Build a sustainable emergency management workforce that represents the people it serves
What success will look like: The Victorian Government has built a sustainable workforce that supports staff and volunteer health, wellbeing, and development. Access to the emergency workforce is continually adapting to ensure the emergency management sector is a safe, inclusive, and flexible workplace. The emergency management sector has designed new and creative ways to attract and retain skilled volunteer workers to assist with responding to state emergency events.
Achievements from the 2022-25 SAP:
- Victoria progressed the Emergency Management Operating Model Review, including the development of an implementation plan.
- Improvements were made to the State Control Centre (SCC) to establish a dedicated 24/7 workforce, which ensures the SCC has capability, capacity, and the resources to maintain a state of readiness to keep Victorians safe.
- Continued work was done to strengthen the culture and wellbeing across the emergency management workforce, with the focus on improving diversity and strengthening collaboration across agencies.
Please note: SAP numbers with an asterisk (*) are new actions.
*4.1. Deliver the Emergency Management Operating Model Review Implementation Strategy and Pilot Phase
This action will progress implementation of the findings of the Operating Model Review to deliver a more secure, reliable, and efficient model for the ‘core’ of the emergency management workforce.
Delivery date: June 2024
Lead agency: Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)
This action relates to:
4.2. Build a sustainable, agile, and capable State Control Centre (SCC) workforce
This action will ensure the State Control Centre (SCC) has the capability, capacity and resources to maintain a state of readiness and respond to keep Victorians safe. It includes delivery of a sustainable and dedicated 24/7 workforce that seamlessly integrates with surge workforce partners to deliver the best outcomes and meet the needs of the Victorian community.
Delivery date: June 2024
Lead agency: Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)
This action relates to:
4.3. Develop learning and development opportunities focusing on introductory and leadership capabilities that meet the needs of the EM workforce
This action will implement sector wide emergency and incident management education, learning and development, and an exercising capability uplift, including the Learning Reform Action Plan (LRAP).
Delivery date: June 2027
Lead agency: Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)
This action relates to:
4.4. Implement the Aviation Strategic Action Plan
This action will clarify current emergency management aviation capability, responsibilities and governance arrangements. It will review and ensure a functioning safety management system and fit-for-purpose training and competency management. It will develop an outcomes-based Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework for aviation, and undertake a Capacity Planning and Strategic Capability Review.
Delivery date: June 2024
Lead agency :Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)
This action relates to:
4.5. Develop and implement tangible activities in conjunction with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), councils and EMV to support and build council capacity and capability in emergency management
This action will see close collaboration with MAV and councils to develop and deliver tangible actions and guidance to support councils to undertake their emergency management responsibilities. Further work will be undertaken to streamline administrative burdens and scope opportunities to deliver tailored local government training for statutory emergency management roles.
Delivery date: June 2024
Lead agency: Department of Government Services (DGS) and Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)
This action relates to:
4.6. Foster a resilient and fit-for-purpose public health workforce that supports system resilience and sustainability, building on learnings from COVID-19
This action will deliver the Department of Health capability, capacity and resources to maintain a state of readiness and respond to all emergencies, particularly Class 2 public health emergencies, and an appropriately trained, diverse and multidisciplinary workforce that meets the needs of the Department of Health’s operational responsibilities.
Delivery date: 2025
Lead agency: Department of Health (DH)
This action relates to:
4.7. Strengthen the culture and wellbeing across the workforce by improving diversity and tackling negative behaviours, and increasing collaboration between agencies
This action will deliver strengthened culture and wellbeing across the emergency management workforce through continued participation in the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Committee and its associated projects, working to strengthen collaboration across our emergency services organisations.
Delivery date: 2025
Lead agency: Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)
This action relates to:
- Sector outcome 5: Self-determination of Traditional Owners and First Nations Peoples is recognised and supported.
- Sector outcome 9: Victorians are supported by a sustainable and agile workforce that represents the people it serves.
- Sector outcome 10: Victorians are supported by a workforce that is safe.
4.8. Support our volunteers with the training and equipment they need to keep our communities safe
This action will deliver:
- a professional development program to strengthen capability, including training in floods, storms, landslides, incident management and leadership
- condition assessments of VICSES facilities and priority maintenance
- replacement vehicles including rescue trucks
- support for volunteers dealing with complex people and behaviours.
Delivery date: June 2024
Lead agency: Victoria State Emergency Service (VicSES)
This action relates to:
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.