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11 October 2024
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FRNSW passes rigorous ‘search and rescue’ testing to continue aiding UN during disasters, Australia
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Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) AUS02 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has been successfully reclassified to provide national and international urban search and rescue assistance following three days of intensive simulations. FRNSW’s AUS02 USAR team were assessed by a team of international experts from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), which sits under the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian affairs (UNOCHA), passing all 172 of the strict requirements.
FRNSW is one of only two emergency services in Australia to hold the international classification.
With the capability supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it provides a unique immediate humanitarian response element for the Australian Government to utilise internationally.
The reclassification means that for the next five years, FRNSW can deploy its highly skilled people and resources to places experiencing natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis as well as major structural collapses, such as the one that occurred at Whalan earlier this year.
To date, the team has been deployed internationally, providing rescue and incident management support in Türkiye, Tonga, Vanuatu, Japan and New Zealand.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said that this qualification reflects FRNSW’s important role both here and overseas.
“By once again gaining INSARAG classification, FRNSW has proven why it is among the best in the world when it comes to emergency response and rescue,” Mr Dib said.
“The team’s expertise will enable them to continue assisting national and international communities during sudden disasters."
FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the INSARAG reclassification exercise is a highly practical scenario, simulating conditions very similar to a real disaster event. “Our people have been training and preparing for well over 12 months to ensure they were ready to face the complex scenarios,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.
“The team worked together seamlessly to demonstrate they had the high-level skills and capabilities to retain the classification. The firefighters gave it their all and their commitment to maintaining and elevating their proficiencies in urban search and rescue has paid off.”
Source: Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW)
FRNSW is one of only two emergency services in Australia to hold the international classification.
With the capability supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it provides a unique immediate humanitarian response element for the Australian Government to utilise internationally.
The reclassification means that for the next five years, FRNSW can deploy its highly skilled people and resources to places experiencing natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis as well as major structural collapses, such as the one that occurred at Whalan earlier this year.
To date, the team has been deployed internationally, providing rescue and incident management support in Türkiye, Tonga, Vanuatu, Japan and New Zealand.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said that this qualification reflects FRNSW’s important role both here and overseas.
“By once again gaining INSARAG classification, FRNSW has proven why it is among the best in the world when it comes to emergency response and rescue,” Mr Dib said.
“The team’s expertise will enable them to continue assisting national and international communities during sudden disasters."
FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said the INSARAG reclassification exercise is a highly practical scenario, simulating conditions very similar to a real disaster event. “Our people have been training and preparing for well over 12 months to ensure they were ready to face the complex scenarios,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.
“The team worked together seamlessly to demonstrate they had the high-level skills and capabilities to retain the classification. The firefighters gave it their all and their commitment to maintaining and elevating their proficiencies in urban search and rescue has paid off.”
Source: Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW)
