NZ EMAT Camp
All three New Zealand Emergency Management Assistance Team (NZ EMAT) cohorts came together earlier this month for an opportunity to develop as professional emergency managers and build overall group capability at the inaugural NZ EMAT Camp.
Hosted by NEMA and supported by Fire and Emergency New Zealand EMAT operational support & logistics personnel, the NZ EMAT Camp provided targeted professional development and a training environment for the use of deployment kits, Deployable Coordination Centre caches, and operational systems.
The programme for Camp featured speakers and workshops from a range of key agencies and partners, including Response and Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand (RRANZ), Fire and Emergency New Zealand, New Zealand Red Cross and West Coast Civil Defence Emergency Management Group. Other activities included an Alpine Fault scenario tabletop exercise, and a full build of a Deployable Coordination Centre.
Camp also provided a valuable networking opportunity for the EMAT cadre, supporting NEMA staff and partner agencies. This was the first time out of a deployment environment where members from the three EMAT cohorts came together, giving the cadre a chance to build their internal relationships and rapport.
The Camp was delivered safely and effectively, with participants coming only from regions at COVID-19 Alert Level 2 and by utilising a range of controls, including pre-departure COVID-19 risk screening and daily health declarations. NEMA is also one of the first non-border agencies authorised to use Rapid Antigen Tests, so cohorts were familiarised with these tests at Camp, which will become increasingly routine for deployments.
NZ EMAT Camp will continue to run as an annual event, bringing in new cohort members and providing a dedicated week to professional and personal development across the cadre.
NZ EMAT helps ensure that New Zealanders receive a consistent level of support in any emergency, wherever and whenever it happens.
The EMAT cadre is drawn from personnel working in a wide range of qualifying agencies, including central and local government agencies, the emergency services and New Zealand Defence Force. These personnel have significant experience in crisis response and emergency management in a range of settings in New Zealand and overseas.
NZ EMAT Camp
A short video showing highlights of the November 2021 NZ EMAT Camp
Published: Nov 25, 2021, 10:04 AM