Overview

This Recovery section (tables 13–18) serves as a guide for agencies involved in recovery. It details the range and types of assistance, and the providers of each, to support community recovery. Refer to the SEMP for an explanation of recovery concepts and arrangements. 

The information shown is in summary form. This guide does not prevent other organisations from providing recovery services, including activities or additional services. Depending on the needs associated with the event, other government organisations, such as community service organisations, may support and deliver recovery services in addition to or alongside the Recovery Lead Agencies (RecLAs) (refer to REMPs and MEMPs for regional and local recovery arrangements as they may differ from those listed in tables 14–18).

However, all recovery services must be managed under the established recovery coordination arrangements.

Recovery tier coordination responsibilities are:

  • state and regional recovery coordination: Emergency Recovery Victoria
    • Deliver recovery programs and services (including community services)
  • for municipal recovery coordination: Councils [1]
    • Recovery information for community
    • Coordination of community recovery services

Recovery coordination operates at both tier level and activity level. 

  • Tier level coordination is responsible for oversight of all recovery environments and associated activities
  • Activity level coordination (Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA)) is responsible for overseeing the delivery of recovery services by RecLAs and Recovery Support Agencies (RecSAs). 

Recovery is undertaken across four environments, Social, Economic, Built and Natural, that provide a framework within which recovery can be planned, reported, monitored and evaluated. The environments and their areas of activity can be adapted to meet the needs of people and communities affected, such as consideration for Aboriginal Culture and Healing.

Within the 4 environments, there are 13 areas of activity. These activities are interrelated across the recovery environments (Table 13) and describe a community need. Each activity has recovery services – programs, services and products – that assist in community recovery. Every recovery service has one or more RecLAs, often with several other agencies RecSAs supporting them (tables 14–18).

The consequences of the emergency and community needs will determine if the recovery service is required. In some instances, the RecLA reflects existing legislative responsibilities or arrangements in practice/on the ground [2], and may undertake a coordination role within an activity. If at any time the service extends beyond the RecLA capability or capacity to deliver, it is escalated to the RecCA.

Table 13: Four recovery environments and 13 areas of activity

Recovery EnvironmentActivityRecovery Coordinating Agency
SocialHousing and accommodationDFFH
Individual and household financial assistanceActivity leads
Psychosocial supportDFFH
Health and medical assistanceDH
EconomicEconomy and businessesDJSIR
AgricultureDEECA
BuiltEnergy servicesDEECA
Public telecommunicationsDGS
Reticulated water and wastewater servicesDEECA
TransportDTP
Building and assetsActivity leads
NaturalNatural environment, public land and inland watersDEECA
Wildlife and threatened ecosystems and speciesDEECA

Table 14: Recovery coordination: For services across all environments

Lead and support agencies for recovery services that occur across the recovery environments. These are coordinated at the relevant tier level.

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Develop and provide public health advice

DH

EPA

Councils
Formation, leadership and support of municipal recovery committeesCouncilsERV
Provision of recovery centres (as required)Councils

ARC

ERV

Organisation of state-led public appealsDJCSARC
Coordination of spontaneous volunteers [3]ERV (strategic [4])Volunteering Victoria
Management of donated goodsERVSalvation Army
Support for Aboriginal Culture and Healing, ensuring coordination efforts align with the State Government's commitment to advancing Aboriginal self-determinationERV 

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment 

Lead and support agencies for recovery services, within recovery activities that occur across the social environment. The social environment considers the impact an event may have on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. This environment is primarily concerned with safety, security and shelter, health, psychosocial wellbeing and case support or management.

 

Health and medical assistance (DH)

Ensure that health and medical emergency responses are coordinated and appropriate

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Provide and promote advice on wellbeing in recoveryDH

ARC

Councils

DFFH

EPA (Environmental Public Health)

VCC EM

Support community access to appropriate health servicesDH

DH funded health care services

Other community & acute health services & agencies

 

Individual and household financial assistance (Activity leads)

Assist households to minimise the financial impact of the emergency by providing advice and financial assistance where eligible

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program – Emergency Re-establishment AssistanceDFFHEMV
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Financial AssistanceERV as lead government liaison

DJCS

Services Australia

 

Link insurance information to relevant recovery activitiesICA

Disaster Legal Help Victoria

VMIA

 

Psychosocial support (DFFH)

Support the emotional, spiritual, cultural, psychological and social needs of affected people

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Psychosocial support services to affected people and communities

DFFH [5]- funded psychosocial services panel

ARC

VCC EM

 

 

Family violence services and informationDFFH 

Mental health services

Private providers Specialist family violence services

Provide and promote mental health support services and informationDH

DFFH

Mental health services

Private providers

Support in emergencies caused by crimes against the person, an act intended to cause harm to the community or as a result of a Class 3 emergency eventVictim Services, Support and Reform

ARC

Salvation Army

VCC EM

Support and advice to aid schools and early childhood servicesDE 
Referrals to psychosocial support services for primary producers and animal ownersDEECA

DFFH

 

Support for the bereaved

DH (non-coronial)

VIFM (coronial)

ARC

CCOV (coronial)

DH (coronial)

VCC EM

 

Housing and accommodation (DFFH)

Assist people displaced by the emergency to access temporary accommodation, and return to stable housing as soon as possible.

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Support securing temporary accommodationDFFH

Community housing agencies 

Councils

Public health advice to councils on interim accommodation standards for displaced peopleDH 
Transition to stable housingDFFHCommunity housing agencies
 

Recovery Support Program (DFFH)

Support people directly impacted, if funded, with access to services and information about housing, health and wellbeing, finances, legal matters, payments and grants, and provide practical assistance and navigation.

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Coordinate the delivery of a funded single entry point for recovery support including navigation, case support and case management to people directly impactedDFFH

Community Service Organisations

Councils

Table 16: Recovery coordination: economic environment

Lead and support agencies for recovery services, within recovery activities that occur across the economic environment. The economic environment considers the direct and indirect impacts that an event may have on business, primary producers and the broader economy

 

Agriculture (DEECA)

Assist the agriculture sector to recover and minimise long term social and economic impact on primary producers and other animal owners

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Deliver recovery programs and advice to primary producers, and rural land managers and other animal businessesDEECACouncils
Implement available financial assistance to assist primary producers’ recoveryDEECARAC (rural)
Provide technical advice to primary producers and rural land managers on re-establishment or alternative strategiesDEECA 
Assist rural land holders repair and restore fences damaged by suppression activities on private land or bushfire on the public/private land boundary

DEECA

CFA

FRV
 

Economies and businesses (DJSIR)

Mitigate the impact of emergencies on economic activity in affected communities, by providing information, advice and support to businesses to facilitate good decision making and assist their recovery.

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Implement available financial assistance to assist economic recoveryDJSIR

DJCS

RAC (rural)

Implement available financial assistance to assist small businesses’ recoveryDJSIR

 

DJCS

RAC (rural)

 

Identify and monitor broad economic impacts, consequences and adaption to emergenciesDJSIRCouncils
Implement approved funded activities, projects, and programs to assist economic and business recovery and encourage the resumption of trade following an emergencyDJSIR

Councils

Regional Tourism Boards

Visit Victoria

Assist businesses to navigate available information and advice following an emergency, including through industry associations and business networksDJSIRCouncils
Provide knowledge and skills for enhancement opportunities for workforces and businesses to build resilience and support economic recoveryDJSIRCouncils
Coordinate the insurance industry response, information, and adviceERV

DTF

ICA

Table 17: Recovery coordination: built environment 

Lead and support agencies for recovery services, within recovery activities that occur across the built environment. The built environment considers the impacts that an event may have on essential physical infrastructure including essential services, commercial and industrial facilities, public buildings and assets and housing. 

 

Buildings and assets (Activity leads)

Management of risk and facilitating restoration of buildings and assets

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Coordination of approved state-led or supported clean-upERV

Councils

EPA

VBA

WorkSafe Victoria [6]

Survey and make a determination regarding occupancy of damaged residential buildings (when safe to do so)Councils 
Provision of financial assistance to Councils for the restoration of essential municipal assetsEMV 
Undertaking the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets where an agency is the owner or manager of that respective building or assetRespective asset owner or managing agency

Councils

DE (schools)

DFFH

DJSIR

DTP (roads, bridges)

EPA

Administration of insurance claims for state assetsVMIA 
Insurance and claims management advice and support for Departments and participating agencies during an emergencyVMIA 
Provide advice and information on land use planning, building historic heritage, land surveying and spatial services to facilitate restoration of buildings, heritage listed places, and assetsDTP

Councils

VBA

 

Energy services (DEECA)

To build resilience within the energy sector from emergencies and minimise the impact on Victoria’s economy and communities

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Electricity services asset reinstatement and return to reliable supplyDEECA lead government liaison

AEMO

Electricity companies

ESV

Gas services asset reinstatement and return to reliable supplyDEECA lead gov’t liaison

AEMO

ESV

Gas companies and other pipeline companies

Restoration of liquid fuel supplyDEECA lead gov’t liaison

Fuel companies

Pipeline companies

Provide information and funding to enable homes and small business affected by emergency events to install new or replacement renewable energy systemsDEECA (Solar Victoria) 
 

Public telecommunications (DGS)

To build resilience within the telecommunications sector from emergencies and minimise the impact on Victoria’s economy and communities

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Public telecommunications assets reinstatement and return to reliable supplyDGS lead gov’t liaisonTelecommunications carriers
 

Reticulated water and wastewater services (DEECA)

To minimise disruptions to water and wastewater services and replace essential water used for bushfire firefighting operations

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Recovery and rehabilitation of reticulated water supply

DEECA

Water corporations

 
Restoration of reticulated wastewater (sewerage) services (where supply occurs)

DEECA

Water corporations

PV
Replacement of essential stock and domestic water used for bushfire firefighting operations

CFA

DEECA

Water corporations
 

Transport (DTP)

To build resilience within the transport sector from emergencies and minimise the impact on Victoria’s economy and communities

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Restoration of services and land transport network links to airports DTP lead gov’t liaison

Airport owners and operators

Other agencies and businesses as required

Restoration of port infrastructureDTP lead gov’t liaison

Port Managers

Other agencies and businesses as required

Undertaking the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, tunnels and culverts asset managers are directly responsible for managing.

DEECA (strategic fire network, forest and public land)

DTP (owned or managed)

Councils (council owned or managed)

Infrastructure operators

VicTrack (rail crossings, rail corridor networks)

VMIA (DEECA, DTP)

 

Restoration of bus, rail and contracted ferry servicesDTP

Transport operators

VMIA

Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment

Lead and support agencies for recovery services, within recovery activities that occur across the natural environment. The natural environment considers the impact that an event may have on a healthy and functioning environment, which underpins the economy and society. Components of the natural environment include air and water quality; land degradation and contamination; plant and wildlife damage/loss; and national parks, cultural and heritage sites.

 

Natural environment, public land and inland waters (DEECA)

Manage consequences and mitigate risk to the natural environment on public land

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Undertake erosion control on public land to help manage risk to public safety, natural and cultural assets and values, and infrastructureRelevant land manager

CMAs

Melbourne Water

Rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets that DEECA or PV  is directly responsible for managing to mitigate risksDEECA/PV

CMAs

Councils

Other relevant land managers

VMIA

Coordinate clean-up activities for the disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral)Relevant land manger

EPA

Councils

RSPCA

Coordinate the clean-up for fish death event due to natural causes on public waterways (non-commercial fish populations and excluding disease outbreaks)

DEECA

EPA [7]

PV

CMAs/Melbourne Water

VFA

Provide advice and information services to Councils and delegated public land managers and community groups

CMAs

DEECA

DTP

EPA

Develop and implement protection activities to support ecosystem recovery and regenerationDEECA

CMAs

PV

Waste pollution management strategiesDEECAEPA
Protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage places and values on public land

DEECA

PV

DPC
Protection and management of historic heritage sites (including those under the Heritage Act 2017 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) on public land

DEECA

PV

DTP
 

Wildlife and threatened ecosystems and species (DEECA)

ServiceRecovery lead agencies (RecLAs)Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)
Scientific and technical advice on response plans and targeted interventions to maintain species diversity and presence within an ecosystemDEECA

PV

Zoos Victoria

Monitor the rehabilitation of injured wildlifeDEECAPV
Management, care and release of salvaged animals taken into captivity to maintain species diversityDEECAPV
Survey and protect threatened bird, marsupial, aquatic and plant speciesDEECA

CMAs

PV

Footnotes

  1. Refer to Municipal Emergency Management Plans for local emergency recovery arrangements as they may differ from those listed in the Recovery coordination tables (tables 14-18). Councils recovery coordination responsibilities include local level coordination for the 2019-20 Eastern Victorian Bushfires
  2. Where Councils are listed as the RecLA, this is a local level function and escalation can still occur to the RecCA if required.
  3. The coordination of spontaneous volunteers may also occur during the response (including relief) phase of an incident
  4. ‘Strategic’ relates to the broad strategy for spontaneous volunteers and not the management of spontaneous volunteers in response to an event
  5. As part of the recovery coordination function
  6. WorkSafe can provide occupational health and safety advice of a general nature. This advice may direct duty holders to the relevant provisions of any legislation administered by WorkSafe, and to any guidance material published by WorkSafe with respect to particular obligations. However, WorkSafe cannot provide advice on how legislation should be applied in any specific circumstance, and the advice provided by WorkSafe does not constitute legal advice. Duty holders should seek their own independent advice on how the requirements of WorkSafe-administered legislation should be applied
  7. EPA will initially lead the investigation to determine the cause of a fish death event, in accordance with EPA publication 1793 Interim Response Guide for Fish Death Events. Refer to Natural and Cultural Heritage Rehabilitation core capability (critical task 18.4), for more information.