RISSB Connect Edition 62, May 2024

Edition 62 May 2024 

INSIDE THIS EDITION

+ CEO message
+ 2024 RISSB Rail Safety Awards winner spotlight
+ RISSB MasterClass Webinar: The Role of Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) in the Co-Regulation of Major Rail Projects
+ Countdown to the International Railway Safety Council 2024
+ Member Spotlight

CEO MESSAGE

During our recent strategy work, we pondered on how do we bring our strapline statement “Industry’s partner in co-regulation” to life? One of our industry’s most powerful resources is the unique, collaborative network of industry’s subject matter experts who are brought together to learn and share technical and operating solutions for the industry’s key challenges and opportunities – The RISSB Network!  

Historically, the bulk of this network’s work has been the development of industry standards and other products. We now have a very solid source of industry learnings for our co-regulatory environment with a portfolio of more than 250 Codes, Rules, Standards and Guidelines.  

Our new strategy is about more formally recognising the role of The RISSB Network, more actively recognising the contribution of its members, and further developing its role and capability to being a very dynamic, proactive, learning, sharing and aligned network of subject matter experts.

If you want to know more about how you can get involved in helping to further develop our industry’s collective capability please contact us, or keep a lookout for our calls for Development Group members.

Damien White
RISSB CEO

2024 RISSB Rail Safety Awards winner spotlight

Community Safety Award

RISSB is continuing with their 2024 Rail Safety Awards winners spotlight series. This week we are profiling the Community Safety Award winner.

Queensland Rail was named the winner of the Community Safety Award at the 2024 RISSB Rail Safety Awards Dinner in Melbourne last month.

Queensland Rail's SEQ Security and Emergency Preparedness team was recognised for their Mental Health Co-deployment Trial on the SEQ network in collaboration with the Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services (MSAMHS). The six-month trial saw a senior mental health clinician from MSAMHS team up with Queensland Police Service Railway Squad Officers or Queensland Rail Authorised Officers on intelligence-led patrols on trains and stations across the Brisbane south side, Logan, Redlands and Scenic Rim regions.

Some key benefits emerged from this trial. Firstly, in these types of situations having a clinical expert on hand helped to control the behaviour of people in crisis and stop it from escalating. Secondly, these interventions also reduced potential service disruptions for Queensland Rail's customers. Overall, the trial successfully reduced the risk of both trauma and operational impacts for Queensland Rail staff, operations, and customers.

The trial aligned to the Queensland Government's ‘Every life Prevention Plan 2019-2029' and was an Australia-first on the rail network, delivering positive community safety outcomes.

Queensland Rail's Senior Manager Security and Emergency Preparedness Delivery, Drew Brock said "this trial was a culmination of years of collaboration between Metro South, the QPS Railway Squad and Queensland Rail to enhance how we detect and respond to people in crisis."

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
VicTrack

VicTrack owns Victoria’s transport land, assets and infrastructure – and works to protect and grow the value of the portfolio to support a thriving transport system and make travel and living better for Victorians. VicTrack has been a participating member of RISSB since 2016.

VicTrack and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning recently jointly funded grants of up to $10,000 to sixty-six not-for-profit groups that lease VicTrack land, buildings and other assets. The funding was made available through a Community Grants Program.