Review of emergency management for high-risk Victorian communities

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.

Review of emergency management for high-risk Victorian communities

A system-wide review identified in IGEM’s 2017 Annual Forward Plan of Reviews and conducted under section 64(1)(b) of the Emergency Management Act 2013.

Over the years Victoria has faced a range of large-scale disasters which have tested the state’s emergency management arrangements.

Reviews such as the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the Review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response have highlighted the severity of impacts on communities, and in particular communities and individuals with social vulnerabilities.

This report assesses Victoria’s emergency management sector arrangements for identifying, preparing and protecting high-risk communities. This includes identification of opportunities for improvement in line with leading practice.

In this review, high-risk focuses on communities and individuals that face both social vulnerabilities and high hazard risk (natural hazards and structural fires), meaning they require additional consideration and support for emergencies.

The report makes observations, findings, and four recommendations to improve management of the impact of emergencies on particular communities, including those that are vulnerable or at risk.