Surf Life Saving NSW’s State Operations Centre (SOC) is proud to officially be connected to a statewide emergency management messaging system which allows for internal information sharing and requests for assistance between key rescue and response agencies in NSW.
ICEMS, or the Inter-CAD (computer aided dispatch) Electronic Messaging System, is a crucial step forward for lifesaving across the state where SLSNSW can rely on a more direct, streamlined pathway to rapid incident response between agencies.
NSW Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, and NSW Ambulance, among other organisations, operate through the network – a boon for public safety agencies which reduces phone calls and operator manpower by allowing agencies to message each other quickly and provide real-time updates and requests.
“ICEMS is a technical framework for exchanging information between Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) platforms,” SLSNSW Chief Information Officer, Matt Ingersole said.
“It’s like a private WhatsApp network for emergency services, allowing them to securely message each other and instantly acknowledge and respond.”
The SOC receives an estimated 800 emergency response calls each year from NSW Police and other agencies, with call times lasting an average of between 4-20 minutes, depending on the incident. ICEMS effectively removes this step, saving operators anywhere from 55 to over 200 hours of time which can free them up to focus on other duties.
“This is a huge step for us in making sure no time is lost when our volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards respond to incidents,” SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce said.
“SLSNSW became a gazetted emergency service in 2019, and in aligning even more closely with our fellow NSW emergency services, we are further cementing our role in the public safety space.
“I’d like to thank the NSW Government for its continued investment in lifesaving technologies.”
Following significant testing stages and the development of a bespoke client for the organisation’s needs, SLSNSW transitioned to ICEMS prior to Christmas and has had several very successful weeks using the system over what has been an extremely busy summer operationally along the coast.
Since 1 December, NSW volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards have performed over 1,000 rescues and nearly 300,000 preventative actions.
“We’re already seeing the benefits of ICEMS in action,” SLSNSW General Manager of Public Safety & Emergency Management, Brent Manieri said.
“SLSNSW’s ability to receive new incidents directly, and then the ongoing updates that come through, is dramatically reducing the time for our lifesavers and lifeguards to respond to a reported incident.
“Every second counts as we all know, so this has been a crucial tech upgrade for us.”
Friday 17 January 2025