2015-06-23 I&S Agenda - Item 5 - Local Disaster Management Plan - Attachment 1

      (FIRE) (through training and emergency management) and council have some limited
      capacity to provide this course to staff that may be required to work in a coordination
      centre.

     Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) “Coordinate resources within a
      multi-agency emergency response”. This course examines a range of issues that impact
      emergency coordination, culminating in a major coordination centre exercise where
      participants will have a chance to experience the management of a major emergency in
      a realistic, simulated environment.

     QFES Disaster Coordination Centre courses form the disaster management training
      framework.

4.7      Exercises
An exercise is a controlled objective based activity used to practice, evaluate or test plans or
procedures and resources. The purpose of an exercise is to practice and test the knowledge
and ability of the agencies of the disaster management system to coordinate disaster
operations for a potential disaster or emergency scenario. Exercises can enhance the
capacity and confidence of the people who participate in them. An exercise is one way in
which the Local Group can undertake a review of the Local Plan.
Prior to participating in disaster and emergency exercises it is preferred that participants
have received training as outlined in Section 4.6 of this plan. This is so that participants
have a basic understanding of the policies and procedures that apply to working in a disaster
management environment and that the experience and learnings from the exercise can be
maximised.

4.7.1 Exercise program and type
Each year the NLDMG will conduct one or more one or more of the following exercises:
(a)     A field exercise determined by the lead agency designed to test the lead agency’s
        response coordination capability.
(b)     A table top discussion exercise, with the focus of the exercise to be determined by the
        District or Local Group.
(c)     An LDCC exercise with the focus of the exercise to be determined by the LDC or Local
        Group.
(d)     A small scale exercise involving the testing of a single element of the capacity of the
        LDCC.
(e)     A small scale exercise involving the testing of the Evacuation Centre Support
        Operational Plans.
(f)     Joint LDCC / DDCC Sunshine Coast disaster management system exercise with the
        focus of the exercise to be determined by the LDMG and DDMG.
Exercises can be small scale one to two hour activities through to a three day event. More
frequent small scale exercises can be an effective alternative to a single large scale activity.

4.7.2 Exercise evaluation
An exercise is to be followed by a debrief process. A hot debrief is to be conducted
immediately following the conclusion of the exercise and a cold debrief conducted no longer
than one month following the exercise. The cold debrief allows participants time to provide a
more considered view of the exercise outcomes. The learnings from the exercise are to be
consolidated into a plan for action. Table 10 (at item 4.8.4 of this plan), “Measurement of
capability” provides a format for documenting the outcomes of each exercise.

                                                                                                  62