Overview
This Relief section (tables 11–12) serves as a guide for agencies involved in providing relief, which forms part of the response phase. It details the range and types of assistance, and the providers of each, to support community relief during and immediately after emergencies.
The information shown is in summary form. This guide does not prevent other organisations from providing relief services, including activities or additional services.
Other government organisations, such as community service organisations, may support and deliver relief services in addition to or alongside the relief services outlined (refer to REMPs and MEMPs for regional and local relief arrangements as they may differ from those listed in table 12: Relief coordination). However, the provision of all relief services must be managed under the established coordination arrangements.
Relief tier coordination responsibilities are:
- for state and regional relief coordination: Emergency Recovery Victoria
- for municipal relief coordination: Councils
Relief coordination operates at both tier level and activity level, and brings together agencies and resources to ensure effective relief activities overseeing the delivery of relief services by Relief Lead Agencies (RelLAs) and Relief Support Agencies (RelSAs), through:
- Tier level coordination
- Activity level coordination (led by Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA))
Each relief activity describes a community need – programs, services and products – that assist in community relief. Every relief service has one or more RelLAs, often with several other agencies RelSAs supporting them (table 12: Relief coordination).
The impacts of the emergency and community needs will determine if the relief service is required. In some instances, the RelLA reflects existing legislative responsibilities or arrangements in practice/on the ground, and may undertake a coordination role within an activity. If at any time the service extends beyond the RelLA capability or capacity to deliver, it is escalated to the RelCA.
Table 11: Specified relief activities and relief coordinating agency (RelCA)
| Relief Activities | Relief coordinating agency |
|---|---|
| Animal Welfare | DEECA |
| Community information | Control Agency, Tier coordinator |
| Disbursement of material aid (non-food items) | Salvation Army |
| Drinking water for households in non-reticulated areas | DEECA |
| Emergency financial assistance | Activity leads |
| Emergency shelter | DFFH |
| Food and grocery supply continuity | DJSIR |
| Food and water | Activity leads |
| Health, medical assistance and first aid | Activity leads |
| Psychosocial support | DFFH |
| Reconnecting family and friends | VicPol |
Table 12: Relief coordination
Lead and support agencies for relief services, within relief activities.
Animal Welfare (DEECA)
Companion animals and livestock impacted by emergencies could need access to adequate feed and water, provision of shelter, housing and adequate space, freedom from pain, injury, disease and obvious discomfort, and freedom from unnecessary fear and distress.
Wildlife may be displaced or injured by emergencies and may require relocation, veterinary assessment and rehabilitation or euthanasia.
The Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan defines animal welfare support services in relief.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Animal welfare (other than wildlife) support services |
| RSPCA |
| Respond to wildlife welfare | DEECA | RSPCA Zoos Victoria |
| Housing of displaced and lost/stray companion animals | AVA RSPCA
|
Community relief information (Control Agency / Tier coordinator)
Information is essential to assist communities to make informed decisions about their safety. This can be via the Victorian Public Warning System, public meetings, newsletters, advertising and media releases. Announcements must be consistent and must consider the information needs of community sectors with additional needs.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Provide relief information to assist communities to make informed decisions about their safety | Control Agency | Tier coordinator |
| Coordinate information on relief services and support to communities | Tier coordinator | Councils |
| Develop and provide public health advice | Councils |
Disbursement of material aid (non-food items) (Salvation Army)
Individuals, families and communities affected by emergencies could require essential material aid (non-food items) such as clothing, bedding materials and personal necessities, to help ensure their personal comfort, dignity, health and wellbeing.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Provide essential material aid (non- food items) to emergency affected persons including clothing, bedding and other personal requisites. | Salvation Army |
Drinking water for households in non-reticulated areas (DEECA)
Emergency drinking water supplies for affected areas may be coordinated, following public health advice from the relevant department or agency.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Provide drinking water in non-reticulated areas (as required) | DEECA | Water Corporations |
Emergency financial assistance (Activity leads)
Emergency financial assistance for eligible affected persons experiencing (or likely to experience) financial hardship to meet their basic needs in a dignified manner.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Administer Emergency Relief Payments through the DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help individuals meet their immediate relief needs | DFFH |
Emergency shelter (DFFH)
Individuals are encouraged to make their own accommodation arrangements, however friends, family, community, business, or government could provide emergency shelter if needed.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Arrange emergency shelter and accommodation for displaced households | DFFH | Councils |
Food and grocery supply continuity (DJSIR)
Food and grocery supply, continuity planning and operations support may be undertaken with major food distribution operators.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Support food and grocery supply continuity planning operations with the major food distribution operators | DJSIR |
Food and water (Activity leads)
People and communities must have access to food and water to support their immediate and basic needs. Food and water can be provided in a variety of settings including relief centres or via the distribution of relief packs to communities who are isolated or sheltering in place.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Provide emergency food relief (including water) | ARC |
Health, medical assistance and first aid (Activity leads)
The SEMP Health Emergency Sub-Plan describes the command, control and coordination arrangements, roles and responsibilities for an integrated health emergency response.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinate pre-hospital care to people affected by emergencies | AV | |
| Coordinate other health and medical relief assistance measures | DH |
Psychosocial support (DFFH)
Psychosocial support, including Psychological First Aid (PFA) and emotional and spiritual care, is delivered through relief centres and through community outreach programs.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychosocial support services | Salvation Army |
Reconnect family and friends (VicPol)
The Register.Find.Reunite (R.F.R.) service lets family, friends and emergency services know people are safe in the event of an emergency and reunites them through a matching process. When activated by VicPol, the service can be accessed via the ARC website, by phone, or through relief centres.
R.F.R. assists people to reconnect with family and friends. It assists emergency services in understanding how many people are affected by an emergency and where people in an affected area are located. It also helps services connect to people to provide the support that is needed more effectively.
| Service | Relief lead agencies (RelLAs) | Relief support agencies (RelSAs) |
|---|---|---|
| Operate Register.Find.Reunite in relief centres, enquiry centres or online, or other settings where agreed |
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.