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

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Operational plan

At the National, Local level

Explanation:

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

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
Government and/or public authorities
ICRC/IFRC
Other National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies
Humanitarian and development partners (e.g. UN, NGOs etc.)

Examples of cooperation:

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.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Competing priorities
Lack of capacity and/or support (technical, financial, or other)
Other

Details about challenges:

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

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
Innovative tools/methodologies have been developed and are utilized
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced
Other

Details about the impact:

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.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

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.