Participating with NSW DPI in agriculture and animal emergencies

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) manages effects of emergencies on agriculture, animals and our community as Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA).

AASFA seeks expertise from other organisations to provide additional expertise and resources required to:

• Build awareness for emergency prevention and preparedness by primary producers, animal owners and the community.
• Identify at risk animals and agriculture, and support warning and preparedness measures.
• Coordinate support including rescue, evacuation, emergency care of animals and animal welfare.

Requirements for participation

To participate NSW DPI needs to acknowledge your organisations involvement. This is achieved through:

1. a memorandum of understanding (for large or highly specialised organisations), or
2. recording intent to participate, the expertise and resources your organisation can provide and the locations they can be provided.

Once participation is agreed NSW DPI needs your organisation to:

• Maintain a 24 hour contact for emergencies, and provide the contact details to NSW DPI.
• Provide insurance details.
• Participate in training and exercises.
• Use your organisations networks to promote agriculture and animal emergency preparedness and response.
• Plan to and undertake emergency tasks.
• Keep NSW DPI informed on your organisations operations and relationships in emergency planning.
• Follow policy and procedure.

Providing assistance during emergency

Activation

Should the need arise your organisation will be formally requested to provide assistance by NSW DPI (as AASFA) or our partners at Local Land Services. Formal requests will include details of who needs the assistance, what is requested, when and where it is needed. Only activities undertaken via formal request can be reimbursed by NSW DPI.

Reimbursement

NSW DPI will only reimburse formally requested services directly associated with emergency.

To be reimbursed, following provision of the service, email an invoice to emergency.preparedness@dpi.nsw.gov.au providing a detailed breakdown of the services and costs as outlined in the Natural disaster finance guide.

Insurance

It is preferable that organisations are self-insured for public liability. NSW DPI can extend coverage provided by Treasury Managed Fund to include volunteers if they are activated by us.

Policies and procedures

Participating with NSW DPI in emergencies requires following of policies and procedures. Members of your organisation should always follow internal process and be aware of the following NSW DPI policies and procedures:

• Work health and safety
• Managing emergencies
• Finance
• Procedures for managing risk, personal safety and seeking reimbursement

Learning and development

Members of your organisation can access training conducted by NSW DPI through EMtrain – NSW DPI’s online learning platform.

Relevant courses available from other government agencies, such as the NSW Office of Emergency Management, are also available through EMtrain.

Enquiries can be forwarded to emergency.preparedness@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Arrangements

NSW DPI operates non-binding arrangements which serves only as a record of intention with regard to emergency activities. In signalling intent to participate it does not give rise to any legal or a contractual relationship, nor create any legal obligations to do so. Your organisation can cease involvement in AASFA with NSW DPI at any time, simply send an email to emergency.preparedness@dpi.nsw.gov.au and advise that your organisation no longer wishes to participate.

What you need to do

To participate with the AASFA, please complete the Intent to participate in agriculture and animal emergencies under AASFA form and return to emergency.preparedness@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Acknowledgement

Once arrangements are finalised, NSW DPI will acknowledge your organisation as a participating organisation. Your organisation will receive regular communication and updates, be invited to participate in emergency planning and committees and have access to training provided by NSW DPI and other government organisations.