The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that responder agencies and Emergency Management Victoria review preparedness arrangements to ensure procedural documentation (including plans), recruitment, briefings and training are completed before significant seasonal events are likely to occur.
Seasonal preparedness should culminate in attestations of assurance to confirm that:
a) documentation reflects relevant risks and potential impacts
b) briefings and training schedules have been tailored and delivered according to seasonal influences
c) recruitment strategies enable the engagement of adequate numbers of appropriately skilled personnel for the entire season.
Ahead of this fire season, the Victorian Government will invest in sector capacity and capability through recruitment, training and accreditation of key roles. FFMVic has already started recruiting project firefighting personnel in response to the seasonal outlook, to ensure adequate time for capability development training.
IGEM understands that this action refers to activity ahead of the 2020–21 summer season given a due date of November 2020 in the Implementation Plan.
The progress summary for Action 15.4 on page 120 of IGEM's 2021 progress report provides an overview of training and accreditation during this period.
The progress summary for 10 Year Review Action 4.1 on page 43 of IGEM's 2021 progress report provides details of the increased SCC workforce, significantly increasing the state’s standing capacity to deliver public information, intelligence, logistical support, and emergency management planning.
IGEM notes that DELWP commenced the recruitment of project firefighting personnel ahead of the 2020–21 fire season in July 2020.