Policy: Critical Incidents

Purpose

This policy describes the University’s approach to managing critical incidents (including student critical incidents) and principles for decision-making for managing and reporting on critical incidents to ensure that each case is managed effectively, consistently, compassionately, and expeditiously.

Overview

This policy and the associated procedures provide staff, students and visitors with guidance as to the applicable principles and appropriate action to be taken in the event of a critical incident.

The associated procedures define the roles and responsibilities of key staff in:

• The management, coordination and communication of information about an emergency or critical incident; and
• The recovery, post-incident review and lessons learned phase immediately following a critical Incident.

The Student Critical Incident aspects of this policy and associated procedures are compliant with the requirements under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework and has been developed in line with the University policies and procedures.

Scope

This policy applies in the event of a critical incident that occurs on or off campus at any time that impacts the operations of the University or any workers, students or visitors of the University.

This policy and associated procedures do not apply to sexual assault and sexual harassment incidents which are covered under the Sexual Misconduct Policyand the associated Sexual Misconduct Response (Students) Procedure.

Definitions

This policy and associated procedures use the following key terms:

Emergency refers to any event which arises internally or from external sources, which may adversely affect the occupants or visitors in a facility, and which requires an immediate response (AS 3745:2010). The event could arise from material objects, natural phenomena or human behaviour. An emergency does not necessarily constitute a Critical Incident, but may ultimately become one.

Incident refers to a finite and often isolated event which may cause injury, illness, property, reputational or environmental damage or some combination of all five in varying degrees, but is managed during the normal course of operations and within normal reporting lines, processes and procedures. An incident does not necessarily constitute a Critical Incident, but may ultimately become one.

Critical Incident refers to an actual or potential incident or series of events that have the potential for catastrophic damage to people, operations and/or reputation where the University (or parts thereof) shift from routine to non-routine operation. This is usually typified by the area affected requiring additional (centralised) assistance in its management and also requiring intensive coordination and management by the Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT). A Critical Incident may include or arise from a Student Critical Incident. A Critical Incident requires a response and active management as soon as possible after notification and is not able to be normalised by local procedures.

Student Critical Incident refers to a traumatic event, or the imminent threat of such (within or outside Australia), which causes extreme stress, fear or injury to a student or group of students (including Higher Degree by Research and exchange students). A Student Critical Incident requires a response and active management as soon as possible after notification and is not able to be normalised by local procedures. A Student Critical Incident may include, but is not limited to:

1. Missing student;
2. The death, serious injury, or any threat of these to a student or others;
3. Serious threats of violence to students and/or staff;
4. Other traumatic events or serious threats, such as those caused by natural disasters.

Incident Coordinator is the person, nominated by the Chief Operating Officer who manages the University’s response to critical incidents.

Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) is a group formed at the discretion of the Incident Coordinator, comprising pre-assigned individuals, and others as required, to manage and resolve Critical Incidents. The structure of a CIMT is outlined in the Critical Incident Procedure.

Student Critical Incident Response Team (SCIRT) refers to a team established by the Incident Coordinator in the event of a Student Critical Incident. SCIRT is responsible for operationalising a whole-of-university response to plan, coordinate and manage the Student Critical Incident.

ANU Security (UniSafe) refers to the University’s dedicated security team within the Campus Environment Division.

Policy Statement

1. In a life threatening or emergency situation, call 000.
2. Actual or suspected critical incidents are notified to the ANU through contacting ANU UniSafe (Security) by calling (02) 6125 2249 or using the call Security button on the ANUOK app, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. The University asserts its reasonable support for students, staff, contractors and, where appropriate their families, who may be affected by a critical incident.
4. Responses to a critical incident are in line with the following principles:
   1. Timely and appropriate management in response to the severity of the incident.
   2. Transparent communication both internally and externally where appropriate.
   3. Health and wellbeing of affected staff and students must be considered, including recognition towards mitigating psychosocial risks which may be heightened in critical incidents.
5. Where a staff member is also an ANU student, the Incident Coordinator will determine whether to treat the incident as a Critical Incident or a Student Critical Incident. The Incident Coordinator must inform the Director of University Experience of any such decision as soon as possible.
6. Overseen by the Chief Operating Officer, the University’s response is adapted, within the parameters of this policy and the Privacy Policy, to meet the needs of each incident.
7. The University acknowledges that involvement in a Critical Incident can be difficult and potentially traumatic. The University will endeavour to provide appropriate training and support as required. Rostering will be utilised to ensure that the burden of Critical Incident response does not unduly fall on any one individual.
8. The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) permits the University to disclose personal information about someone to a party outside the University where:
   1. a person consents in writing to their personal information being disclosed; or
   2. the University believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of the individual concerned or of another person.
9. In the event of a critical incident on campus, this policy is read in conjunction with the Emergency Response Procedure, the Work Health and Safety Incident Management Procedure, the Critical Incident Procedure and the Student Critical Incident Procedure.
10. The Incident Coordinator has discretion as to whether a Critical Incident should be considered a Student Critical Incident or a combination thereof.
    1. A Critical Incident can only be declared by the delegated Incident Coordinator and will be dealt with in accordance with the Critical Incident Procedure.
    2. A Student Critical Incident can only be declared by the delegated Incident Coordinator and will be dealt with in accordance with the Student Critical Incident Procedure.
11. This policy ensures compliance with the Education Services for Overseas Students (Act) 2000 (Cth) (ESOS Act) in relation to critical incidents involving international students.
12. The University will ensure written records of all incidents will be appropriately stored in accordance with the University’s Records and Archives Management policy.
13. The policy and associated procedures will be reviewed every 5 years or as required for continuous improvement.