Samoa, Australia and Pacific partner nations have strengthened their collective disaster preparedness and regional resilience through Exercise Longreach in Apia last week.
Samoa’s Disaster Management Office worked in close partnership with disaster relief specialists from the Australian Defence Force to plan for the Exercise. Through a series of tabletop and simulation activities, participants practised coordination, information sharing, and resource allocation.
The four-day exercise included representatives from Samoan, Australian and other Pacific defence forces and government agencies, emergency management organisations and security partners. It centred on a tsunami scenario, helping participants test how Pacific agencies would work together during a major emergency through a coordinated, Pacific-led response.
Acting CEO of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Moafanua Tolusina Pouli, said the exercise highlighted the importance of preparedness and partnership.
“Exercise Longreach saw Samoan agencies and international partners test our plans, strengthen coordination, and improve our collective ability to support affected communities during a crisis. It reinforces the strong partnerships and shared commitment that underpin Samoa’s disaster preparedness,” Moafanua said.
“The tsunami scenario helped us better understand how Samoa and Australia’s national agencies and partners would work together to protect lives and support recovery efforts.”
Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, H.E. Mr Will Robinson, said Exercise Longreach reinforced the importance of preparedness and interoperability before disaster strikes.
“Australia has long worked alongside Pacific partners during times of crisis, including following the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami, and the 2024 Vanuatu earthquake,” Mr Robinson said.
“We know how important it is to build the relationships, coordination mechanisms and shared understanding that enable Pacific-led responses when communities need support most.”
“Exercise Longreach provided Samoa and Australia with a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of each other’s systems, capabilities and approaches to disaster response.”
“Australia remains committed to working alongside Samoa and other Pacific partners to strengthen regional preparedness, resilience and disaster response capability through trusted partnerships and practical cooperation.”
The exercise also tested procedures for requesting and integrating the Pacific Response Group and Pacific Police Support Group during a disaster response.
Members of the New Zealand Defence Force, His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Tonga), and Papua New Guinea Defence Force represented the Pacific Response Group, while the Pacific Police Support Group was represented by the Australian Federal Police and Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services.
As Pacific countries continue to face increasing disaster and climate-related risks, Exercise Longreach strengthens the preparedness, coordination and interoperability that underpin effective disaster response. By building resilience before disasters occur, exercises such as Longreach contribute to a more secure, stable and prosperous Pacific region.
The Press Release is from the Australian High Commission in Samoa.
