❓ Question regarding the denial of access to a cyclone shelter and hospital for elderly Aboriginal people with medical conditions during Cyclone Olwyn, and the adequacy of the hazard response. The Minister provides a detailed account of the events and actions taken by various agencies.
AnsweredQoN 276Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARNARVON CYCLONE SHELTER AND HOSPITAL
276. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister
for Child Protection:
My copy of the
question states it is to the Attorney General, but I have a feeling it might
have been redirected to the Minister for Emergency Services. It is question
without notice C302.
(1) Why were five mostly elderly Aboriginal
people with medical conditions declined access to the Carnarvon cyclone shelter
and hospital for up to seven hours prior to the impact of severe tropical
cyclone Olwyn?
(2) Does the minister believe this to be an
adequate hazard response in protecting the community during a natural disaster?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) If no to (2), what action will the minister undertake to ensure this
does not occur again?
(5) If yes to (2), why?
The PRESIDENT : I am not sure who that question is
directed to, but whoever stands up!
276. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister
for Child Protection:
My copy of the
question states it is to the Attorney General, but I have a feeling it might
have been redirected to the Minister for Emergency Services. It is question
without notice C302.
(1) Why were five mostly elderly Aboriginal
people with medical conditions declined access to the Carnarvon cyclone shelter
and hospital for up to seven hours prior to the impact of severe tropical
cyclone Olwyn?
(2) Does the minister believe this to be an
adequate hazard response in protecting the community during a natural disaster?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) If no to (2), what action will the minister undertake to ensure this
does not occur again?
(5) If yes to (2), why?
The PRESIDENT : I am not sure who that question is
directed to, but whoever stands up!
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I take
the question through my portfolio responsibilities for the Department for Child
Protection and Family Support, which has responsibility for managing evacuation
centres during natural disasters.
(1)–(5) During a major crisis in WA,
the Department for Child Protection and Family Support's role is to
manage and coordinate emergency evacuation centres and engage external agencies
to provide other support services for people needing help. The evacuation
centre must appropriately assess all people seeking assistance to make sure
those who require a higher level of assistance have access to the right
support. During emergency events there is a heightened level of activity and
competing priorities that can sometimes make communication more complex.
The Carnarvon evacuation centre accommodated 130 people between Thursday
night and Saturday morning and the department is continuing to provide recovery
and support. I am advised that five residents from the Mungullah community were
initially taken directly to the Carnarvon hospital by the Aboriginal medical services and a
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Aboriginal liaison officer. The
hospital assessed and deemed the residents as not requiring hospital admission.
The residents then travelled to the Carnarvon evacuation centre at
approximately 3.30 pm. Carnarvon had just moved to blue alert at this time.
Evacuation centres are usually only opened for local residents at yellow alert
level. The centre was opened to accommodate evacuees from Coral Bay, which was
already on yellow alert and residents had been advised to evacuate to Carnarvon
earlier that day. The CPFS volunteers manning the centre advised the residents
that the centre was open only for Coral Bay evacuees at this time. I am advised
that the five residents were admitted to the centre within approximately 45
minutes after their arrival following discussions with DFES and AMS
representatives.
It is important for evacuation centre staff to appropriately assess all
people seeking assistance to ensure that those who require a higher level of
support than can be provided at the evacuation centre can access the right
support. One of the residents expressed discomfort and as centre volunteers
continued to be concerned about another's medical needs, they were both
taken by AMS to Carnarvon hospital, which had agreed to accommodate them. The
hospital was operating from the cyclone-safe area at this time, which was the
general ward. Inpatients, aged-care residents relocated from the aged-care wing
and staff, were also being accommodated in this area. The two people were
offered hospital admission—one person accepted and one person declined.
The remaining three residents remained at the evacuation centre throughout red
alert from 7.00 am Friday, 13 March, until the all clear with extreme caution
was given at 9.00 am on Saturday, 14 March. I appreciate that the circumstances
were distressing to those residents involved. I am advised that following any
emergency situation, all agencies look into their practices and procedures to
identify any issues or any areas that can be improved.
I have also asked about the other
person who declined to be admitted to the hospital because the person's
carer could not be admitted at the same time, and about how this person was cared
for during the cyclone.
the question through my portfolio responsibilities for the Department for Child
Protection and Family Support, which has responsibility for managing evacuation
centres during natural disasters.
(1)–(5) During a major crisis in WA,
the Department for Child Protection and Family Support's role is to
manage and coordinate emergency evacuation centres and engage external agencies
to provide other support services for people needing help. The evacuation
centre must appropriately assess all people seeking assistance to make sure
those who require a higher level of assistance have access to the right
support. During emergency events there is a heightened level of activity and
competing priorities that can sometimes make communication more complex.
The Carnarvon evacuation centre accommodated 130 people between Thursday
night and Saturday morning and the department is continuing to provide recovery
and support. I am advised that five residents from the Mungullah community were
initially taken directly to the Carnarvon hospital by the Aboriginal medical services and a
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Aboriginal liaison officer. The
hospital assessed and deemed the residents as not requiring hospital admission.
The residents then travelled to the Carnarvon evacuation centre at
approximately 3.30 pm. Carnarvon had just moved to blue alert at this time.
Evacuation centres are usually only opened for local residents at yellow alert
level. The centre was opened to accommodate evacuees from Coral Bay, which was
already on yellow alert and residents had been advised to evacuate to Carnarvon
earlier that day. The CPFS volunteers manning the centre advised the residents
that the centre was open only for Coral Bay evacuees at this time. I am advised
that the five residents were admitted to the centre within approximately 45
minutes after their arrival following discussions with DFES and AMS
representatives.
It is important for evacuation centre staff to appropriately assess all
people seeking assistance to ensure that those who require a higher level of
support than can be provided at the evacuation centre can access the right
support. One of the residents expressed discomfort and as centre volunteers
continued to be concerned about another's medical needs, they were both
taken by AMS to Carnarvon hospital, which had agreed to accommodate them. The
hospital was operating from the cyclone-safe area at this time, which was the
general ward. Inpatients, aged-care residents relocated from the aged-care wing
and staff, were also being accommodated in this area. The two people were
offered hospital admission—one person accepted and one person declined.
The remaining three residents remained at the evacuation centre throughout red
alert from 7.00 am Friday, 13 March, until the all clear with extreme caution
was given at 9.00 am on Saturday, 14 March. I appreciate that the circumstances
were distressing to those residents involved. I am advised that following any
emergency situation, all agencies look into their practices and procedures to
identify any issues or any areas that can be improved.
I have also asked about the other
person who declined to be admitted to the hospital because the person's
carer could not be admitted at the same time, and about how this person was cared
for during the cyclone.
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