The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria, in collaboration with the community and emergency management sector:
a) develops and implements a sector-wide outcomes framework that aligns to the strategic and operational elements of all phases of emergency management. The framework must:
• develop emergency management outcomes that reflect the Victorian whole-of-government outcomes
• identify outcome measures and associated indicators
b) provides guidance and support for the sector on how to incorporate emergency management outcomes and measures in emergency management planning, policy development, decision-making and assurance activities.
Over the past 12 months, outcomes frameworks have been developed by the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV). BRV has also developed a recovery outcomes framework for the 2019-20 bushfires.
Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria
Section 140 of the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019 requires Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) to prepare and publish outcomes frameworks with outcomes-based fire services performance measures.
In 2020 CFA published its CFA Outcomes Framework (Year One). The Outcomes Framework outlines CFA’s commitment to support and empower its volunteers and deliver high-quality services to the community to manage fire risks and create resilient communities. CFA’s Outcomes Framework is available at cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-mission
In August 2020 FRV published its Fire Rescue Victoria – Year One Outcomes Framework which outlines its vision to deliver ‘a relevant and contemporary fire and rescue service keeping communities safe and resilient’. FRV’s Outcomes Framework is available at frv.vic.gov.au/outcomes-framework
CFA and FRV provide quarterly updates to the Fire Services Implementation Monitor (FSIM) on their performance against the measures set out in their respective outcomes frameworks. The Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958 requires FSIM to publish quarterly reports based on this information, including any supporting data relied upon in the preparation of the reports. FSIM’s quarterly reports are available at vic.gov.au/fire-services-implementation-monitor
Bushfire Recovery Victoria
In June 2020 Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) released its Recovery Framework to provide a consistent and community-led approach to the planning and delivery of recovery activities for the 2019–20 Eastern Victorian bushfires. The Recovery Framework describes the outcomes that BRV seeks to achieve so that its work can be tracked and reported on.
BRV has also recently developed a Recovery Outcomes Framework in consultation with key stakeholders and the five State Recovery Working Groups (SRWG). The Recovery Outcomes Framework articulates the change the Victorian Government wants to see for individuals and communities impacted by the 2019–20 Eastern Victorian Bushfires and the systems that it will need to achieve those changes. It will also inform BRV and Victorian Government engagement on community recovery priorities.
BRV intends that the Recovery Outcomes Framework will inform the next iteration of the Eastern Victorian Fires 2019–20 State Recovery Plan (the State Recovery Plan) and will be incorporated in an update of the Recovery Framework. The Recovery Framework and State Recovery Plan are available at: vic.gov.au/2019-20-eastern-victorian-bushfires
BRV intends to present the Eastern Victorian Fires 2019-20 State Recovery Plan at the October 2021 State Crisis and Resilience Council (SCRC) and the Recovery Framework (including the Recovery Outcomes Framework) at a later SCRC meeting.