Security and Emergency
Counter-terrorism exercise Safe Zone Emergency App
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) in partnership with USQ
conducted a counter-terrorist exercise on Thursday 27 September
2018. The exercise included simulated realistic situations in
order to test both operational and command and control
personnel. The primary scenario was based around a vehicle
attack in the quad which caused simulated deaths and casualties
and a hostage situation in the Library which also included
simulated deaths and casualties. Simulated gunfire and role-
players provided excellent stimulus for the Police responders.
USQ Nursing students and staff acted as role-players. As part of USQ’s ongoing commitment to safety of our
staff and students, an emergency App (SafeZone) is being
implemented and will be made available to staff and students
free of charge on an opt-in basis. USQ is implementing
the SafeZone system to meet the broad range of needs
surrounding safety, security and emergency management
on campuses, satellite locations, remote locations and for
travelling groups and individuals.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), Queensland
Ambulance Service (QAS) and the USQ Crisis Management
Team were also involved in the exercise. The USQ Emergency
Operations Centre (EOC) was activated in response to the
exercise and the Police provided a Liaison Officer into the EOC
which proved very successful.
Key benefits for students and staff as end-users of the free
SafeZone App will know that it’s easy with a single tap on their
phone, to call for help and that their location is transmitted so
they can be found easily by the Security team. Additionally,
once staff and students are beyond the USQ SafeZone region
boundaries, (campuses and shuttle bus route between the
three campuses) activation of the SafeZone App will transfer
immediately to the ‘000’ emergency services rather than USQ
Security.
Emergency messages can
also be transmitted to the
students and staff via the
SafeZone App during large-
scale crisis events by the
Crisis Management Team.
Police storm the USQ refectory during the realistic counter-terrorism
training exercise. Photo credit: Toowoomba Chronicle
Overall, the exercise provided QPS the opportunity to meet
their desired training objectives. Additionally, QFES and QAS
were able to test particular sections of their respective response
procedures whilst also providing a high level of support to the
Police officers who were being tested throughout the exercise.
The USQ Crisis Management Team was able to view actual
scenarios as they unfolded to gain a greater understanding of the
complexities of such incidents. Additionally, the final scenario of
the day allowed all the emergency services and USQ to come
together in their respective roles and functions to manage the
casualty component of a large-scale incident such as a terrorist
threat on the campus, which included armed intruders, hostile
vehicle attack, multiple casualties and potential lockdown.
The Nursing students who volunteered as “role-players” gained
a valuable insight of the type of injuries that might occur during
an armed intruder shooting event.
The exercise was considered to be highly successful by all involved
and in particular, USQ has gained a greater understanding of
its responsibility to ensure plans, procedures and resources are
in place and that the Crisis Management Team, Security and
Building Wardens are trained and maintaining “operational
readiness”.
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
It is anticipated that the
SafeZone App will be available
at the commencement of
Semester 1 in 2019.