Fujitsu inks $15.3 million Tasmanian emergency system deal

Fujitsu has inked a $15.3 million deal to provide and maintain a new emergency services computer aided dispatch system for the Tasmania Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.

The system will unify the Tasmanian police, fire, ambulance and state emergency services organisations under a single solution.

Rene Hidding, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, says the deal includes a $6.5 million contract for the initial acquisition and implementation of the new system, along with a five year support and maintenance deal, which brings the total cost to $15.3 million.

Tasmania's Synateq will assist in the delivery of the project and will help provide on-going support.

Hidding says that partnership will see between two and four additional staff employed by Synateq.

Fujitsu will also employ staff from within Tasmania and relocate some of its own staff for the duration of the project.

Fujitsu says the new system will manage medical, police, fire and emergency incidents from the initial notification of an incident until its conclusion, recording   information such as brief details, taskings, attending officers, comments and timings.

"The system is a valuable resource for emergency service call-takers, dispatchers, supervisors and emergency service responders as it has the ability to track the status and location of resources and analyse responses post-incident," Fujitsu says.

Hidding says there are currently three non-integrated CAD systems operating in Tasmania - Tasmania Police (TasPol), Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) and Ambulance Tasmania (AT). The State Emergency Service (SES) also operates a manual process and relies on TasPol and TFS for support.

"The new ESCAD will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our emergency response departments, resulting in increased safety for those on the frontline and more Tasmanian lives saved in emergency situations," Hidding says.

The system is already in use by emergency services in New South Wales, Queensland and ACT.

The ESCAD system will consist of Capita's Vision CAD system software, as well as implementation services, configuration and customisation, interface development, training materials and the ongoing support and maintenance.

Mike Foster, Fujitsu chief executive, says the 'essential'l system will help ensure the best possible response to Tasmanians in need.

An integrated communications and dispatch system was a recommendation of the 2013 Bushfire Inquiry.