USAR History in Australia
1995
In early 1995, Mr J.R.Godfredson, Chief Fire Officer, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade highlighted the need for Australia to consider the development of specialised Search and Rescue Teams for operating in areas of structural collapse. The National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) at its 1995 meeting considered a proposal that Australia should have an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capability. It was recommended that a workshop be conducted to identify existing resources and to examine issues associated with the development of such a capability. In November 1995, the ACT Fire Brigade ran a Category 2 USAR Training course using instructors form Strathclyde Fire Brigade in Scotland. This course included rescuers from most jurisdictions in Australia and became the basis from which USAR training developed.
1996
A five person working party met in April to plan for a multi-agency, national workshop to be held within the NEMC national studies program framework. The aim of the workshop was to investigate the need for, and feasibility of, establishing a national, multi-agency USAR capability based on existing resources.
The workshop was held at the Australian Emergency Management Institute from 9-12 September with forty three participants, including specialist practitioners from the USA and New Zealand.
Based on the workshop conclusions and the assessed threat, the workshop recommended that:
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A national strategy for the development and implementation of an Australian USAR capability be formulated by a steering committee and coordinated by EMA;
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The USAR strategy be developed in conjunction with progression of the recommendations of the Inter-State/Territory Emergency Management Arrangements Workshop:
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Databases of available USAR resources be developed and maintained such that they are accessible nationally and between States and Territories
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National training standards for USAR be developed under the guidance of the steering committee;
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National standards for USAR specialised equipment be developed under the guidance of the steering committee;
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A standardised and nationally-recognised incident management system for single or multi-agency operations be developed;
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A national USAR marketing, promotion and finance strategy be established under the guidance of the steering committee;
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The NEMC promote the inclusion of Australian USAR capabilities in all emergency planning arrangements for major public events;
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If required, EMA be responsible for the coordination of all State/Territory and international requests for USAR assistance; and
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The original working party be expanded and tasked with the further development of the workshop outcomes.
Mt Macedon Paper 7/1996 details the conduct and outcomes of the workshop. The recommendations were endorsed by the NEMC in October with a directive that the National Emergency Management Executive Group (NEMEG) would oversee further developments.
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The original working party was expanded with a number of participants identified at the workshop joining the group which became the National Urban Search and Rescue Steering Committee.
New Zealand was subsequently invited to join the Steering Committee.
1997
The Steering Committee met in February and November to further develop the recommendations.
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A video was produced (The Need for USAR).
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A PowerPoint presentation was produced to explain USAR.
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Outcomes for the February Steering Committee meeting were endorsed by the March meeting of the NEMEG.
1998
The outcomes from the November 1997 Steering Committee Meeting were endorsed by the NEMEG in March.
A deployable assets working party was formed to develop criteria for deploying USAR assets interstate or overseas.
The NEMC questioned the composition of the USAR Steering Committee and asked that all members be re-endorsed by their State or Territory. Some minor adjustments to the committee membership resulted.
1999
A tabletop exercise was held at EMAI to explore the issues associated with responding USAR assets interstate. At the September meeting of the National Steering Committee the following strategy was developed.
National USAR Steering Committee, Strategic Focus:
The strategic focus of the USAR national steering committee was discussed with several tasks being identified. These tasks are categorised under either domestic or international headings with the proposed development time frame.
Domestic:
Implement State/Territory USAR Steering Committees: Implement State/ Territory USAR steering committees to progress the development of USAR capabilities within States. State committees would be responsible for the identification of "Risks v Resources", provide advice and monitor development of resources and facilitate the development and implementation of procedures for deployment. Multi-agency involvement in committees will further promote and encourage the importance of multi agency task force structures.
The national USAR steering committee proposed the following terms of reference for the State and Territory steering committees.
Intra State/Territory USAR responses:
Identification of issues and development of procedures relative to ensuring a State or Territory's ability to respond to a USAR incident.
Inter State/Territory USAR responses:
Identification of issues and development of procedures relative to ensuring a State or Territory's ability to respond to a USAR incident interstate.
International USAR Response into Australia:
Identification of issues and development procedures and agreements relative to Australia's ability to receive international USAR assistance in the case of a major structural collapse in country.
International
Provision of Technical Assistance Internationally: Identify suitable personnel with specialised skills and develop procedures for providing support to UN staff and others during USAR related disasters.
Identify Self Sufficient Teams to Deploy Commercially: In accordance with INSARAG guidelines identify and develop procedures for the implementation of compact self sufficient USAR teams complete with equipment cache that can deploy internationally on commercial transport.
Identify International Capable USAR Resources: In accordance with INSARAG guidelines identify and develop procedures for the implementation of an internationally capable Task Force complete with equipment cache that can operate and remain self sufficient for 10 days. Development was initiated on the issues arising with consultation with border control agencies on the fast tracking of international USAR response into Australia. Issues were identified that could impact on a national or international USAR response. A second video was made and distributed (The Way Ahead) identifying the national strategy for USAR.
2000
The July National Steering Committee meeting identified the need for the committee to become more strategically focused. The following Terms of Reference were prepared which are more aligned with the current needs of Australian USAR
New Terms of Reference for National USAR Steering Committee:
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Develop USAR response strategies in accordance with INSARAG SAR Team Response Guidelines.
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Develop and maintain a national USAR Database.
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Identify, monitor and recommend implementation of world best practices.
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Provide advice and assistance in the development of USAR training strategies.
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Monitor and provide advice on continued development of equipment capability.
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Develop a USAR communication strategy and stakeholder consultation plan.
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Provide knowledge, support and advice to State and Territory USAR committees.
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USAR AEM being developed with printing proposed for 2002. The following working groups were identified at the meeting
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International assistance into Australia during disasters.
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International deployment of USAR teams.
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Communications strategy for information flow.
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The USAR Steering Committee and the AFAC SLSC held a joint meeting in Canberra.
2001
AFAC, SLSC met in early 2001. EMA attended. The National USAR Steering Committee met in March and September to further develop the strategy. USAR AEM Working Group met in March. International Response Working Group met at EMAI in October. National Steering Committee members attended the INSARAG Team Leaders meeting in Sydney.
2002
EMA funded attendance of a number of National Steering Committee members at an international USAR exercise in Singapore.
The National Steering Committee was dismantled and a more strategically focussed National Urban Search and Rescue Working Group (NUSARWG) was formed. Terms of reference were developed for this group and tasks proposed for members to complete.
2003
Draft USAR Australian Emergency Manual tabled at NUSARWG meeting in June.
EMA was confirmed as the permanent char of the NUSARWG.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service launched category 2 USAR training package and resource kit.
2004
EMA releases USAR Australian Emergency Manual.
NUSARWG requests that a concept of operations for USAR be developed. The first draft of this document was tabled at the NUSARWG in December.
2005
USAR Border control workshop held at EMA in Canberra with representatives from AQIS, Customs, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Immigration and taskforce leaders from Queensland and NSW.
AQIS develops guidelines for USAR taskforces.
Personnel manifest for International USAR taskforces developed in conjunction with immigration.
Customs assigns four person team to assist EMA develop guidelines for USAR taskforces.
Databases for USAR equipment, personnel and national ID’s was trialled by all States and found to be not suitable for Australian use.
A USAR Capability Development Project was launched by EMA with funding to address critical capability gaps in USAR within Australia.
This information provided has been developed in conjunction with the National Urban Search and Rescue Working Group.