and the views
over the grounds of the space is second to none.
Questacon Canberra
After you’ve eaten your fill, take a walk around the gardens
(special mention to the kid’s garden) and take a look at
native and international plants and the birds that have
made their homes in among the gardens and trees
available. Hot tip for this one, pack a kite or grab one from
the gift shop because the kite flying over the hill of the
Arboretum is a definite must.
For a different experience, but one that’s going to
guarantee you see all of the major sites of the city, check
out a Canberra Scavenger Hunt through Let’s Roam.
Solve riddles and answer trivia questions to move through
to the next attraction and compete against yourself or a
team. It’s a great experience and one way to absolutely
get the most out of this, mostly flat, part of the country.
The National Arboretum for lunch with a view
Finally, you know we couldn’t give you a list of things to
do without a winery tour, especially around the Yass-
Canberra region. Stop at some of the best lookouts,
wineries and eateries with Merry Heart and enjoy the
tastes of the region. With it’s crisp and cool temperatures,
Canberra houses wineries like Helm Wines, Four Winds
and Eden Road - all with wines and food absolutely made
to make you drool. The perfect way to cap off a weekend
visit to the nation’s capital.
Where to stay:
Canberra doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you
think of a luxury holiday. Nevertheless, there are some
very enjoyable and luxurious places to stay and we love
a luxury option. So, as is our usual way, here are three
different choices of places to stay when you’re visiting the
city.
Visit Canberra’s winery region for the perfect end to the perfect holiday
First option is straight up pure, unadulterated money
out the door and we’re not sorry. If you’re looking for
something different, something out of left field and
something that’s sure to make you feel things (and
not just terror at spending a month’s salary) we highly
recommend the Jamala Wildlife Lodge. At $1675 a night in
low season, it’s nothing to sneeze at but stick with us. This
is a way to take in a stunning attraction in the National
Zoo and Aquarium, while relaxing in your own private
suite. All bookings include a zoo experience where you
will see a variety of animals from lions to monkeys and
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everything in between. And with accommodation options
from suites to bungalows and even tree-houses, you can
make yourself at home among the wilderness and have a
zoo experience away from the crowds.
For a more budget friendly, but no less luxurious, option,
next up is the Hyatt Hotel Canberra.
With its sprawling entry way and manicured gardens,
this place is going to have you living out your country
house dreams while still remaining close to the city as
you can be. A 25 minute walk to the national gallery and
the national library, the Hyatt puts you square in the city’s
intellectual hub, and looks stunning while doing so.
Starting at a pretty $300 per night on low season, the
Hyatt will give you a whole lotta bang for that buck.
Facilities include guest lounge where guests can take tea,
marble bathrooms and free WiFi. If you’re looking to keep
yourself looking trim in case you catch the wandering
eye of a travelling senator, then the Clubhouse at the
Hyatt is for you, featuring a tennis court, gym, massage
services, personal trainers and bike hire. Concierge and
room service are also a great feature after a long day of
exploring the city and just want an in-room chill.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge Giraffe Treehouse
Moving right along to our third and final pick with
the Pavilion on Northborne. The Pavilion is much like
Canberra itself, not much to look at on the outside but
once you’re in you realise what a truly amazing place it is.
Featuring a delicious buffet breakfast to fill you up and
keep you going throughout your day, as well as Canberra’s
largest indoor tropical garden atrium. Reams of stunning
tropical gardens sit just inside the walls of this place and it
will transport you to another realm.
The Pavilion also has a variety of different options for
room types, including self-contained, which is an excellent
option if you’re travelling as a family and are looking to
save some of the budget for activities other than eating
out at restaurants. Starting at $195 per night in low
season, this place is a great budget option but still gives
you the elegant and luxurious feel
Hyatt Hotel Canberra
While Canberra might not be a first (or even a second)
option for a holiday, if you’re looking to explore
somewhere different, give the kids some excellent first
hand, fun and interactional education, or maybe try out
Question Time for yourself, then Canberra is actually a
pretty wholesome place to visit. If you’ve never been,
maybe it’s time to book that next holiday.
The Pavilion on Northborne
www.ausemergencyservices.com.au 44

A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE
DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE SOFT.
IT MEANS YOU’RE HUMAN.
Put your hand up for help.
The sooner you do, the sooner you get better.
PO LICE ASS O CIAT
IO N
O F
S O U TH
I A
AUST RA L