FSIP1 Action 1.1

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

A status bar showing the action is complete

Report name

Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1

Lead agency

EMV - Emergency Management Victoria

Status

Complete

Due date

September 2020

Finding

IGEM considers that this action has been implemented

Recommendation theme

Recommendation 1: Preparedness and training

Recommendation details

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.

Action

EMV is working with the sector to adapt its preparedness planning arrangements, including training and accreditation, to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

Summary of progress

EMV provided IGEM with a range of evidence documenting the adaptation of preparedness planning arrangements to comply with Chief Health Officer directions and COVID-19 safe practices.

Preparedness planning

A Response Agency Taskforce (COVID) was established to monitor workforce and operational impacts of the pandemic.
The rolling State Operations Plan prepared by the State Control Team (SCT) Class 1 routinely considers COVID-19 related implications for preparedness and provides guidance to response agencies to ensure COVID-19 safety and compliance of personnel.
General COVID-19 guidance is available in the COVID Readiness Portal section of the Emergency Management Common Operating Picture (EM-COP). Specific ICC and RCC Facility COVID-19 operational plans are available via EM-COP. An ICC/RCC Initial COVID Readiness Checklist has been developed to ensure COVID-safe operations.
COVID-19 pandemic related advisory bulletins have been issued to support existing JSOP 2.03 Incident Management Team (IMT) Readiness Arrangements, providing guidance for making reasonable adjustments in COVID-19 settings and ensuring agency consistency. Advisory bulletins for relief have also been issued.

COVID-19 pandemic related roles

COVID-19 pandemic related roles have been established:

COVID Advisor: to promote the application of COVID-19 protocols during an emergency.
ERC COVID Safety Advisor (CSA): to work in collaboration with the Emergency Relief Centre (ERC) Manager to promote the application of COVID-19 protocols in the establishment and operation of an ERC during Class 1 emergencies.

EMV advised that training was developed in consultation with the Department of Health and delivered to all staff and volunteers undertaking these roles.

Training and accreditation

EMV adapted training and accreditation processes in line with COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the 2020–21 summer season. Pre-season briefing sessions were delivered online and accreditation panels moved to online formats (refer to Action 15.4 on page 120 of IGEM's 2021 progress report for further details). A range of training materials are accessible via the sector's online EM Learning platform.

EMV plans to continue to adapt preparedness planning arrangements as required in accordance with Chief Health Officer directions

About us

Our work

Publications

Assurance in Emergency Management

Who we work with