Building Community Resilience core capability

Building community safety and resilience includes working together at the local level. Communities can strengthen their lifelines by better connecting and working together with appropriate support from organisations. Build on combined community and organisational strengths across all phases of an emergency through the below critical tasks.

Critical Task Table 6: Agency roles mapped to the VPF, by critical tasks within the Building Community Resilience core capability

 

Critical Task 6.1: Connecting with people and by supporting them to use their networks to communicate effectively.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
ARCBuild community resilience and social connectedness through programs, services, engagement, and emergency management planning activities to enable communities to develop initiatives through local volunteer networks and connections.1.2, 6.2, 6.4
AVSupport the building of individual and community-based pre-hospital health literacy to improve community self-reliance and resilience. 
DEProvide advice and suggested resources to non‑government schools4.5
LSVDevelop and provide education in water safety and associated messaging, first aid, CPR, swimming and lifesaving programs at swimming pools, open water locations, schools and lifesaving clubs including accredited training for Personal Water Craft and Inflatable Rescue Boats2.1, 6.4
NBN CoIf appropriate, and subject to availability, deploy temporary emergency management solutions connectivity to relief centres.15.3,
Services AustraliaHave staff available with specialist skills (for example social workers, community engagement officers, indigenous service officers) to work with disaster affected individuals and communities in relation to Services Australia payments and services3.2, 14.4, 15.4, 15.5, 20.6
VicPolBuild social capital and resilience in communities to prepare for a sustained recovery from extreme emergencies and natural disasters through providing information and education in the media and other means1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5
 

Critical Task 6.2: Using local knowledge to better understand and identify local needs.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
ARCBuild community resilience and social connectedness through engagement and emergency planning activities to empower communities to develop initiatives through local volunteer networks and connections1.2, 6.4
AVConnecting with communities and people to develop and promote the use of local and individual alternative pre-hospital health options. 
CBCAs required provide a situational awareness between the state level emergency management governance structures, border communities, and other jurisdictions.2.16.4
Raise awareness of cross border emergency management issues through effective engagement with relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders to minimise adverse consequences of emergency events.1.4
ERVLead and coordinate state and regional relief, and recovery planning across ERV’s 5 lines of recovery (people and wellbeing, Aboriginal culture and healing, environment and biodiversity, business and economy, and building and infrastructure), ensuring that emergency management plans appropriately encompass relief and recovery considerations that incorporate initiatives that build community resilience wherever this is possible  1.1
LSVProvide expert advice on aquatic risk management systems and water safety signage  2.1, 4.5
 

Critical Task 6.3: Working through likely scenarios to manage underlying stresses and cope with shocks that may continue to impact the community.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
CFAReduce the number of fires and hazardous incidents through broadening community awareness and preparedness to minimise the impact of an emergency on the community2.1
DEECA

Energy:

  • Provide advice to communities on the installation and restoration of energy supplies that enhance resilience and mitigate the reliance on main energy supplies following an emergency
6.4, 6.6, 19.8
FRVReduce the number of fires and hazardous incidents through broadening community awareness and preparedness to minimise the impact of an emergency on the community2.1
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)Promote and provide community first aid training through public education in schools, workplaces and to the public2.1, 4.5
Volunteer Search and Rescue OrganisationsBroaden community awareness and preparedness to minimise the impact of an emergency on the community 
 

Critical Task 6.4: Working together to identify local context and develop local solutions.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
ARCBuild community resilience and social connectedness through programs, services, engagement, and emergency management planning activities to enable communities to develop initiatives through local volunteer networks and connections.1.2, 6.1, 6.2
AVEngage with communities to build resilience in preventing and managing emergencies, through targeted and general education programs. 
CBCAs required provide a situational awareness between the state level emergency management governance structures, border communities, and other jurisdictions.2.1, 6.1
CFAEngage with communities to build their resilience in preventing and managing emergencies, through targeted and general education programs 
CMAPrioritise regional flooding issues in cooperation with local government, VICSES and the community1.5
Support community education and involvement on flooding issues 
DEECA

Energy:

  • Provide advice to communities on the installation and restoration of energy supplies that enhance resilience and mitigate the reliance on main energy supplies following an emergency
6.3, 6.6, 19.8
DTPCoordinate and conduct road/public transport safety programs with community groups and other agencies1.2, 1.46.5
FRVEngage with communities to build their resilience in preventing and managing emergencies, through targeted and general education programs 
LSVDevelop and provide education in water safety and associated messaging, first aid, CPR, swimming and lifesaving programs at swimming pools, open water locations, schools and lifesaving clubs including training for personal watercraft and inflatable rescue boats2.1, 6.1
VICSESEngage with communities to build their resilience in preventing and managing emergencies, through targeted and general education programs 
WorksafeCoordinate and collaborate with WorkSafe agents, WorkSafe Victoria Claims and Recovery Support team, self-insurers and service providers as required, including by working in communities at a local level, to ensure continuity of service to the Victorian community and to strengthen community resilience3.2
 

Critical Task 6.5: Sharing information and learning from experiences to make better decisions in the future.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
ATSBCooperate with police and emergency services when exercising powers of investigation and work in parallel with other investigative bodies, noting the limitations on release of information/evidence gathered by the ATSB under the Transport Safety Investigation Act. ATSB reports are inadmissible in civil or criminal proceedings except in limited circumstances such as coronial inquiries3.13.2,4.44.5
Issue public reports on investigations, safety issues and reports on remedial safety actions2.1, 4.5, 4.6, 21.1, 21.3, 21.5
DTPCoordinate and conduct road/public transport safety programs with community groups and other agencies1.2, 1.4, 6.4
 

Critical Task 6.6: Encouraging self-reliance by enabling communities to cope for up to 72 hours without significant external assistance.

AgencyActivityAdditional alignment to critical tasks
AVCoordinate Public Access Defibrillation programs, First Aid Training, and Community Emergency Response Teams 
DEECAEnergy - provide advice to communities on the installation and restoration of energy supplies that enhance resilience and mitigate the reliance on main energy supplies following an emergency6.3, 6.4, 19.8