64 nursing home residents took refuge at ECU School of Nursing.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) School of Nursing and Midwifery staff's creative thinking, and generosity has seen the nursing simulation ward at Joondalup campus converted into an emergency evacuation centre.
More than 120 elderly nursing home residents from Jacaranda Lodge and Wanneroo Community Nursing home were evacuated on Wednesday night when the fire came dangerously close, at one point within 50 metres of the accommodation.
Six residents were taken to hospital, while 64 were transported by nursing staff and St Johns paramedics to ECU campus – where the elderly residents were given food, water and a safe place to sleep.
The remaining residents stayed with relatives.
Staff relationships within the community, through Hamish Cotton and the Security team, helped raised the matter with ECU. The Security team then conducted all the logistical support to ensure the wards were ready to accommodate the nursing home residents.
ECU School of Nursing and Midwifery Executive Dean Professor Karen Strickland said her team went above and beyond.
"The way that my team have stepped up to help is incredible, it has been a smooth transition and meant that not a single triple-zero call had to be made, freeing up the emergency services during the fire," Professor Strickland said.
"As a nurse this is what we do – when faced with a crisis we help, we direct, and we care."
Jacaranda Lodge Resident Manager Suzy Tillotson said within 15 minutes of contacting ECU staff an emergency plan was in place.
"The nursing wards here are just like a hospital, so when our residents, many of them with dementia, arrived they instantly felt safe," Suzy said.
"ECU has been very generous in offering us this safe space, it has been a big community effort, we didn't dream anything like this would be possible."
A safe space
Elderly residents say the emergency evacuation was handled exceptionally well, and while it was a frightening ordeal, they felt safe and cared for.
96-year-old Ken Mills thanked ECU staff for their kindness.
"We are very lucky to come here, and be able to eat and sleep, I am very grateful for this," he said.
18 homes have been lost in the Wanneroo fire and more than 1800 hectares of bushland destroyed.
