A new survey will help establish how Victorians affected by the 2014 bushfires experienced the recovery process to help inform better approaches in the future.
From tomorrow, the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) Tony Pearce will invite a number of residents living in areas affected by the February-March 2014 bushfires to share their views about the recovery process.
Mr Pearce said that the results of the telephone survey will help inform his review into Community recovery following the 2013–14 Victorian bushfires.
The 2013-14 Victorian bushfires had a significant impact on many communities, causing widespread damage to property and economic livelihood.
“We will use the results of this telephone survey, as well as other research, to identify ways we can improve emergency management arrangements in helping Victorian communities before and after emergencies,” Mr Pearce said.
The telephone survey is designed to gather information on how communities were involved in recovery strategies during and following the 2013-14 bushfires and how they view the effectiveness of the strategies.
The survey will involve randomly-selected residents of the East Gippsland Shire and Hume City Council.
IGEM will also consult with representatives from the emergency management sector, subject matter experts and relevant research entities to inform this review.
The review will be completed by the end of the year.
Alongside the review, Mr Pearce is also preparing a progress report on implementation of recommendations and actions from the 2013-14 bushfires. This report will be provided to government before the 2015-16 fire season.