OPSTAR Supports Defence Bushfire Assistance
During a usually quiet time of year, the Australian Defence Force has continued to provide a high level of support to state authorities battling bushfires across Australia. In support of these operations, the OPSTAR team has been hard at work over the holiday period on a number of short notice taskings.
OPSTAR’s specialist Aviation Search and Rescue Team at HMAS Albatross, near Nowra NSW, supported the increased level of operations at the base by providing up to 24/7 Search and Rescue coverage to flying operations. Additionally, on both New Years Eve and the 4th of January the team, together with the Airfield Firefighters, worked to protect HMAS Albatross assets, including Defence Industry assets at the adjoining Aviation Park, when HMAS Albatross was directly threatened by the ‘Currowan’ Fire.
OPSTAR’s MV Sycamore Flight Deck Operational Support Team and Ships Medical Emergency Team, including a Paramedic, were recalled at short notice to provide Aviation and Medical Operational Support aboard the MV Sycamore when it was tasked to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations off the south east coast of Australia.
OPSTAR Managing Director commented on the response to the call up by the team, saying “I am so proud of the OPSTAR team, who responded immediately when asked to assist in the relief efforts, even when their own properties and families faced the threat of bushfires at home.”
“Many of our team members have been recalled from leave over the holiday period and have sacrificed time with families in order to play their part in the ADF’s assistance to Australians in need” he said of the whole OPSTAR team.
These support tasks are ongoing as part of wider Australian Defence Force operations to support bushfire effected communities. OPSTAR has been contracted to the Department of Defence to provide Search and Rescue for the Aviation Operations of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm at HMAS Albatross near Nowra, New South Wales since 2016 and was awarded the contract to provide the Flight Deck Operational Support Team (FDOST), the Ships Medical Emergency Team (SMET) and the ships Paramedic to the MV Sycamore in 2017.
Media Contact
N: John Giffard
T: Managing Director
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