The NSW State Emergency Service takes seriously its responsibilities to support its volunteers and staff, particularly in critical incidents. In the emergency services, not every event is a critical incident.
A critical incident is an event or situation faced in an operational context that is likely to cause any individual undue distress or unusually strong emotional reactions which may have the potential to interfere with their ability to function at the scene or at some time afterwards. A critical incident does not have to be a major disaster, but it is usually sudden and out of the ordinary, often involves death, traumatic injury or the possibility of either.
The Critical Incident Support Program (CISP) offers a comprehensive program for pre-incident training and support during and after critical incidents. The program aims to reduce to impact of critical incidents and the recovery process. Information is available on managing the effects of critical incidents, on-scene support during incidents, defusings and critical incident debriefings and one-on-one confidential consultation. The program has a management team consisting of the Coordinator, volunteer and staff support in State Headquarters, Clinical Director (Psychologist) and Senior Chaplain. The Peer Support Team consists of Region chaplains and over 30 Peer Support Team members consisting of both staff and volunteers specially trained in Critical Incident Stress management.
The Critical Incident Support Program can be accessed on 1 800 626 800 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and these calls are answered by Duty Officers who are members of the Peer Support Team. Volunteers, staff members and their family can access the team by contacting this number.
Anyone can ask for assistance including After Hours Duty Officers, Controllers and Team leaders when an incident has occurred that may require the activation of the CISP Peer Support Team and/or Chaplain. This can only be done by accessing the 1 800 626 800 number and the Duty Officer will ask you about the incident and assist in determining what assistance may best suit the circumstances of the incident.
The following are examples of the types of critical incidents that may require the activation of the CISP:
Death or serious injury to a fellow worker in the line of duty
Motor vehicle accident involving SES team responding to an incident or when the victim is known to member(s) responding;
Civilian death resulting from operational error/accident/equipment malfunction;
Equipment failure at critical times;
Anything involving death or serious injury to children;
Prolonged rescue attempts;
Multiple casualties;
Excessive media interest;
Responding to other major disasters eg. Earthquakes, air crash, bus crash, floods, storms or disease control;
Unexpected or unanticipated tragedy.
For further information you can contact the Personnel Officer, Volunteers who is the CISP Co-ordinator at State Headquarters.
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