With 27 years of experience as a firefighter, including 15 years focused on technical rescue coordination in areas including swift water rescue, trench, confined space rescue, and responses to earthquakes and cyclones, Brad Mills currently serves as a Technical Rescue Coordinator in the South East region of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). In this role, he oversees all aspects of technical rescue operations, managing and coordinating responses to disasters and emergency situations, ensuring that teams are prepared and equipped to handle technical rescue operations effectively. Brad is also an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Senior Instructor and has been a member of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) since 2009. His expertise in technical rescue operations have been called upon during many emergency situations including the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake and the recent Category 3 Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in the Townsville region. For Brad, joining AUSMAT in 2015 was a perfect extension of his skill set, providing him with an opportunity to adapt his logistical expertise in disaster response to a medical assistance context. You’re still looking after people and making sure things are working on a day-to-day basis. Essentially the logistical side is the same for both DART and AUSMAT, it’s just applied to a different context,” Brad explains.
Prior to firefighting, Brad began his career as an apprentice in building and carpentry, later joining the emergency response team at a local power station. This experience, coupled with his passion for firefighting, naturally steered him towards rescue work—his true calling. “The combination of technical challenges and the opportunity to work in fire and rescue was something I chased at a younger age” Brad said.
Brad brings a practical skill set and problem-solving mindset to disaster responses. Since joining AUSMAT, Brad has deployed to Vanuatu to support their response to COVID-19 in 2022. The deployment aimed to enhance the local healthcare system, providing support and training to local staff in management of the pandemic. Brad supported the local health infrastructure, leveraging his expertise in logistics to ensure a smooth operation and delivery of medical services.
Being a COVID-19 deployment rather than a disaster emergency like a flood or cyclone response, it was a different experience in some ways and a great opportunity to learn from seasoned AUSMAT members. My role was to support the AUSMAT doctors, the nurse and local health care staff in the COVID-19 response, this included leading the team transport and supervision of equipment.
Last year, Brad was invited by AUSMAT to participate in the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Asia-Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise (AP ERE). The exercise simulation brought together more than 300 participants from 22 countries including Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), USAR teams, United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations Emergency Response and Assessment Teams (ASEAN-ERAT). “INSARAG was a great chance to see how both the USAR rescue operations and EMT’s like AUSMAT would collaborate and work with local hospitals.” The exercise aimed to improve humanitarian operational knowledge and skills to enhance emergency response capabilities. It facilitated an understanding of roles and responsibilities, enhanced coordination and fostered improved collaboration and relationship building among stakeholders. Brad’s participation in the INSARAG AP ERE is an example of the increasingly interconnected nature of emergency response, where professionals from various backgrounds come together to address complex responses.
Brad’s career showcases the increasing complexity of emergency responses and highlights the critical need for skilled, collaborative professionals willing to share their knowledge across boarders and disciplines. His story is a reminder of the impact an individual can contribute towards improving global emergency responses, and highlights the indispensable value of experience, innovation, and teamwork in the face of adversity. Brad's story is not just one of personal accomplishment but an inspiring reminder about the importance of dedication, learning and unity in building a more resilient future.
Carla Yeung
Communications and Digital Engagement Officer