The National Fire Authority in collaboration with Queensland Fire and Emergency Department following the signing of an MOU earlier this year has now started to roll out the agreed exchanges. 

Three senior executive managers are currently undergoing a one-week work attachment with Queensland Fire and Emergency Department and Queensland Ambulance Services. The Manager ICT Mr. Sisaro Yabakionosagavulu, Manager Paramedics & Health Services Seleima Tuisavuna and Station Officer National Command Centre Rokowati Crocker are all attached in their different departments.

Previously, the NFA had a long-term relationship with the Country Fire Authority and had assisted NFA Firefighters in terms of training and development which enables our Firefighters to provide specific skills such as Fire investigation, structural fire safety inspection, etc...

However, over the years, Fiji have developed and expanded in many folds and new fire trends have been identified, the household contents are now different compared to 20 years ago which makes the smoke more toxic. With new fire risks in the horizon, collaboration with QFED will ensure that we have systems in place to mitigate and reduce those risks.

As the number of fire victims, road accident victims and other victims from other emergency continue to rise, our Emergency Medical Technician’s (EMT) needs to be managed well and respond correctly to all emergency calls. With increasing demands on emergency medical services, the NFA is preparing to adopt new strategies to meet the evolving needs of the Fijian public. QAS’s experience in managing more than 1.1 million emergency calls and responses annually provides valuable insights into managing complex healthcare emergencies effectively.

Taller buildings are now introduced in Fiji and many more will come in the next 10 years. With this, new technologies are required to manage all emergency with ease. The NFA is seeking to strengthen its ICT infrastructure by adopting similar systems, such as an integrated operations management system, GIS mapping, and enhanced data cybersecurity measures. NFA aims to incorporate insights from QFES to modernize its operations, ensuring a more effective response to emergencies across Fiji. 

Looking Ahead 

The partnership between NFA and QFES is already showing promising results and will continue to evolve in the coming years. The continuous collaboration under the MOU will see the transforming the organization into a more agile, technologically advanced, and better-trained emergency service.

 With more engagements planned, the NFA looks forward to strengthening this partnership and investing in training and capacity-building opportunities for its staff to meet the ever-growing demands of fire and emergency response services in Fiji.

 -ENDS-