In order to effectively manage the impact and consequences of emergencies on communities, it is critical that Victoria’s mitigation, planning, preparedness, response and recovery from emergencies is integrated, comprehensive and coordinated across all levels of government, agencies and businesses, in conjunction with communities.
"Emergencies are now so big and so damaging that we need to work together (community and government) to realistically plan for such major events that are increasing in frequency across our State." - Community member, Engage Victoria survey Victorian Preparedness Goal and Victoria Preparedness Framework Review, 2022.
Consequence management is important when considering preparedness because, despite how resilient a community is, or how well prepared it is for emergencies, events will occur that exceed a community’s levels of resilience and preparedness.
Victoria manages consequences through considering the wider ramifications of an emergency, and through the coordination of agencies and government departments to identify and implement appropriate mitigation actions, with the intent of:
- minimising adverse consequences from major emergencies to the community
- preventing the impact of an incident escalating
- focusing on potential wider impacts of events
- providing a mechanism to inform decision making.
Consequence management is organised around 9 principles. Consequence management:
- is everyone’s responsibility (a shared responsibility)
- establishes and sustains value
- uses existing structures and systems
- engages with key agencies, departments and communities
- uses the best available data and intelligence
- is predominantly a coordination function
- is a vital component of planning
- informs decision making
- is dynamic, iterative, and responsive to change.
Through the Victorian Preparedness Framework, consequence management can be applied across all agency activities that align with the 21 core capabilities.
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.