In NSW, all strata schemes need to nominate an emergency services contact as they report key information to NSW Government for the first time.
Key information
Emergency services contacts will only be available to NSW emergency service agencies such as Fire and Rescue NSW, the local council, State Emergency Service (SES), Ambulance and Police.
What role would this emergency services contact play? And what difference could it make in an emergency in your strata complex?
The new emergency services contact can help with access to your strata building
Imagine this scenario ... a resident in your building calls for an ambulance but passes out before it arrives. Who will buzz them in?
The Strata Hub emergency services contact means the paramedics can call someone onsite and get access to the secure building. This saves precious time and avoids property damage from needing to force entry into the apartment building.
A contact point in a crisis
The emergency services contact can also serve as a contact for vital communications.
For instance, when a bushfire threatens a particular area, Fire and Rescue NSW could look up the emergency services contacts for strata schemes in that location to pass on vital information. This would be in addition to the other methods used by Fire and Rescue to inform residents in harm’s way, like its Emergency Alert warning system including voice and text messages.
What’s not expected from an emergency services contact
An emergency services contact isn’t a first responder. Neither are they expected to be ‘on call’ at all times. Also, emergency services may not use this contact if they’re able to readily access the person/s they need to help or the site of the emergency, for example, a townhouse that can be easily approached from the street.
Emergency services contacts will only be available to NSW emergency service agencies such as Fire and Rescue NSW, the local council, State Emergency Service (SES), Ambulance and Police.
Top three things to consider
When your scheme is deciding who to nominate for the emergency services contact, you should consider the following:
Call a meeting or email around to ask for nominations for the role of emergency services contact. Share the link to the Strata annual reporting page or this blog article for background and to encourage nominations.
Nominate at least one person and, preferably, someone who’s onsite. They are in the best position to provide on-the-ground information, if needed. Nominating 2 to 4 people provides back-up if someone isn’t available at the time of the emergency.
You can update the details at any time. Schemes can choose to rotate the role. Whoever agrees to the role can view, edit and/or withdraw their contact details in the strata hub. The person charged with the annual reporting will be notified of any updates made.
Need more help?
Contact Fair Trading
If you have any further questions about strata, you can contact Fair Trading via phone or in-person at a Service NSW centre.
The Strata Hub's latest updates, set to be delivered on 10 December, will deliver a range of enhancements to the application for people who live, own, or work in strata schemes in NSW.
If your two-lot scheme has already completed their first annual report then reporting each year will be a simpler and quicker task thanks to pre-filled information on the Strata Hub.
