Regional office

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Occurring disaster and emergency response

Take action

Upon the impact of a sudden event on the region, the Regional Response Controller (RRC) should:

1. Review the actions of the impacted School Response Controllers (SRCs).
2. Overview the assessment of the safety of all students and staff in the region.
3. Activate the Regional Response Team (RRT) and Regional Coordination Centre (RCC).
4. Commence the Communication Strategy; Ensure the lodgement and approval of a Critical Incident Alert Notification and e-mail Alert Notification to CEP Media.ccm@qed.qld.gov.au and School Operations School.Alert@qed.qld.gov.au.
5. ​Monitor the responses under the School Emergency Response Plans.
6. Manage the school closure system for the region.
7. Engage with the District Disaster Coordination Centre if established.
8. If formed, regularly brief the Executive Response Controller, otherwise advise Emergency and School Security (E&SS) and the supervising ADG (State School Operations).​
   
9. Monitor the School Response Controllers from a welfare perspective.
10. Engage the Business Continuity Plan.
11. Coordinate with Regional BAS Office to prioritise repairs to schools.
12. Consult with SRCs on resuming business and educational support services; monitor site requirements, maintain and facilitate any ongoing support, outside agency involvement and address any community issues at regular junctures following the regional emergency.
13. Ensure the management of the RRT and RCC through systems, briefings and communications to ensure shared situational awareness.

Communications

The Disaster and Emergency Communications Strategy provides a summary of the phases of an event and suggested internal and external stakeholder communications opportunities for schools and regions to consider.

Templates are also available for principals to use when communicating with parents and school communities at the start of annual disaster seasons and during or following a severe weather event or school lockdown.

• Flowchart of communications to specific audiences and the channels available
• Communications templates – severe weather event
• Communication templates – school lockdown

Useful tools

• DoE protocols document—Responding to bomb and armed attack threats
• Bomb threat checklist
• DoE approach to school lockdowns
• DoE lockdown process 2016
• Emergency Response Plan template—Regions
• Quick reference guide—Use of DoE facilities in a disaster or emergency
• Quick reference guide—Building structure collapse
• Quick reference guide—Bushfire
• Quick reference guide—Cyclone
• Quick reference guide—Earthquakes
• Quick reference guide—Fire
• Quick reference guide—Flood
• Quick reference guide—Hazardous material (HAZMAT)
• Quick reference guide—Heatwave
• Quick reference guide—Severe thunderstorm
• Quick reference guide—Tornado
• Quick reference guide—Tsunami
• Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS)
• Memorandum of Agreement—Public Cyclone Shelter and Evacuation Centres
• Response to imminent disaster or emergency event checklist
• Disaster and Emergency Management

Useful sites

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) webpage
• Local ABC radio

Weather/events

• Bureau of Meteorology
• Get Ready Queensland—Disaster Management
• Bushfire mapping

Agencies

• Queensland Police Service
• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• Queensland Ambulance Service
• State Emergency Services
• Queensland Health—Natural disasters and severe weather

Key contacts

Emergency and School Security

• Email: qed-emergency@id.ngcomms.net
• Phone: (07) 3034 6025 (disaster and emergency management)
• Phone: (07) 3034 6016 (disaster and emergency management)
• Phone: (07) 3034 6010 (school security)
• School Watch Phone: 13 17 88

Employee Assistance Program

• External counselling services— LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell—Phone 1800 604 640
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)