A new cooperative effort is underway to enhance community connectivity solutions for emergency operations and large public events across New South Wales.

In partnership with St John Ambulance Australia (NSW), our organisation is currently trialling Community Connectivity Kits (CCKs) — portable, rapid and resilient connectivity platforms designed to provide reliable communications where traditional networks may become congested or fail. This initiative aligns with broader state efforts to improve emergency connectivity, disaster resilience and operational coordination when standard telecommunications are compromised — a priority underscored by recent NSW Government deployments of portable connectivity solutions to disaster-affected areas.  

At the recent Bathurst 1000 motorsport event, the CCKs successfully supported around 60 St John Ambulance personnel across two secure Wi-Fi networks, enabling fast QR-code onboarding, strong coverage throughout temporary structures, and consistent power performance. First responder crews reported extremely positive feedback, noting the stability and ease of use even under high demand conditions. The technology demonstration also generated interest from other agencies exploring resilient connectivity tools for their operations.

“This trial reflects our shared mission: supporting first responders and the wider community with innovative technologies that help keep people safe and connected,” said a spokesperson for the project. By ensuring reliable communications for event medical teams — and potentially in future emergencies — CCKs help improve response coordination and community outcomes.

The project supports the NSW Government’s larger Community Connectivity Project, which aims to deploy portable communications kits rapidly in disaster-affected and connectivity-at-risk communities. Early testing and deployment of these technologies are part of a coordinated effort to ensure people remain connected when disaster strikes.  

St John Ambulance NSW has been an enthusiastic partner in the trial, bringing operational expertise and real-world usage insights that help refine CCK capabilities. Thanks to their collaboration, the project team can iteratively improve kit performance and explore scalable solutions that support emergency services across the region.

Looking ahead, both partners are excited about opportunities to expand the use of CCKs with other agencies and community organisations, potentially strengthening communication resilience not just during major events but in natural disasters, network outages, and other high-risk scenarios.