A status bar showing the action is in progress
Report name
Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1
Lead agency
EMV - Emergency Management Victoria
Status
In Progress
Due date
June 2023 (revised)
Finding
IGEM considers that this action is progressing satisfactorily, noting a revised due date was approved by EMV's Chief Executive
Recommendation theme
Recommendation 12: Regional tier of control
Recommendation details

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in collaboration with the emergency management sector and as part of the emergency management planning reforms:
a)    review, update and confirm arrangements for all tiers of control, including the flexible application of areas of operations, with a particular focus on the triggers for activation, integration with other tiers of control and clearly defined roles and responsibilities
b)    exercise these arrangements to ensure they are appropriate and familiar during emergencies.
 

Action

EMV and its partners will train personnel on any consequential changes to the tiers of control through the introduction of the SEMP and undertaking scenario exercises to test the respective state, regional and municipal emergency management plans.

Summary of progress

EMV’s Chief Executive has approved a revised due date for this action of June 2023 to align with completion of the Emergency Management Plan Exercising Project 2022–23.

Training on changes to control arrangements

IGEM’s 2021 progress report noted that EMV delivered briefing webinars in advance of the SEMP’s September 2020 release – these remain accessible on the sector’s EM Learning platform.

In 2021 EMV led a sector review of the SEMP. On publication of the revised SEMP in October 2021, EMV provided sector organisations with a detailed schedule of changes and an education pack on the key changes, including to control arrangements. These resources remain available via the Emergency Management Planning Resource Library at emv.vic.gov.au/em-planning-resource-library (External link)

The progress summary for FSIP1 Action 12.7 provides more information on the SEMP review process and changes to the SEMP as a result of the review.

Testing emergency management plans

The Guidelines for preparing State, Regional and Municipal Emergency Management Plans (November 2020) state that planning committees should test and review their plans with relevant partner organisations as part of the planning process.

EMV contribute to this process by leading projects that exercise selected plans. This activity generates guidance and learnings that support the wider exercising of plans by REMPCs and MEMPCs across the state.

The progress summary for FSIP1 Action 10.3 provides an overview of two EMV-led initiatives that contribute to the delivery of this action:

  • emergency scenario tests of the SEMP and two REMPs in mid-2021

  • the Emergency Management Plan Exercising Project 2022–23 to deliver four community-centred exercises with emergency management partners.

IGEM acknowledges that other exercises conducted by the sector also provide scope for the ongoing testing of control arrangements at all tiers.