The radio communications trial intends to improve the ability of NSW and Victorian emergency services teams to respond to events such as natural disasters. Photo: NSW Ambulance, NSW Government.
Emergency services agencies in Victoria and NSW will work to better integrate their communications in an effort to improve cross-border operations.
A new radio trial announced at the Emergency Ministers Meeting in Darwin will test the efficacy of an improved communications system between the two states’ emergency services systems.
The trial will test the ability of first responders to switch between radio networks, giving teams the skills to coordinate responses during emergencies, especially natural disasters, which frequently cross borders.
Under the proposed change, first responders can operate on the same radio network, meaning they don’t have to carry two radios.
“State borders shouldn’t be a barrier to public safety,” NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said.
”This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring first responders have the tools to keep communities safe and connected.
“As technology improves, we need to look at new ways to harness it to improve our emergency response. This is yet another example of how we’re improving communications to assist in a crisis.”
Crew radios will automatically connect to the desired network, meaning workers can more seamlessly coordinate without changing devices or settings.
Large-scale emergencies such as bushfires, floods and storms often involve multiple agencies and states coordinating across borders.
The current trial is based on a similar, successful one staged between NSW and Queensland in 2023.
That trial led to the use of the service during the Cyclone Alfred response earlier this year. In that case, Queensland’s radio infrastructure was inoperable and emergency crews were able to switch to the network used by NSW and continue operations.
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward said: “We’re working alongside state government colleagues across borders, removing communication barriers and saving valuable time during emergencies.”
Set to begin later this year, the trial will be led by the NSW Telco Authority and Emergency Management Victoria.
