Schools

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

Take action

Upon the impact of a sudden event on the school, the School Response Controller (SRC) should:

1. Assess safety of students and staff.
2. Advise Emergency Services if required.
3. Implement lockdown, evacuation or temporary closure, if required.
4. Brief the Regional Response Controller (RRC).
5. Monitor impact of event and response.
6. Commence the Communication Strategy as practicable.

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

• Emergency Response Plan template—Schools
• ​ Bomb threat checklist
• DoE approach to school lockdowns
• DoE lockdown process 2016
• Flowchart of communications to specific audiences and the channels available
• Communications templates – severe weather event
• Communication templates – school lockdown
• 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
• Checklist – response to imminent disaster or emergency event
• Disaster and Emergency Management procedure
• CE Directive No. 1/2019 – Temporary closure and re-opening of state schools in disaster or emergency situations (PDF, 820KB)
• Quick reference guide – disaster event planning for school principals

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)