Emergency services
Opinion
Opinion
They are among the most trusted members of our community. They deserve support
Updated guidelines for the treatment of PTSD aim to provide support tailored for emergency workers.
- by The Herald's View
Latest
Analysis
Coroners Court of Victoria
It took minutes for Nick to die during a triple-zero delay, but the crisis was months in the making
The failures of Victoria’s emergency call-taking service during the pandemic have been exposed as it emerged other states acted to prepare.
- by Aisha Dow
Telstra lifts lid on ‘unacceptable’ triple-zero outage
CEO Vicki Brady says basic errors were behind the outage that left more than 100 Australians unable to contact triple zero, including one man who passed away.
- by David Swan
Triple-zero service stopped displaying waiting calls to ‘distressed’ staff, inquest told
A coroner has been told that Victoria’s triple-zero service missed key opportunities to prepare for a pandemic demand surge, including rejecting an offer to borrow call-takers.
- by Aisha Dow
Government was warned of extreme triple-zero call volumes and delays before father’s death
The inquest into the death of Nick Panagiotopoulos, 47, who died after a long wait for an ambulance call-taker, is examining whether enough was done to act on warnings before the tragedy.
- by Aisha Dow
Updated
Bushfires
Bedfordale bushfire being treated as suspicious
An watch and act has now replaced an emergency warning that saw residents evacuate their homes in the suburbs of Bedfordale and Ashendon near Armadale.
- by Rebecca Peppiatt
Exclusive
Telecommunications
Concerns for triple-zero services amid 3G shutdown
The government has written to the chief executives of Telstra, Optus and TPG amid fears nearly 1 million Australians may be left unable to contact triple zero.
- by David Swan
Perspective
Tragedy
For Ballarat miners who dodged death, the tough part is yet to come: Beaconsfield survivor
Brant Webb is one of two men saved from the Beaconsfield goldmine disaster of 2006 and urged Ballarat mine survivors to share their deepest fears and feelings with loved ones.
- by Tony Wright
Updated
Tragedy
Use new industrial manslaughter laws after fatal mine collapse, union urges
The state’s work safety regulator has closed the Ballarat Gold Mine to begin investigations into the collapse that saw two workers pinned under fallen rocks.
- by Benjamin Preiss and Lachlan Abbott
Updated
Tragedy
Tributes for father killed in Ballarat gold mine collapse
Kurt Hourigan, a 37-year-old miner from Bruthen in Gippsland, died and his 21-year-old colleague is fighting for his life in hospital after rock collapsed on them 500 metres underground.
- by Lachlan Abbott, Alex Crowe and Jewel Topsfield
Updated
Ballarat
Two miners pinned under rocks, 25 others stuck underground in Ballarat mine collapse
A rescue effort is under way after a Ballarat mine collapse pinned two miners under rocks and forced 25 others to take refuge in an underground safety pod.
- by Lachlan Abbott and Jewel Topsfield