When Australia faces rapid, complex and nationally significant crises, a huge part of the national coordination effort runs through the National Situation Room (NSR) and our Crisis Coordination Teams (CCT), in the National Crisis Operations Branch (NCOB). This branch is responsible for NEMA’s 24/7 operational capability and national crisis coordination.

Dave Long, Assistant Coordinator-General of NCOB, shared a few key elements of his role including how he manages the NSR, the National Security Hotline (NSH), and the teams who stand up and support CCTs during activations under the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework. As NEMA’s primary Crisis Coordinator, Dave spends months each year leading national crisis coordination efforts through the CCTs. It’s a role that needs constant focus and a calm head, and Dave brings that after a career shaped by high tempo operations. 

Before joining Team NEMA in 2022, Dave served as an Army Officer predominantly in Special Operations Command, with roles involving significant risk, rapid decision making and several overseas deployments. That experience has shaped how he conducts himself, thriving in fast-paced, highly variable environments and seeking to always be cool, calm and collected. “My jobs were always high tempo and high risk including many deployments overseas and in support of domestic counter terrorism,” Dave said. 

A branch that never sleeps

As we move through this Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS), Dave says he couldn’t be prouder of the NCOB. “Over half the Branch are shift workers and we have a 24/7 presence in the NSR monitoring and reporting to ensure stakeholders are kept situationally aware, staffing the NSH and updating the National Joint Common Operating Picture. We also have Crisis Intelligence Analysts working on shift and their primary role is to provide predictive analysis for decision support,” he said. 

In 2025, the NSR and NSH handled:

• 679 notifications and situational products
• 25,777 hotline contacts
• a peak day of 563 hotline contacts during the Bondi terrorist attack (188 of those were Information Reports)
• 14 CCT activations, spanning 204 days
• multiple National Plan activations, including COMDISPLAN (92 days), AUSRECEPLAN (14 days) and AUSASSISTPLAN (105 days)
• the 500,000th hotline call on 17 December 2025.

These numbers show just how much the NCOB really does, especially when multiple hazards and activations overlap. As we commence the final few months of HRWS, Dave shares that we must stay alert and prepared for flooding in the north of Australia and fires in the south; “NEMA will continue to anticipate and provide both financial and non-financial support to communities in need.” 

Supporting CCTs through concurrent hazards

Dave shared his reflections during an active CCT, a reminder of how often Team NEMA is operating at pace during the HRWS. 

“Currently, there are widespread nationally significant natural hazard events underway which have necessitated the activation of the Crisis CCT and COMDISPLAN.”

Fires, heatwaves, floods and cyclones often overlap at this time of year. Large parts of the NCOB are embedded in or supporting the CCT during these periods. For Dave, this is exactly why year-round readiness matters.

A career highlight

Among his many roles, one achievement stands out for Dave—leading a major part of the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

“In 2021 I was detached from Defence to the Department of Health’s National Covid Vaccine Task Force as the Director for Plans working directly to Lieutenant General JJ Frewan, who was the Coordinator General,” Dave said.

“I led a multi-agency team to plan and write the National Covid Vaccine Plan which was endorsed by National Cabinet and guided the national vaccine rollout. I was formally commended for this effort.”

Dave received a Northern Territory Bushfires Citation from Tony Fuller APM, along with several other NEMA staff in recognition of outstanding strategic planning support provided to the Northern Territory during the 2023–24 HRWS.

In a field where resilience and adaptability are essential, Dave’s dedication to NEMA’s mission and his commitment to service shine through. As Australia continues to face challenging weather events and emergencies, the passion and teamwork embodied by Dave and his colleagues ensure that communities receive critical support when it matters most. Their ongoing efforts not only protect lives and livelihoods but also strengthen the nation’s readiness for whatever the future holds.