The Australian & New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference (ANZDM)  is pleased to announce Stuart Ellis to present Keynote on National AIIMS Certification Scheme (NACS).

In 2014 the Australasia Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), the national council for fire and emergency services endorsed the establishment of a national certification scheme for incident managers. This has been proposed as an important element of the professional journey for those involved in incident management and indeed, broader emergency management.  It is consistent with many other professional bodies establishing formal certification schemes to accredit individuals nationally.

With fire and emergency services regularly deploying interstate to support other jurisdictions and AIIMS increasingly being used by those outside emergency services in areas such as health, local government, mining, education, infrastructure and transport, there is a clear need to ensure those using AIIMS remain well informed regarding their profession and maintain professional standards.

The NACS will commence operations from April 2015. There are four elements to the scheme:

• Familiarisation
• Registered User
• Accreditation
• Certified Practitioner

Initially this is focused on Incident Controller but will progressively apply to those engaged in Planning, Operations, Public Information, Logistics and other AIIMS functions.

AFAC is establishing a national register for AIIMS users at an individual level and individuals will gain an NACS license reflecting their journey along this professional pathway.

Although this will not interfere with single agencies appointing incident management staff within their agency to manage incidents, it will influence their availability to support other agencies and indeed deploy interstate and overseas. Progressively AIIMS certification will become the professional standard for incident managers.

This is essential information for all users of AIIMS and indeed, all involved in incident management.

Stuart Ellis was an Army Officer for over 22 years serving with the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. In 1996 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer/Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service. In 2002 he established a consultancy company and has been involved in over 20 operational reviews including the Canberra Bushfires, the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission and the operational response to the Christchurch Earthquake. In 2012 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Fire & Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), the national council for Fire and Emergency Services in Australasia.

He is passionate about improving the incident management skills of emergency services and company operations and has a focus on progressing an industry wide, integrated approach to emergency management.

 

The ANZDM Conference will be held 4-5 May 2015 at Jupiters Gold Coast and continues to support the Disaster and Emergency Management community with a strong focus on natural disasters. The theme of the 2015 conference is EARTH; FIRE AND RAIN.