SA Firefighter

Hi all - long time. Interested to read that after all of the BS of changing call signs to 9's (to fit in with the paid fire & rescue service) it doesn't really matter? Well there you go :-) As a side note I met with the local NSW Fire & Rescue units (Penrith & Regentville) as part of work - all rather youngish & nice people (guys & girls). I did notice on their pumpers that they are all rescue? - except the skyjet thingy! And that afternoon there they were at a major loading dock fire (not ours thank goodness).
Oh well take care & bye 4 now

 :-D I like living end so to get that on your scanner is pretty cool! woo hoo!

Sorry mate - may have come across too strong :oops: Basically when you join the ADF - they own your bod (& perhaps mind?). Therefore they have their own emergency services - this has been modified over the years due to public sector money saving solutions. However basically they tend to look after their own, facilities have equipped medical centres, hospitals in major locations(there was a new beautiful one at Puckapunyal in the 90's for example)& also use the repat hospitals & private facilities as well. So the ambulances are used for emergency response, as well as patient transfer (e.g. I was transferred from a private hospital after an operation to the previously mentioned hospital).By the way they also have the best staff! I do remember a MOU that if military vehicles were involved in accidents then the civil services would provide life saving support until a military ambulance arrived on scene, but that was in a major population centre with numerous large bases around!
Anyway I hope that helps further - cheers

The drivers of army medical transport are drivers - pure & simple. If you are an authorised driver - you can drive a "blood box". they are considered the same as any other type of transport.
They may have medics on board - refer to previous comments re qualifications.
They are used as the ADF feel fit - Defence Act 1903, the ADF is not answerable to the states! However gentlemens agreements, MOU's etc have been developed over the years. Did you know that the operator of a military (army navy) vehicle does not require a state drivers licence? And the ADF is not required to pay state taxes/tolls (think registration).The ADF does not need the ok from the states! However nice idea to "consult" saves problems for the GG!
I'm not sure what the point of your questions are?
However I'm sure if you would like to know more, the services are always on the lookout for the right type of people to fill their ranks! Bearing in mind recruit course prior to any other course you may consider! As for flashing lights - really???? Does it really matter?
I hope I have cleared up your questions (by the way ADF compared to ST Johns? Chalk and cheese).
In closing a "field medic" is not a first aider (as one so politely put it one day - her job is to put my parts into a body bag when I f**k up! So they are the second line in medical treatment (all soldiers are trained to senior first aid sucking chest wounds etc).
I hope that answers your questions, If not contact one of the field ambulance units I'm sure they will help (& maybe offer you are job?)
cheers

Tallangatta is a small town near lake Hume (top end of the murray for those who don't know where it is). The area is suffering from the damage from multiple floods earlier this year & yes you are lucky to have the levy!
cheers

What K99 says is true - sadly.
Most jobs you apply for either a)don't tell you why or b)don't tell you the real reason :wink:
Yep numbers Catch22
as for answering the firearm question like that-I too would say hmmm dodgy.
And before some attack me - I have been trained to recruit, interview & select new people. And have some experience in selecting wheat from chaff
So for those who didn't make it the first question you should be asking is Do I really want to do this? And then where can I do better? deep down I normally have know why I didn't get the job I want :wink:

Totally agree - if there is going to be any payment system this is what it should be!
I was asked to do various out of area deployments recently - I had to answer no - due to what you highlighted above Alan J.
Backfilling my position for several days/weeks at short notice is impossible & I would not expect my employer to "make do" so I can help in another area/ state. In my position any compensation system would not work, however for some it would work. Anyway I really think the community needs to decide what sought of emergency response they require, who is going to provide it? (are volunteer emergency responders really the right people to be using?), how is it going to be funded?(should the feds take over emergency response funding)& what is the future of volunteer emergency response?
Just a few thoughts
cheers

Interestingly with the recent multiple exposures of SES & others at work there was a significant increase in enquiries to join - however once it was explained that you can't just fill in paperwork & head off to help, the numbers decreased.
Also on one of the courses I help facilitate (aimed at officers managing people), the differences between the generations are explored in depth. Interestingly the young people are strongly interested in community work but everything has to have a purpose & they don't like being stuffed about. They don't cope well with poor management or "hurry up & wait". And I'm sorry to say that when you look at our organisations in a broader sense we don't always look like an attractive way to spend our free time. And these days people are more likely to leave rather than "sticking it out".
So yes while some incentives for employers may help, as has been said previously the respective services need to look a lot harder at themselves as well. I for one am currently in the middle of a transfer to the "big smoke". Now whether I remain with the service will depend on my impressions on the local unit in my new location. If however it seems a bit "Dads army" or worse my "face does not fit" then sadly I will not remain with the service. Time is far too short to be mess about by idiots :wink: Finally the medium projections for the future climate indicates that we will need more emergency service responders - not less. Something for all of us to ponder!
regards

Make sense? not sure. Maybe it was an indication of what happens when some people decide that SES should become a downgraded junior partner in a "super" organisation?
Maybe some sought of payment may attract more members but surveys in other states indicate that it would also drive other members away!
Maybe they should look at better funding of equipment, training & the reinstating of the QLD SES as a proper emergency service in the eyes of the community instead of being a sub branch of EMQ (QFRS)?
You reap waht you sow I guess  :wink:

Have to agree with Boardy - both with apprentices & uni graduates - recent experiences with both have high lighted all of those comments. In fact we just lost an apprentice because of those things (wanted to do the good stuff without learning) & I gained a position at a new location over the far more qualified uni guys due to 1)extensive practical experience 2)the ability to actually listen to people!
And while it is true that in most industries you would theoretically move straight into your chosen profession upon graduation just like Andrew said the reality is you are closely watched & supervised (sometimes for years) prior to be left to fly solo!
And whilst I agree that this is disheartening for those who do put in the effort & some of it is based on the ideas of cranky old B******ds who just wont change with the times (eg why is the apprentice the only one who cleans up the workshop? -Well that's the way it was in my day!) until the education system can guarantee that the new graduates can really do the tasks in practice rather than just theory I'm not sure how this can change? In a way it is sad for the professions & sad for the new entries as well but that is just the way it is! Finally having changed jobs/ sites numerous times its not just new entries who face a 'testing" period :wink: I have never walked into a new worksite, unit, squadron or company & have been welcomed with open arms & given the keys to everything. Human nature I guess!

In a similar vain - many years ago it was decided to blow the railway line between Bourke & Nyngan to release held back water. End result was flooding effect reduced, however line never rebuilt & businesses closed around Bourke due to the lack of a rail link. In the big scheme of things commercial interests (even farms)don't out way the protection of hospitals etc or private dewellings (so the theory goes). The thought process is "they are insured' regardless whether they are or not. Our farmers up north (Townsville) had to dump milk due to lack of electricity & transport - they want compensation however they were advised to source portable generators to keep milk refridgerated but chose not to.
So to answer the problem posed - protect the houses sorry grain storage! (I would however make sure the pub was protected)

Thanks mate

We have just been asked who is available to go up north - possible same thing?

My old house, factory are well above 56 mate :wink: (And the house will be finalised this week so not my problem :-D ). As far as my old unit/regional HQ same - there would be bigger problems if the river ever got that high :wink: And of course you are right - not too much at Berri any more :-(
But thanks for the update - cheers

Nice maps - thanks. Pity they stop at Morgan though :wink:

Ah I luv rumours :wink: We had people here ringing & asking if the QLD floods would impact here - reply look at a map & no they won't!
We were told as big if not bigger than the last major flood in the 70's (74?)
They were not quite as big & are now over for our river -  for now.
looking at the latest warnings they will exceed minor flood levels at Wentworth mid to late Feb depending on Darling flows.
Problem is people are not used to seeing the river high & after the Qld experience are concerned. But as high as 56? Not so sure!

So sad but so true :wink:

Sorry MT (& others)I wasn't trying to be a smart arse - just asking the question. As you & other Emergency Management qualified people would know it is the requesting state that has to ask its self a number of questions:-
1 What is it we are trying to achieve now?
2 Can we get that resource from within the state?
3 What are they expected to do?
4 Can we provide food, water, sanitation & shelter for them?
5 What qualifications do they hold & does that match our states quals (or similar)?
6 How do we manage them locally?
7 How do we pay for them? (no joking!)
eg many years ago I was deployed as part of a team to a town in QLD due to major flooding:- with us there were major teams from QLD fire & rescue (can't remember what they were called then), ambulance, police, SES, prison service etc. We just about doubled the size of the town population. However the town had no food, fresh water, medical facilities etc. We (the ADF) spent a lot of energy providing this, while some resources were gainfully employed a lot wasn't (lack of direction perhaps?) So large portions of the ADF team were sent home, latter other organisations just started turning up to "lend a hand". At the end of the day the locals felt they had lost control of their town & got very angry (part of the grief cycle as well)& some out of towners were not doing much but eating & drinking. I'm sure EMQ & its subordinate organisations would be manageing their team fatigue levels appropriately (just like we are in NSW)& if they couldn't do that with internal resources they would ask. Finally the ADF is the only organisation that can deploy totally self sufficiently including water filtration & power reticulation (plus they have Unimogs & Bushmasters - refer to ABC web site) so tend to be used in these sought of environments. So in closing my guess is the SA government has offered far more than what is being sent to QLD, but at this point in time they are not required. We have people here that want to go as well (our regional guy is up north plus a couple of other management types) but they have been told to wait (we will be busy ourselves again this afternoon). As I said I wasn't trying to be a smart arse just asking the question.

All of the states are sending small teams - mainly USAR & Swift water rescue types. The others are emergency management people. Its not really a case of feet on ground, QLD have plenty of those (two brigades of army for a start)- its specialist they are after (just like every other state in time of natural disaster).
And as Boardy said something will be happening in your state soon. With a lot of unstable weather around it would be rather risky sending people out of area that are not really required. Just a question - What would a strike team actually do?
cheers

Yes Numbers - a need was identified by the service & they went out & got help from the other services mentioned (there was however a long lead time between identified need & the first pilot) And yep we work the same as RFS - OIC decides level of response, driver operates lights, sirens etc. What was really good was we got to see how NSWFB & the ambulance service do it using vision from their dash mounted cameras - including hearing what they were saying (very calm :) ). So we saw a practical use of wail vs yelp. There is a down side though - currently there is a "major" discussion around the issue of public roads & training! Until someone can decide on what the go is, this is a real problem. As for the 4x4 type DUOC 4x4 cse (which is similar to the RFD course?) there will be a partial recognition of prior learning, however the competencies cover differ enough to require further thought. Finally our new vehicles come out with the switches mounted nearer to the driver similar to RFS.
cheers

Just to take some of the "heat" out & to share some insight gained from the course I did (Drive Vehicles under Operational conditions - on roads as Response/P1) as part of the assessesment the driver had to correctly operate the sirens (wail/yelp)as it was the drivers responibility. The training was developed from the NSWFB, NSW ambulance service & police training. Whilst I agree Numbers the team leader could operate this change switches, it is the drivers job at the end of the day as per MT's last comments. I also agree with MT the switches are often mounted in stupid spots. Just for your interest - to ensure we got it right we were trained on one vehicle but had to do the two practical assessments in vehicles that we had not driven! That made for interesting times :wink: You soon learned where the switches could possibly be mounted.
cheers

Quite right Andrew - it is easy to look eastwards/ westwards & say " but they do it this way & have that" etc etc. But you have hit the nail on the head - money! We have over 225 paid staff(with the numbers climbing) including a major IT section. And when the "super department" was launched, it was canned in 6 months as unworkable. The regions are starting to become well staffed as well - so when major events occur work can planned, and correctly resourced prior to the event without tying up vollies. If you were to look at Wagga for example - not only were the emergency services working (under direction of SES) but also council & recruits from the ADF. For too long SA has gone done the path of cost cutting without proper regard to the long term implications of that. By the way if people are interested in changing careers, have a look on Seek.com, there are some very interesting positions available

Try operating without a paging system! :wink: Its all about planning & local/regional control. And having a system similar to what you described MT. Anyway it sounds like it has all worked out ok in the end. By the way we have been basically on "Alert" (And regional Hq people have been active) since October and we have major jobs going on all over the state at this very moment (including right here)& guess what? no real dramas. Anyway I had better go & help fill sandbags :-) bye 4 now

Morning all - on the subject of chains & air chisels. They are still in the AEM Road crash book & are still taught & used in other states.
As for Numbers comments on lateral think 100% agree - it is the difference between good operators (the ones that don't go to pieces when plan A doesn't work)& the rest!
And yep there are A-Holes everywhere! Had a similar experience a few years ago just dragged them over the centre console she'll be right! And rescue operators who don't listen & even non rescue firies who know all about rescue. Its just a pity that more people just learn who to relax (just a bit) & listen rather that just relying on SOP's, FGP's & "thats the way we did it during training!" Oh yeah & learn to use their brains  :-D
Anyway see you all latter

An excellent question!
When we train unit controllers we use a hypothetical situation to explain what one of the concepts of leadership actually means:-
Good mate "borrows" a flood boat to go fishing
Boat is damaged (broken propeller)
What should a good leader do?
Answer is quite simple - mate is put on a formal warning (documented).
Familiarity is a dangerous path to tread if all involved do not understand or fail to appreciate the "lines in the sand".
I remember an incident from my old uniform days when an officer did "cross the line" Years latter the soldier who was also involved used their "special relationship" to get away with anything - this lead to a massive breakdown in respect for this officer & major morale problems!
Even in training as trainers we have to be very careful about how we socialise with the students - again if not managed correctly, NYC students can use any relationship as a potential cause for appeal! At work as managers we are very careful about how "close" we are with our workers, again just in case it all goes pearshaped! However being aloof doesn't work either ;) anyway those are my thoughts - cheers