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THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
In Queensland, Australia all the emergency services (both fulltime paid
emergency services and volunteers) are grouped together to form the
Department of Emergency Services (DES). This provides a coordinated focus
for the provision of emergency services and enhances the service provided to
Queensland communities.
Minister for Emergency Services
Director-General
CDRS QAS QFRA SSBU
CDRS
Counter Disaster and Rescue Services
QAS
Queensland
Ambulance
Service
QFRA
Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority
SSBU
Support Services Business Unit
COUNTER DISASTER AND RESCUE SERVICES
The role of Counter Disaster and Rescue Services (CDRS) is to improve
community safety and protect economic development and the environment by
providing disaster, rescue and specialised emergency services.
CDRS achieves this role through five operational areas:
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Disaster
Operations
Unit;
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Disaster Policy & Research Unit (DPRU);
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State Emergency Service and Volunteer Marine Rescue Support Unit
(SES/VMR Support);
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Chemical Hazards and Emergency Management Unit (CHEM Unit); and
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Aviation Services Unit.
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Disaster Operations Unit and DPRU
These units work in partnership with State and Local Governments to develop
and improve Queensland's capability to mitigate hazard impact, prepare and plan
for the impact of hazards and to respond to and recover from disaster events.
Following disaster events the Disaster Operations Unit coordinates response and
recovery operations across all Government Departments.
SES/VMR Support
The SES/VMR Support Unit provides support, equipment and training to
Volunteer SES Units established at Local Government level. The Volunteer SES
Units undertake a range of rescue functions within their local community
including:
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Land
search;
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Vertical
rescue;
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Flood
rescue;
?
Road accident rescue;
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Storm
damage
operations.
The unit also provides support to Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations. The
Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations provide safety and rescue functions both
for people swimming at surf beaches and off-shore marine rescue for incidents
involving recreational boats and small fishing vessels.
CHEM Unit
The CHEM Unit provides advice on chemical hazards during emergency
operations, including on-site analysis of chemicals and gases involved in
emergency situations. CHEM Unit also provides a lead agency function across
the Queensland Government for matters relating to chemical safety.
Aviation Services Unit
The Aviation Services Unit provides emergency helicopter services including
medical services, search and rescue and fire fighting. The Unit also supports
community based emergency helicopter services.
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QUEENSLAND FIRE & RESCUE AUTHORITY
The role of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority (QFRA) is to create a
safer Queensland by providing world class professional fire and rescue services.
QFRA has firefighting and rescue responsibilities in both urban and rural
environments.
QFRA undertakes a number of tasks including:
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Structural fire fighting;
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Bush
fire
fighting;
?
Road accident rescue;
?
Vertical
rescue;
?
Chemical hazard management;
?
Fire research and investigation;
?
Fire safety inspections and audits;
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Fire
safety
education.
QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE
The role of Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is to improve the health and
wellbeing of the community through the efficient delivery of high quality pre-
hospital patient care, community education programs and specialised patient
transport services.
Tasks undertaken by QAS include:
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Emergency
pre-hospital
care;
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Inter-hospital patient transport;
?
Emergency medical coverage at special events;
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Public education in first aid and resuscitation.
SUMMARY
The Queensland Department of Emergency Services covers the full range of
emergency and disaster services and can provide advice, assistance and training
in all these areas.
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Contact Details:
Mr Wayne Ripper
Director, Disaster Operations
Counter Disaster and Rescue Services
Emergency Services Complex
Corner Park and Kedron Park Roads
KEDRON QLD 4031
GPO Box 1425, BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone: (07)
3247
8461
Fax:
(07)
3247
8475
Mobile:
0417 612 274
Email:
wripper@emergency.qld.gov.au