A dedicated ‘Response and Recovery’ team is to become a permanent fixture within the Department of Education to better prepare schools in times of crisis.
Minister Responsible for Disaster Recovery, John Barilaro said the team, as part of the Department’s Regional, Rural and Remote Policy Unit, would build on expertise acquired from recent bushfires, prolonged drought, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The last few years have taught us to expect the unexpected and just how important it is to be well prepared for emergencies and to remain safe throughout crises and natural disasters,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Kids in the regions have been exposed to the impact of relentless drought, unprecedented bushfires and most recently, floods, and we need to make sure schools are supported to continue to provide a top-quality education, regardless of their situation,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said the newly established Response and Recovery team would work to assist schools with tangible teaching methods, remote learning techniques, evacuation protocols and safety measures.
Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell welcomed the new response team saying it would ensure that the safety of students and school staff remained the highest priority and would enable services to get to communities faster to provide needed support during a crisis.
“This will allow us to continue to support schools to bounce back from any disasters,”
Ms Mitchell said.
