Australia Opens Disaster Preparedness Training Site

The Australian state of Queensland today officially opened a center to prepare health and emergency professionals for responding to a WMD incident or other large-scale disaster, the Australian Associated Press reported (see GSN, Oct. 26, 2005).

The $9.8 million Black Spot Zone in north Brisbane will offer training on the response to chemical and biological weapons incidents, terrorist bombings, natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

“The Black Spot Zone is a training ground for doctors, nurses, allied health staff and emergency services, so that they can be ready to respond quickly and effectively to the real thing, should it occur,” said state Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell. He said the facility is the “world’s most advanced clinical skills training center” (Australian Associated Press, May 26).

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