Joint Winner – Excellence in Disaster Management Category
Inspector Rob Graham, Disaster Management Support Officer, Queensland Police Service
Commencing as the Brisbane Disaster Management Support Officer on 17 February 2020, Inspector Graham took on the Executive Officer function to the Brisbane District Disaster Management Group (DDMG), just over two weeks after the public health emergency was declared in Queensland in response to COVID-19.
Drawing on his extensive incident command experience, he facilitated the required Queensland Police Service representation at both district and local disaster management groups to enable and ensure effective coordination during potential concurrent events.
Upon the Prime Minister’s 27 March 2020 announcement that all international arrivals would require mandatory hotel quarantine commencing 29 March 2020, Inspector Graham coordinated the development of a District Disaster Management Group Reception, Staging, Transport and Accommodation Plan for international arrivals in Brisbane. These unprecedented arrangements have now accommodated over 56,000 quarantine guests in Brisbane.
In addition, during the COVID-19 response, Inspector Graham facilitated several multi-agency capability development exercises and activities, including rapid response, concurrent events and emergency / fire evacuation within quarantine hotels – to ensure local and district arrangements were well prepared and practiced for potential events.
Inspector Graham is an effective communicator and has demonstrated the ability to influence district level government representatives, non-government agencies and 12 Brisbane hotel operators to collaborate and unite for the COVID-19 response. His introduction of a ‘plan on a page’ for rapid response to changes in Chief Health Officer directives and outbreaks has been incredibly effective. Utilising online technology, he has revolutionised how the Brisbane DDMG remains connected and will do business well into the future.
