Elements and Performance Criteria

Emergency operations
Are usually the result of an event (such as flood, storm, or bushfire) that generates a significant response requirement over a large area for protracted periods. Operations such as this differ from incidents where relatively small responses are required in tightly defined areas for relatively short periods of time (such as road accidents or domestic structure fires)

Operations centres may be
Established and purpose designed to deal with the typical response roles of the unit, or field operations centres established to manage particular emergencies and dismantled after the emergency. Most operations centres are only activated to respond to emergencies, and are not normally operational

Operational information may include
location, magnitude and type of event
nature and extent of damage
estimated duration of emergency
location of incidents
number and nature of casualties
access and egress routes
resources available
weather forecast
potential hazards
other organisations working

Communications systems may include
fax, telephone and radio systems
Internet or intranet communications
other equipment or method (such as couriers) as specified or relevant Activation of communication systems always includes testing

Other organisations may include
emergency service organisations
local authorities
utility companies
welfare organisations
suppliers

Plans and directories may include
response plans for specific hazards
state disaster plans
local government plans
unit standing operating procedures
resource and contact directories

Organisation documentation may include
request for assistance forms
logs
summaries
running sheets
situation reports
task allocation sheets
requests for assistance
records of conversation
paper based or computerised
plus other documentation as described in organisation's SOPs

Information sources may include
members of the public
other emergency service organisations
members of the organisation in the field
reconnaissance teams

Operational information plots may include
sketch maps
whiteboard information summaries
frequently used contact numbers
warnings
resources available
statistical summaries
computer based geographic information systems
marking topographical or other cartographic representations
magnetic displays

Information dissemination may include
task information to elements of your own or other organisations
preparing briefing notes
summary information for higher authorities
orders for suppliers
media releases
requests for assistance

Critical aspects of evidence
Ability to legibly record and prioritise requests for assistance and present information for decision-makers

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite Units: Nil
Co-requisite Units:
PUAOPE002A Operate communications systems and equipment
PUAOPE003A Navigate in urban and rural environments.
PUACOM001A Communicate in the workplace.
PUATEA004A Work effectively in a public safety organisation

Underpinning knowledge
local operations centre activation procedures
standing operating procedures
local and state emergency management plans
relevant legislation and regulations
nature of local hazards and methods of combating these
local information management systems
communications systems used in the organisation's operations centres
requirements for drafting situation reports, operation orders

Underpinning skills
ability to write legibly
ability to plot information
ability to read and interpret maps
ability to speak the English language

Resource implications
Assessment will require access to an appropriately equipped operations centre

Consistency in performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of Assessment
Assessment will be in the context of a real operation or a simulation