Lessons from London Bombings to Help Australian NFPs

Emergency response experts believe the lessons for Australia after the 2005 London bombings are planning, practice, partnerships and continual learning – and all should be jointly addressed by governments and volunteer organisations.

A review of the approach adopted by London authorities in response to the 2005 bombings has been carried out by Emergency Management Australia along with St John Ambulance Australia through a series of workshops.

Senior officers from London’s ambulance, police, fire and planning authorities attended the Australian workshops.

The organisations’ report makes a number of key recommendations including

– Investigating the concept of a National Resilience Committee combining the work of a number of high-level committees to conduct national level planning for response and recovery.

– A need for State and Territory Governments and major Australian cities to adopt a whole-of-city approach in their planning which should involve the Federal Government. The plans should be supported by whole-of-city exercises on a regular basis and should involve volunteer organisations such as St John Ambulance.

– Importantly, volunteers who have decision-making roles should participate in planning, training and exercises.

– Information management needs further development at all levels

– A national disaster funding mechanism, to be managed by co-ordinating agencies should be considered

– Further work is needed in providing direct and rapid assistance to the people and families of people involved in an event.

The Federal Attorney General Phillip Ruddock says governments at all levels will benefit from the report and he has referred it to the Australian Emergency Management Committee to make further recommendations.