THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN CIVILIAN DISASTERS
Disaster Management
RA Capps
Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA
Over the history of the Australian Defence Force there have been many occasions where the ADF has responded to the needs of people and communities in times of disasters, be they natural or man made. The tempo, and hence the ADF’s contribution, has increased over the last more than a decade where man made disasters/crises have affected communities in Rwanda, Bougainville, Timor Leste, and Bali. This has intertwined with natural disasters such as the Tsunamis in PNG and Aceh, and earthquakes in Pakistan.
Some of these examples have a higher military “flavour” than others, but in all situations, a substantial humanitarian or disaster relief component is an important contribution. The ADF has been able to provide substantial much needed medical support until the host nations are able to build up their own adequate infrastructure.
The Australian Defence Force has a readiness to mobilise considerable amounts of resources by air and sea for distant incidents, and land for potential Australian incidents. This includes relatively lightweight but very movable medical and surgical facilities through to larger air transportable hospitals and Naval PCRF’s (Primary Casualty Reception Facilities). It also supports the movement of civilian teams with their equipment as was highlighted by the final sector transport of State based teams supporting the relief efforts in Aceh. The capability to evacuate large numbers of people to safe areas with augmented treatment is proven. In all examples, the three arms of the ADF (Army, Navy and Airforce) combine to achieve the best of outcomes.
Full time ADF medical facilities are supplemented as needed by reservists, including specialist medical, nursing, paramedical, laboratory, radiological and administrative support. Many ANZCA and intensive care faculty fellows are active reservists
The decision to be involved comes from different levels of government or government agencies depending on the magnitude of the crisis.
Underpinning the ADF’s contribution is the DIG (Defence Instruction General) titled “Defence Assistance to the Civil Community-policy and procedures” but it also features prominently in “OSMASSCASPLAN” (Overseas Mass Casualty Plan) and AUSBURNPLAN which concentrates on mass burns scenarios.
OSMASSCASPLAN is a melding of emergency components from a large number of contributory organisations including the ADF. This plan’s generative committee is titled “Australian Health Disasters Management Policy Committee” (AHDMPC). This committee, which was a step up from pre existing committees, falls under the Department of Health and Aging (DOHA) and came into being in its current form after the first Bali bombings. Its first test of magnitude came immediately after the tsunami in Aceh. Details of this plan and examples of ADF’s contribution will be discussed.
Time of Presentation
Saturday 13 May 2006 - 1030-1200
