Role statement - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works to mitigate the impact of emergencies on the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals, especially of Victorians who face greater risk in emergencies. 

Mitigation

ActivityCritical task alignment / activity source
Promote awareness of emergency management planning and preparedness, and required actions to ensure safety of clients of, and services delivered, funded, or regulated by DFFH 2.1

Response (including Relief)

ActivityCritical task alignment / activity source
Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional area of human services and community wellbeing with a focus on child protection, public and social housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, LGBTIQ+ equality, veterans, seniors, women and youth. Table 10: Support agencies for response
Support DEECA as Control Agency for energy (electricity) network supply disruption emergencies, to contact relevant Life Support Customers, as per the SEMP Energy Sub-Plan. 3.2

Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) of emergency shelter and psychosocial support: 

  • coordinate the provision of funded psychosocial support, when coordination is escalated by Councils, through information, emotional support, and referrals to other support services in relief centres and through outreach into impacted communities 

15.1, 15.3, 15.4

Table 12: Relief coordination

Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) responsible to: 
  • administer emergency financial assistance in the form of Emergency Relief Payments through the DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program to help individuals meet their immediate relief needs 

15.4

Table 12: Relief coordination

  • arrange emergency shelter and accommodation for displaced households when requested by councils

15.1

Table 12: Relief coordination

Recovery

ActivityCritical task alignment / activity source

Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) responsible for the recovery functional area coordination of housing and accommodation, and psychosocial support: 

  • coordinate the delivery of funded psychosocial programs to provide information, referral, psychological first aid and social connection, to affected people to: overcome the immediate impact, feel safe, feel connected to others, be able to help themselves and be able to access further physical, mental health and social supports, in recovery centres, through outreach and in other community settings 

20.1, 20.2, 20.3

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) responsible to: 
  • support securing funded temporary accommodation, for individuals, families and households whose principal place of residence is destroyed or damaged, and undertake planning with displaced households to assist them to prepare for the transition to stable housing. 

20.2

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

  • administer income-tested Emergency Re-establishment Assistance under the DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help eligible households to re-establish a principal place of residence 

20.3

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

  • coordinate family violence services and information 

20.5

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

  • as part of the recovery coordination function, coordinate psychosocial support services by the DFFH-funded psychosocial services panel to affected people and communities 

20.1

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

  • coordinate the delivery of a funded single entry point for recovery support, through the Recovery Support Program, including service navigation, case support and case management to people directly impacted
20.1, 20.2, 20.3

Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to: 

  • DEECA to support referral of primary producers and animal owners to available psychosocial support services 
  • DH in their coordination of the provision and promotion of advice on wellbeing in recovery, including mental health services 
Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment
Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to respective asset owners or managing agencies to assess, restore, clear and rehabilitate DFFH managed public buildings and assets. 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment 

Assurance and Learning

ActivityCritical task alignment / activity source
Maintain DFFH state-wide emergency management surge capability and undertake annual/seasonal preparedness activities for emergency management operations, including reviews and updates of operational manuals, procedures, protocols and policies 21.1
Establish and maintain contemporary DFFH relief and social recovery policies, guidelines, frameworks and programs, built on insights and lessons captured from previous major emergencies, exercises and better practice case studies  21.2, 21.3, 21.4

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Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander flagsThe 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.