Embedding non-technical skills into emergency management training.

This guide provides advice on how to embed non-technical skills into emergency management training. The guide is divided into three main sections. An introductory section (Chapters 1 and 2) describes: a) non-technical skills, b) the three-phase approach to developing non-technical skills (i.e., awareness; practice and feedback; and continual reinforcement) and c) the use of non-technical skills to enhance the training environment. 

The main section of the guide (Chapters 3-6) shows how non-technical skills content can be enhanced in ongoing emergency management training. As examples, three clusters of PUA Public Safety Training Package (PTSP) units are discussed: 

1. PUATEA001 Work in a team 

2. PUAOPE020 Lead a crew and PUAOPE012 Control a Level 1 incident 

3. PUAFIR005 Observe fire from an aircraft and PUAFIR006 Observe a non-fire emergency from an aircraft. 

For each unit, additional information and activities are recommended to help instructors better integrate nontechnical skills into the training. 

The content builds progressively from introductory level material in PUATEA001 Work in a team to more advanced material in PUAOPE012 Control a Level 1 incident. Air Observer units (PUAFIR005/PUAFIR006) were selected to show how non-technical skills can be integrated into more technically oriented role-based training. 

The final concluding section of the guide (Chapter 7) provides some further guidance on how to integrate nontechnical skills into emergency management training and emphasises the importance of incorporating non-technical skills into the everyday business of the organisation. 

Throughout the guide a wide range of useful references, training materials and links to online resources are included to help instructors and learning product developers learn more about non-technical skills.