The recent publication of Australia's National Hydrogen Framework outlines a national commitment to developing Australia's hydrogen industry to secure a greener future. Australia does not currently have a nationally consistent framework for responding to hydrogen related disasters, a gap which needs to be addressed before hydrogen technology can be integrated into homes and public infrastructure. 

National Hydrogen Strategy

The AFAC Emergency Responders Training Analysis provides insight into the development requirements of a nationally consistent approach to hydrogen safety training, and to set out a framework for addressing new training needs as hydrogen applications emerge and scale.

National Hydrogen Working Group

In 2021 AFAC formed the National Hydrogen Working Group (NHWG), made up of members of industry, emergency services and academia. The group is progressing the deliverables of the National Hydrogen Strategy across 3 phases.

Phase 1

Completed in 2022, this phase involved the analysis of predeveloped commercially available hydrogen training modules. 

Deliverable 

• Develop report on hydrogen training options.

Phase 2

The project is currently in Phase 2. The NHWG is mapping out and exploring hydrogen training options with the aim of selecting the most appropriate material and framework for Australian first responder training. This phase will be completed by June 2023.

Deliverables

• Development of a hydrogen training collaborative group
• Development of a sustainable training and funding model

Phase 3

Set to begin in the latter half of 2023, this phase will involve the development and implementation of the chosen training framework. In this phase industry will be invited to tender for the opportunity to develop and maintain the training modules.

Deliverable

• Development of a hydrogen framework and portal.

National collaboration

The National Hydrogen Framework is being developed by AFAC in collaboration with:

• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• South Australian Country Fire Service
• Fire and Rescue New South Wales
• Deakin University
• New South Wales TAFE
• Australian Hydrogen Council
• CSIRO
• Australian Government