Social Recovery core capability

The longer term provision of assistance and access to services that allows individuals, families and communities to achieve an effective level of functioning after an emergency event. This includes safety, security, shelter, health and psychosocial wellbeing and re-establishment of those elements of society necessary for well-being.

Table 36: Agency roles mapped to the VPF, by critical tasks within the Social Recovery core capability

Critical Task 20.1: Assess and provide for medium to long term psychosocial needs.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	Equip individuals, families and communities with resources and link them with appropriate services to support their long-term recovery and wellbeing. Advocate for community needs through the provision of recovery planning and policy advice	20.4

BRV	Co-ordinate the delivery of case support services, as required for people affected by the Bushfires	15.3

CityLink	CityLink’s role in recovery is to facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all customers and company personnel involved in the emergency	15.2, 15.3

DET	DET is lead agency for the recovery activity of helping students and school staff of government schools to overcome the immediate impact of an emergency by providing specialist support services including providing psychological first aid and psychoeducation	3.1, 15.2, 15.3

DHHS	DHHS is responsible for the recovery functional area co-ordination of housing and accommodation, psychosocial support, individual and household assistance and health and medical assistance	20.2, 20.3, 20.4

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of co-ordinating the provision of psychological first aid to affected people to overcome the immediate impact, feel safe, connected to others, able to help themselves and able to access physical, emotional and social support

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of co-ordinating the provision of counselling and targeted psychosocial support

EastLink	Facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all company personnel involved in the emergency	15.2, 15.3

Lendlease (Peninsula Link)	Facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all company personnel involved in the emergency	15.2, 15.3

VCC EM	VCC EM supports DHHS to deliver the relief and recovery activity of providing DHHS and activating agency a regular report on community wellbeing, needs and issues	20.5

	VCC EM supports DHHS to deliver the relief and recovery activity of providing psychosocial support including psychological first aid, emotional and spiritual care and personal support in relief and recovery centres and through community outreach, direct visits, community meetings and gatherings	3.2, 15.3, 20.6

Critical Task 20.2: Provide housing / accommodation options.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
BRV	Arrange temporary accommodation for people displaced by the Bushfires	15.1

DHHS	DHHS is responsible for the recovery functional area co-ordination of housing and accommodation, psychosocial support, individual and household assistance and health and medical assistance	20.1, 20.3, 20.4

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of supporting securing interim accommodation, when requested by councils and other referring agencies, for individuals, families and households whose primary residence is destroyed or damaged

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of advising on accommodation standards for interim accommodation of displaced people, when requested by councils

Municipal Councils	Municipal councils co-ordinate the housing of displaced and lost/stray companion animals, with support from VFF, Australian Veterinary Association and RSPCA

Salvation Army	Make available any Salvation Army service that may be available during an emergency to assist persons affected (e.g. personal support, emergency accommodation, transport)	10.2, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 20.7

Critical Task 20.3: Assess and provide financial re-establishment assistance.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	ARC supports DPC in its role to organise public appeals when requested, through collecting monetary donations for state-wide public appeals	3.2

Australian Government Department of Home Affairs	Through various funding programs, the Commonwealth provides financial assistance to state and territory governments, individuals and organisations in preparing for, and recovering from, bushfires	15.4

	EMA administers the DRFA on behalf of the Australian Government. Under this program, the Australian Government provides financial assistance to the state and territory governments to help them with the costs associated with certain disaster relief and recovery assistance measures	15.4

	EMA also administers the Australian Government’s disaster recovery payments, including the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the Disaster Recovery Allowance	15.4

BRV	Co-ordinate state and regional recovery, including State and Commonwealth funding for Bushfire recovery	15.4

	Administer recovery grants in co-ordination with Commonwealth, State and local government department and agencies	15.4

DHHS	DHHS is responsible for the recovery functional area co-ordination of housing and accommodation, psychosocial support, individual and household assistance and health and medical assistance	20.1, 20.2, 20.4

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of administering income-tested re-establishment payments through the Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help eligible households re-establish as quickly as possible

EMV	Implementing available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist primary producers’ recovery subject to activation by the state and Australian governments; a low-interest concessional loan scheme to primary producers; and recovery grants for primary producers, subject to approval by the Australian Government	17.2

	EMV supports DHHS in its delivery of income-tested re-establishment payments through activation of the DHHS Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help eligible households re-establish as quickly as possible	3.2

RAC	The RAC supports EMV in its responsibility of implementing available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist disaster affected farmers, small business owners and non‑profit organisations	15.4, 17.1

Services Australia	Co-ordination of the agency’s response to emergencies through disaster payments such as Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment, Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment, Disaster Recovery Allowance and ex gratia assistance	15.4

	The agency’s priority in a disaster event is continuity of Australian Government payments and services for existing customers

	The agency’s priority in a disaster event is provision of information and advice about Australian Government emergency payments and services for affected Australians	15.4, 20.5

Critical Task 20.4: Co-ordinate and adapt health programs to ensure continuity and availability of advice / activities.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	Equip individuals, families and communities with resources and link them with appropriate services to support their long-term recovery and wellbeing. Advocate for community needs through the provision of recovery planning and policy advice	20.1

DHHS	DHHS is responsible for the recovery functional area co-ordination of housing and accommodation, psychosocial support, individual and household assistance and health and medical assistance	20.1, 20.2, 20.3

	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of advising on wellbeing in recovery through ‘whole-of-health’ advice, information and assistance to community

Foodbank Victoria	Co-ordination, supply and distribution of the Breakfast in Schools Program for participating schools as required, including the continuation of the program during school restrictions	3.2, 10.2, 15.2, 15.5

Critical Task 20.5: Assess community service needs, including socio-economic disadvantage.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	ARC supports municipal councils through advice, guidance and connections to individuals and organisations that can provide additional support to affected persons	3.2

BRV	Co-ordinate state and regional recovery, including engage with communities, local governments, State Government departments and agencies, the Commonwealth Government and non-government organisations to ensure appropriate bushfire recovery supports are in place and are well integrated to meet community needs	3.2, 20.6

DHHS	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of co-ordinating the provision of personal support through information, practical assistance, assessment of immediate needs and referral to other support agencies and services in relief and recovery centres

Foodbank Victoria	Foodbank Victoria is the co-lead agency with the Salvation Army to provide essential material aid (non-food items) to emergency affected persons specifically key personal care items including toilet paper, soap, sanitary supplies	10.2, 15.2

Municipal Councils	Municipal councils are responsible for the co-ordination of local level relief and recovery activities, and are lead agency for providing and managing community development services and activities (not all councils will undertake this activity)

Services Australia	The agency’s priority in a disaster event is provision of information and advice about Australian Government emergency payments and services for affected Australians	15.4, 20.3

VCC EM	VCC EM supports DHHS to deliver the relief and recovery activity of providing DHHS and activating agency a regular report on community wellbeing, needs and issues	20.1

Critical Task 20.6: Work with communities to transition recovery services and programs to mainstream community delivery / services.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
BRV	Co-ordinate state and regional recovery, including engage with communities, local governments, State Government departments and agencies, the Commonwealth Government and non-government organisations to ensure appropriate bushfire recovery supports are in place and are well integrated to meet community needs	3.2, 20.5

	Establish and operate community recovery hubs, linking locals to practical recovery supports	3.3

CFA	CFA supports the Controller by providing assistance and advice to individuals, families and communities who have been affected by fire or other incidents (as described)

DHHS	DHHS is state lead agency for the recovery activity of co-ordinating plans when requested, to assist households to prepare for the transition to permanent housing

DJPR	DJPR supports local community events by providing seed funding for events that aid recovery through restoring social networks and functioning

EastLink	To participate on a Community Recovery Committee, if required	19.8

FRV	FRV support the controller by providing post incident assistance and advice to persons impacted by fire and other emergencies	4.5

Salvation Army	Provide support to community safety activities	3.2

Services Australia	Services Australia may also provide the service of having 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 services	3.2, 6.1, 14.4, 15.4, 15.5

VICSES	VICSES supports the Controller by providing assistance and advice to individuals, families and communities who have been affected by flood, storm, tsunami, earthquake of landslide

VCC EM	VCC EM supports DHHS to deliver the relief and recovery activity of providing psychosocial support including psychological first aid, emotional and spiritual care and personal support in relief and recovery centres and through community outreach, direct visits, community meetings and gatherings	3.2, 15.3, 20.1

Critical Task 20.7: Provide bereavement support for communities.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
DHHS	DHHS supports the Coroners Court of Victoria to facilitate support and counselling for bereaved families through its relationships with grief and bereavement support agencies

Salvation Army	Make available any Salvation Army service that may be available during an emergency to assist persons affected (e.g. personal support, emergency accommodation, transport)	10.2, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 20.2