• Working with Education Authorities to Make Schools Safer

Working with Education Authorities to Make Schools Safer

Ben Millington
Manager Emergency Management Coordination
NSW Rural Fire Service

Michael Taylor
A/Director Work Health & Safety
NSW Dept of Education & Training

Education authorities and individual schools have an integral role to play in taking the necessary steps to prepare school properties, staff, parents and students for the threat of bush fire in their local area, particularly around the potential for direct impact on the school or roads leading to or from the area.
A significant number of schools were affected during the October 2013 bush fire emergency. A number of schools in the Blue Mountains were impacted by fire forcing both staff and students to shelter in place or evacuate to safer locations. On October 23, ahead of worsening conditions, all schools within the Blue Mountains Local Government Area were closed.
Following these fires, debriefs have been conducted with affected school principals, with key learnings applicable to the NSW Rural Fire Service, education authorities and the wider school community.