The Bay's Regional Response Capability Team
Bay 8 is the name of the regions new team of early CDEM responders.
When there is an emergency activation, Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) and the Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) need to get up to speed quickly. It's important that the people doing this work are able to act fast under pressure to create some sense of order in the midst of uncertainty.
Up until recently, the first people to respond have always been your full-time emergency managers (EMs) plus available trained staff.
The Bay 8 programme is designed to provide special training and leadership development to those people who would like to become more involved in emergency responses alongside your EMs, especially when things first 'kick off'.
Bay 8 team members would be:
Emergency shelter deployment exercise
From September, we will be coming to your council with more information on how to apply for the first intake.
Successful applicants will then be able to attend a week-long residential training camp in taking place in March 2024.
If you are keen to know more, either come and have a chat to the EMBOP team email cdemtraining@embop.govt.nz for further information.
Team members will be selected for their personal attributes, not just their emergency management knowledge. There are no age limits or specific BAU roles that we are looking for, it's more about being a good fit for the role.
Home Organisation Requirements
Successful applicants will need the support of their team leaders because they are the people who need to agree to you being one of the 'first cabs off the rank' for emergency responses and deployments. You will also need to attend the week-long residential training camp from 16 - 21 March 2025
Because of these factors, all staff will need prior approval from their respective line managers before applying to be part of the team.
Emergency Management Requirements
Those selected need to have completed the ITF Foundation course (30 minute online course) and ITF Intermediate (2 day in- person course) before they attend the week-long residential training camp in February 2024. In addition to this, there will also be some specific pre-requisite training delivered to successful applicants in the lead up to the Residential programme.
If you are interested in being considered for Bay 8 but you haven't yet done the ITF courses, come and have a talk to the EMBOP team or email cdemtraining@embop.govt.nz
There are intermediate courses running every month and the locations rotate from Tauranga to Whakatane and Rotorua, so there are various opportunities to make sure you are up to speed.
Personal Requirements
The most important thins we are looking for are enthusiastic people who are who are adaptable and comfortable working in uncertain conditions. Emergency responses events can require us to work in high pressure environments for longer hours than we would normally do.
Most importantly, you need to be a team player who can work with a range of people to get things done. At its core, CDEM is about working together, so interpersonal skills and attributes will be a key part of team selection.
If you want to be part something where you work alongside great people to make a real difference to communities at their worst times, we'd like to hear from you.
Go on deployment and you can be as happy as John!
During October and November 2024 Emergency Management staff will be traveling around the region to do project roadshows. The purpose of the roadshows will be to provide more details about the programme and give you the chance to ask any questions you may have.
Please come along to meet some of the team and ask any questions you may have about the programme.
Regional House session #1
Date: 24/10/2024
Time: 10:00-10:30 (Project team available through until 11:00 for those who wish to chat)
Location: Pou Tokomanawa Tahi, (Emergency Management Centre) Level 3
Regional House session #2
Date: 29/10/2024
Time: 10:00-10:30 (Project team available through until 11:00 for those who wish to chat)
Location: Pou Tokomanawa Tahi, (Emergency Management Centre) Level 3
Whakatane Office
Date: 30/10/2024
Time: 10:00-10:30 (Project team available through until 11:00 for those who wish to chat)
Location: Mataatua (CMR 1) 1st floor
Rotorua Office
Date: 31/10/2024
Time: 10:00-10:30 (Project team available through until 11:00 for those who wish to chat)
Location: Waiariki
Opotiki District Council Office
Date: 17/10/2024
Time: 09:30 -12:00
Location: Council Chambers
Initially, anyone who wants to apply will be asked to send a cover letter to cdemtraining@embop.govt.nz explaining why you want to take part in the programme and become part of the team. Once this is received we will then send out an application form to capture a few key details we need for the application process.
Going forward you may be invited to an interview that will give you the chance to learn more about the programme and help us get to know you better.
Places are limited, so we expect it to be a competitive process, but you will hear one way or the other if you have been successful by November 15.
if you have any questions, have a talk to your council Emergency Management team or email cdemtraining@embop.govt.nz
BOP staff supporting the response to Westport floods
Why is it called Bay 8?
Bay 8 will be an enhanced response capability drawn from across 7 Councils and Emergency Management Bay of Plenty. The union of these 8 organisations from across the Bay is what gives the team its name.
What is the expectation/commitment if we are asked to deploy?
In any emergency event, if you are not able to take part, it won't be held against you. Having said that, the idea of the team is to identify people who do want to actively take part in local responses and are also happy to deploy to other districts or regions.
How long are deployments?
If you respond to a local event, the length of time you are involved will vary although each deployment/rotation will ideally be 5 days before you have you stand down days.
If you are deployed to an event in another region, the standard duration is 1-5-1 + 2:That means five days working in the response, one day either side for travel, and two days stand-down once you get home.
Can I apply for the team if I have never worked in an emergency response?
Yes, you are welcome to apply if you haven't been part of an emergency event yet. You do need to have done the ITF Intermediate two-day course, but prior emergency response experience is not essential.
It's more important that you have the right personal abilities to work as a team and support each other and your communities.
What is the application process?
From October 24th, applications will be open for two weeks. After that there will be a selection process and everyone who has applied should hear back on November 15. The residential training camp for successful applicants will run from Feb 18-24, 2024.
What do I need to Apply?
In order to apply for the role, you just need need to have the following;