6.2 Maintaining Situational Awareness

VERSION 1.0 – DECEMBER 2023

Purpose: To establish guidelines for maintaining situational awareness within the organisation, ensuring effective decision-making and response to changing circumstances.

Scope: This procedure applies to all operators at the State Operations Communications Centre (SurfCom).

1. Situational Awareness Overview
   1.1 Personnel must understand the concept of situational awareness and its importance in effective decision-making and response.
   1.2 Training on maintaining situational awareness must be provided to all personnel, highlighting the key elements and techniques for gathering and interpreting relevant information.

2. Monitoring and Gathering Information
   2.1 Operators must regularly monitor and gather information from various sources relevant to their roles and responsibilities.
   2.2 Information sources may include internal reports, external alerts, communications, sensor data, and observation of the operational environment.
   2.3 Personnel must stay updated on relevant policies, procedures, regulations, and industry best practices to inform their situational awareness.

3. Assessing and Analysing Information
   3.1 Operators must assess and analyse gathered information to identify trends, patterns, and potential risks or opportunities.
   3.2 Critical thinking skills must be applied to evaluate the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of information in relation to the current operational context.

4. Maintaining Communication Channels
   4.1 Operators must establish and maintain effective communication channels with relevant stakeholders to exchange critical information in a timely manner.
   4.2 Open and transparent communication must be encouraged, enabling the sharing of information, observations, and concerns to enhance situational awareness across the organisation.

5. Updating and Sharing Situational Awareness
   5.1 Operators must update their situational awareness regularly, considering the dynamic nature of emergency response operations.
   5.2 Situational awareness updates must be shared with relevant personnel or teams, ensuring a common understanding of the operational environment and potential impacts on decision-making.
   5.3 Operators must utilise appropriate communication tools, such as briefings, reports, or visual displays, to convey situational awareness effectively.

6. Decision-Making and Response
   6.1 Operators must use their situational awareness to inform effective decision-making and response strategies.
   6.2 By considering the available information, potential risks, and desired outcomes, personnel can make informed decisions to address the situation at hand.
   6.3 Continuous monitoring and assessment of the situation must be conducted to adapt response strategies as needed.

7. Compliance and Accountability
   7.1 Compliance with this SOP is mandatory for all personnel responsible for maintaining situational awareness, and non-compliance may result in disciplinary action.
   7.2 The OCS is responsible for fostering a culture of situational awareness, providing necessary training, and reinforcing the guidelines outlined in this SOP.