In early March 2020, as COVID 19 was emerging as a likely pandemic, and Gripfast were asked to meet with representatives from the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP) to brainstorm planning for the resources, actions and likely implications that were likely to arise from a biosecurity lockdown of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities.

Gripfast were initially invited to simply meet with a view to provide insights, however this evolved into an immediate, 3 month, inhouse secondment to develop the full and final COVID-19 First Nations Response Plan.

In the first two days of the commission, Gripfast designed a data collection tool that was used by existing on the ground liaison officers to collect information.  The tool went live on day three.  On day four the team then moved to design the data entry process and orchestrated a team to enter the data in real time, analysed the outcomes and collated them into a “dashboard” that was used by the Deputy Premier for a meeting with the relevant Mayors that afternoon.  Gripfast took a fledgling idea and converted it into a high quality, actionable output – in just a few, short days.

Together, the team worked on a 24-hour reporting cycle, delivering new information and data dashboards every afternoon, in time to meet clearance and briefing requirements before the routine afternoon Mayoral meeting.

Gripfast also identified critical issues in addressing COVID-19 impacts including health, education, social and physical security, and access to essential services and supplies.  The information informed the Deputy Premier, Department of Education, QLD Health, QFES, Transport and Main Roads, QLD Police and other agencies, in order to coordinate and provide urgent and necessary services and supports while the communities were under a Biosecurity lockdown.

In addition, Gripfast designed the plan and built capacity for internal resources to support staff’s gradual return to the Department’s Number 1 William St Offices.

The end result was the delivery of a robust, high performing, sustainable response plan, developed via Gripfast’s expert, innovative and flexible approach to a rapidly moving project brief within a complex project landscape.