Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 3: Time to act: Tackling epidemics and pandemics together (33IC/19/R3) – Australian Red Cross

¿ Ha incorporado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en los planes estratégicos u operativos pertinentes?

Los compromisos han sido incorporados en
estrategia
política
plan operativo

A nacional, local nivel

Explicación:

ARC had been supporting a vast range of communities that had been impacted by the large scale 2019-20 bushfires (19.4 million hectares) across Australia, including committing to a three-year Bushfire Recovery Program, when COVID-19 emerged. The rapid onset of COVID-19 and the measures taken by the public authorities in Australia in response accelerated the adoption by Australian Red Cross of several measures foreseen by Resolution 3. These measures strengthened our capabilities to deliver relevant programming, to protect staff and volunteers, and to ensure business continuity during periods of significant disruption.

ARC developed and adopted a range of new strategies and policies to support and protect its staff and volunteers, and to ensure that existing and new programs and services could continue to be delivered.

ARC also established new structural and operational arrangements to support its clients, communities, staff, and volunteers. This included:
– COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Management Structure
– COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Streams
– COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Squads
– Emergency Service Response: COVID-19

The Emergency Services team developed a range of strategies, programs and tools to support staff and volunteers, meet community need and ensure business continuity including:
– Safety in Emergency Services
– Workforce Wellbeing
– Capability Framework and training pathway
– Workforce planning
– Volunteer Surge Capacity
– Psychosocial Support in Emergency Services

Ha trabajado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución con otros asociados para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

En asociación con:
gobierno y/o autoridades públicas
CICR/Federación Internacional
otras Sociedades Nacionales de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
asociados en los ámbitos humanitario y de desarrollo (por ejemplo, Naciones Unidas, organizaciones no gubernamentales)

Ejemplos de cooperación:

With federal and state government support, Australian Red Cross delivered a range of services throughout the course of the pandemic, including:
– Food and essential items to people isolating at home
– Kits of materials to returning travellers in hotel quarantine
– Volunteer teams to provide daily wellbeing calls to people isolating or in quarantine
– Cash and food parcels to migrants experiencing vulnerability including those in insecure visa circumstances
– Case work and referral services.

Australian Red Cross worked closely with the Federal Government to ensure that government payments made available to businesses to avoid job losses were extended to charitable organisations. Australian Red Cross sought exemptions from stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions so that that staff could carry out support services for people made vulnerable through isolation and other impacts of the pandemic that could not be delivered remotely.

¿Ha habido dificultades para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

Dificultades en relación con:
recursos humanos
conflicto de prioridades
falta de capacidad y/o de apoyo (técnico, financiero o de otra índole)
otros asociados

Describa detalladamente estas dificultades:

ARC encountered several issues with our domestic programming in responding to the COVID pandemic. This included:
– The age profile of our volunteer base
– Internal communication
– Arranging exemptions in order to deliver aid
– Investing in technology
– Adapting to differing responses from state and territory governments

¿Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en el trabajo y la dirección del Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución?

Tipo de repercusión:
fortalecimiento de la cooperación entre el gobierno o las autoridades públicas y la Sociedad Nacional
desarrollo y uso de herramientas o metodologías innovadoras
establecimiento o fortalecimiento de asociaciones con otros actores humanitarios
otros asociados

Describa detalladamente las repercusiones:

The rapid onset of the pandemic accelerated Australian Red Cross’ adoption of technology to facilitate hybrid working, tested our ability to rapidly stand-up new services, adapt existing services and recognise new vulnerabilities and advocate for humanitarian outcomes. We worked closely with public authorities and civil society partners to respond to needs that have arisen.

5. Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en las comunidades a las que el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución presta servicios?

Describa las repercusiones:

Australian Red Cross responded domestically to the material and psychosocial needs of people made vulnerable or whose vulnerabilities were compounded by COVID-19. Our support to our partner National Societies in the Asia-Pacific helped them to prepare and respond to both the pandemic, and to other emergencies occurring during the pandemic.