Relief Assistance core capability

About the Relief Assistance core capability

The provision of well-coordinated, integrated and timely assistance to meet the immediate health, wellbeing, financial and essential needs of affected communities, during and immediately after an emergency event.

Critical Task Table 15: Agency roles mapped to the Victorian Preparedness Framework, by critical tasks within the Relief Assistance core capability

Critical Task 15.1: Establish temporary shelter options for displaced persons.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
AV	Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to establish field primary care clinics or other health relief assistance measures as directed by the State Health Commander	3.1, 14.3, 14.4, 15.2
DFFH	Relief Coordinating Agency (RecCA) of emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance and psychosocial support.	15.3, 15.4
DFFH	Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) responsible to arrange emergency shelter and accommodation for displaced households when requested by Municipal councils
LSV	Provide emergency evacuation/relief centres at the lifesaving clubs	15.1
Municipal councils	Coordination of local level relief activities, and lead agency to establish and manage emergency relief centres to shelter members of the community displaced by an emergency
Municipal councils	Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to establish and manage recovery centres to provide recovery information to the emergency impacted community	4.5
Salvation Army	As appropriate, make available any Salvation Army service during an emergency to assist persons affected (e.g. personal support, emergency accommodation, transport)	10.2, 15.2, 15.3, 20.2, 20.7

Critical Task 15.2: Coordinate and manage services to meet the physical needs of affected populations.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ADF	The Commonwealth supplies DACC Emergency Assistance to Victoria for response (including relief) of major emergencies. This Emergency DACC categorisation is principally based on immediate threat to life, property and the environment; alleviating suffering, and the activation of Australian Government Disaster Response Plan (COMDISPLAN) arrangements	3.2
ARC	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to coordinate food and water for emergency relief e.g. catering in emergency relief centres and emergency relief packs to isolated communities, where agreed, at the local, regional and state level
	Provide well-coordinated, integrated and timely assistance to meet the immediate health, wellbeing and essential needs of affected communities, during and immediately after an emergency event, to support social cohesion and build resilience	15.3
	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to support DFFH to provide personal support (psychological first aid) in relief and recovery centres and through community outreach	3.2, 15.3
AV	Relief coordinating agency (RelCA) for relief health and medical assistance and first aid	14.1, 14.8, 15.4
AV	Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to establish field primary care clinics or other health relief assistance measures as directed by the State Health Commander	3.1, 14.3, 14.4, 15.1
CityLink	Facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all customers and company personnel involved in the emergency	15.3, 20.1
CityLink, Eastlink and Lendlease	Facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all company personnel involved in emergencies	15.3, 20.1
DELWP	Reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage) services - Oversee recovery for the restoration of water and wastewater services in reticulated areas
	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to provide drinking water for eligible households in non-reticulated areas. Where local resources, which may include Municipal councils, are unable to meet the demand due to the size and complexity of the event, DELWP will coordinate relief drinking water supplies to affected areas and may request support from Water Corporations	15.2
	Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to recover and rehabilitate reticulated water services. Water Corporations lead recovery to restore services and DELWP oversee activities undertaken by Water Corporations	19.4, 19.7
	recover and rehabilitate reticulated sewerage, sanitation systems and wastewater management systems. Water Corporations lead recovery to restore services and DELWP oversee activities undertaken by Water Corporations	19.4, 19.7
DET	Provide advice and support to early childhood services and non-government schools when required	3.2, 4.5
DET	Lead agency to help 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, 15.3, 20.1
DJPR	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for food and grocery supply continuity. DJPR supports food and grocery supply continuity by providing strategic and expert advice to government and emergency agencies regarding impacts on food and grocery supply/demand and prioritisation in an emergency, working with major food distribution operators.	4.5, 4.6, 10.2, 10.3, 15.7
DJCS	Provide advice, information and assistance to individuals, communities and funded agencies and councils about relevant DJCS services	11.1
DJCS	Provide resources to support relief centres, where possible	3.2, 10.1
Foodbank	Source, provide and distribute food relief to affected communities via a network of food donors, transporters, agency and charity partners and through Farms to Families Pop-Up Market program	3.2, 10.2, 10.3
	Provide essential material aid (e.g. food, water, key personal care items) to charity partners to meet increased demand due to major emergency	3.2
	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, 20.5
	Coordinate, supply and distribute the Breakfast in Schools Program for participating schools as required	3.2, 10.2, 15.5, 20.4
Municipal councils	Support DELWP to provide relief drinking water to eligible households in non-reticulated areas
NBN Co	If appropriate, deploy a variety of mobile facilities into impacted communities with the aim of delivering limited/partial service restoration after service disruption driven through the impacts of a natural disaster event	3.3, 19.7
Salvation Army	Assist in the provision of catering to emergency management personnel and affected persons	10.1, 10.2
	Primary support agency at state level for provision of material needs (including bedding and clothing) to affected persons	10.2
	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) for disbursement of material aid (non-food items), including Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to coordinate the provision of essential material aid (non-food items) to individuals, families and communities affected by emergencies such as clothing, bedding materials and personal necessities, to help ensure their personal comfort, dignity, health and wellbeing
	Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to ARC to coordinate food and water at regional and state levels, including support from other agencies, and provide support at the local level when requested
	As appropriate, make available any Salvation Army service during an emergency to assist persons affected (e.g. personal support, emergency accommodation, transport)	10.2, 15.1, 15.3, 20.2, 20.7
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)	Provide first aid and medical services support to community within the scope of SHERP	14.2
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)	Provide community transport services	14.5
Water Corporations	Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to DELWP to coordinate the provision of drinking water to eligible households where reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage) services are unavailable	3.2, 10.2
Worksafe Victoria	Ensure injured workers impacted by the emergency event are identified during the claims process to expedite provision of required supports and a timely response to their claim

Critical Task 15.3: Coordinate and manage services to meet the psychosocial needs of affected populations.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	Provide well-coordinated, integrated and timely assistance to meet the immediate health, wellbeing and essential needs of affected communities, during and immediately after an emergency event, to support social cohesion and build resilience	15.3
ARC	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to support DFFH to provide personal support (psychological first aid) in relief and recovery centres and through community outreach	3.2, 15.2
CityLink, Eastlink and Lendlease	Facilitate steps to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all company personnel involved in emergencies	15.2, 20.1
DET	Lead agency to help 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, 20.1
DFFH	Relief Coordinating Agency (RecCA) of emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance and psychosocial support.	15.1, 15.4
DFFH	Provide psychosocial support through information, practical assistance, emotional support, assessment of immediate needs and referrals to other support agencies and services in relief centres and through outreach
DJCS	Coordinate outreach justice services, such as births, deaths and marriages and community work group resources as required for recovery.
Municipal councils	Coordination of local level relief activities, and lead agency to provide community relief support referrals to relevant agencies
Salvation Army	As appropriate, make available any Salvation Army service during an emergency to assist persons affected (e.g. personal support, emergency accommodation, transport)	10.2, 15.1, 15.2, 20.2, 20.7
VCC-EM	Provide psychosocial support including emotional spiritual care under the SHERP
VCC-EM	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to DFFH to provide 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, 20.1, 20.6
Water Corporations	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to make available essential water for agriculture (from raw water sources) and domestic uses (potable or raw water) to replace like for like water taken by DELWP and CFA from private landholders during bushfire suppression activities. However, Water Corporations do not manage the operations or supply the water. It is a priority for DELWP and CFA to take raw water for bushfire suppression rather than potable water	3.2

Critical Task 15.4: Assess and provide financial hardship assistance payments.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs	The Commonwealth provide financial assistance to state and territory governments, individuals and organisations to prepare for, and recover from, bushfires	20.3
	EMA administer the DRFA on behalf of the Australian Government, which provides financial assistance to the state and territory governments to assist with the costs of certain disaster relief and recovery assistance measures	20.3
	EMA administer the Australian Government’s disaster recovery payments, including the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the Disaster Recovery Allowance	20.3
AV	Relief coordinating agency (RelCA) for relief health and medical assistance and first aid	14.1, 14.8, 15.2
DFFH	Relief Coordinating Agency (RecCA) of emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance and psychosocial support.	15.1, 15.3
DFFH	Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) responsible to administer emergency financial assistance in the form of relief payments through the DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help individuals meet their basic needs
DJPR	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to support EMV to implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist voluntary non-profit groups, communities and economies	3.2
EMV	Implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist primary producers, small businesses and voluntary non-profit groups by a low-interest concessional loan scheme; and recovery grants, subject to approval by the Commonwealth Government	17.2
	Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to:
	administer the Victorian Natural Disaster Financial Assistance scheme, in accordance with the Commonwealth DRFA (as lead government liaison)	3.1
	provide financial assistance to relevant government agencies and to Municipal councils where eligible for disaster expenditure including counter disaster operations and the restoration of essential municipal assets	3.1, 19.7
ERV	Coordinate state and regional recovery, including State and Commonwealth funding for recovery, as required	20.3
ERV	Support design and/or administer recovery grants in coordination with Commonwealth, State and local government department and agencies, as required	20.3
RAC	Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to EMV to implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist: voluntary non-profit groups, communities and economies small business owners primary producers’ recovery	17.1, 20.3
Services Australia	Provide the following services:
	have 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, 15.5, 20.6
	participate in the operation of community recovery centres on request of DFFH providing information in relation to Australian Government emergency payments and income support options	4.5
	Coordinate 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	20.3
	Disaster event priorities include provision of information and advice about Australian Government emergency payments and services for affected Australians	20.3. 20.5
Telstra	Where appropriate, Telstra provide relief packages for Telstra customers	17.5

Critical Task 15.5: Monitor emerging needs and adapt services to minimise the long term consequences on health and wellbeing.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
AV	Under the SHERP, AV will liaise with control agencies to ensure the safety of responders, health care workers, and the public for identified and emergent risks from an incident, including activation of personal support arrangements	3.2, 14.4
CityLink	Assess community needs through the Customer assistance program and enact plans and adapt services, such as waiver fees, to assist the community
ERV	Coordinate state and regional recovery, including lead in recovery planning, program management, engagements and operations to ensure wraparound services systems are easily available for affected people	1.3
Foodbank	Develop data systems to track and analyse emerging food insecurity trends	4.3, 4.4
Foodbank	Coordinate, supply and distribute the Breakfast in Schools Program for participating schools as required	3.2, 10.2, 15.2, 20.4
Services Australia	Provide the following services have 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, 20.6
VCC-EM	Support DFFH to assist DPC in the development and coordination of state services of worship and assist in the organisation of public memorials and gatherings to support the recovery of affected communities	3.2

Critical Task 15.6: Facilitate the reunification of family and friends separated during an emergency.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
ARC	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for reconnecting family and friends, as well as Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to support VicPol to operate Register.Find.Reunite in relief centres, enquiry centres or online, to reconnect people with family, friends and their communities	3.2
VIFM	Provide support for reconnection of family and friends	3.2
VicPol	Responsible for registration of evacuees – in conjunction with ARC	3.1, 3.2, 4.5

Critical Task 15.7: Coordinate and manage services to meet the immediate needs of affected livestock.

Agency	Activity	Additional alignment to critical tasks
DJPR	Control agency for biosecurity incursions, emergency animal disease outbreaks (including bees and aquaculture), plant pest or disease outbreaks (including plague locusts), invasive plant, animal and exotic marine pest incursions and rapid and significant increases in established pest populations (vertebrate pests and plagues)	3.1, 16.1, 16.2
	Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for food and grocery supply continuity. DJPR supports food and grocery supply continuity by providing strategic and expert advice to government and emergency agencies regarding impacts on food and grocery supply/demand and prioritisation in an emergency, working with major food distribution operators.	4.5, 4.6, 10.2, 10.3, 15.2
	Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) responsible for the recovery functional area coordination of local economies, businesses, agriculture and public telecommunications	17.1, 17.2
Municipal councils	Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to coordinate clean-up activities, including disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral)