CFA helps Fiji develop its capacity to handle disasters

The disasters need a multi-agency response, but Fiji currently has weak links between its emergency response agencies including the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), the police and fire services. Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) was formed in 2013 as a mechanism to strengthen the emergency preparedness of key national response agencies in PICTs.

Three 'train the trainer' workshops were delivered by Pacific Island Liaison Officer Network (PILON) trainers during March and April 2019 across various Pacific locations. The four-day workshops were designed to introduce the Incident Management System (IMS) to the Pacific which partly aligns to the AIIMS course used by CFA, and to roll-out the Work in an Emergency Operations Centre (WEOC) course, considered essential emergency management training.

Brett Wagstaff, a bushfire instructor based in Bendigo, recently returned from his deployment in Nadi, Fiji, as a member of this initiative. Brett provided expertise in emergency response and incident management.

Brett said the program benefited both himself and CFA. "Relationships and contacts were created internationally and the longstanding relationship with Fiji was upheld," Brett said.

"Being exposed to various learning techniques and accommodating for cultural and language differences will help me to train people in the future."

This program was an excellent opportunity for CFA to provide leadership, assistance and training to Fiji emergency response teams as well as support interoperability. According to Brett, the training was an important course that "catered to overcome the outdated institutional arrangements in the Pacific."

Photos courtesy of Brett Wagstaff