A multi-agency emergency exercise involving NSW Emergency Services was conducted on UNSW Kensington Campus on Wednesday, 7th August, between 8am and 12pm.
The operations involved UNSW’s Emergency Management Unit (EMU), Critical Incident Team (CIT), NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).
The UNSW Protective Services say that the exercise was “not a direct result of incidents that have occurred in Sydney recently” but rather a part of their “proactive approach around preparedness and response to emergency situations on campus.”
The exercise consisted of simulations of a real-time explosion within a service tunnel on campus and a coordinated rescue team of more than 50 people physically responding from different emergency services. Search and rescue operations, medical aid and establishment of command points were a primary part of the drill.
“As part of any exercise, we are now in the post exercise review phase, gathering feedback from the participants on the day including NSW Emergency Services, UNSW Protectives Services, UNSW Emergency Control Organisations and the UNSW Critical Incident Team,” said Matthew Lloyd, UNSW’s Emergency Management Coordinator.
Earlier this year, the Protective Services team released a series of UNSW Emergency Videos that informed students on how to safely respond to an emergency on campus. The SafeZone App, another initiative introduced by the team earlier this year, provides timely notifications to students during a crisis.
“If any member of our community feels unsafe, we strongly encourage them to reach out to our team at any time, day or night, for assistance… Students can seek assistance in person at the 24/7 Gate 2 Security Office (off High St), or alternatively they can approach one of our team while they are out on patrol, or simply reach out via the SafeZone App,” said Mr. Lloyd.