Overview

This Recovery section (Table 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:

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 four environments, there are 15 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 a Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA), often with several other agencies (Recovery Support Agencies (RelSAs)) supporting them (tables 14–18).

The consequences of the emergency and community needs will determine if the recovery service is required. In some cases, the RecLA reflects existing legislative responsibilities or arrangements in practice/on the ground [2], and 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 14 areas of activity

Recovery Environment

Activity

Recovery Coordinating Agency

Social

Housing and accommodation

DFFH

Individual and household financial assistance

DFFH

Psychosocial support

DFFH

Health and medical assistance

DH

Economic

Local economies

DJPR

Businesses

DJPR

Agriculture

DJPR

Built

Energy services

DELWP

Public telecommunications

DJPR

Reticulated water and wastewater services

DELWP

Transport

DoT

Buildings and assets

Activity leads

Natural

Natural environment, public land and waterways

DELWP

Threatened ecosystems and species

DELWP

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.

Service

Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs)

Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Community information

ERV

EMV

Municipal councils

Public health advice

DH

Municipal councils

Formation, leadership and support of municipal recovery committees

Municipal councils

ERV

Provision and staffing for recovery/ information centres

Municipal councils

ARC

Provision and management of community recovery services

Municipal councils

ERV

Organisation of state-led public appeals

DJCS

ARC

Coordination of spontaneous volunteers [3] (including for relief)

ERV (strategic [4])

ARC

Volunteering Victoria

Management of donated goods (including for relief)

ERV

Salvation Army

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 and psychosocial wellbeing.

 

Housing and accommodation (DFFH)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Support securing interim accommodation

DFFH

Community housing agencies 

Municipal councils

Advice to councils on interim accommodation standards for displaced people DH  
Survey and make a determination regarding occupancy of damaged residential buildings (when safe to do so) Municipal councils   
Transition to permanent housing DFFH Community housing agencies
 

Individual and household financial assistance (DFFH)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

DFFH Personal Hardship Assistance Program – re-establishment assistance

DFFH

EMV

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Financial Assistance

EMV as lead gov’t liaison

Services Australia

 

Link insurance advice or information to relevant recovery activities

ICA

Victoria Legal Aid

VMIA

 

Psychosocial support (DFFH)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Personal support (psychological first aid and emotional-spiritual care) in relief and recovery centres and through community outreach

DFFH

ARC

Municipal councils

VCC EM

Family violence services and information

DFFH (Family Safety Victoria)

Mental health services

Private providers Specialist family violence services

Mental health services and information

DH

Mental health services

Private providers

Support in emergencies caused by criminal acts

Victim Support Agency

VCC EM

Support and advice to aid schools and early childhood services

DET

 

Referrals to psychosocial support services for primary producers and animal owners

DJPR

DFFH

Victorian Farmers Federation

Support for the bereaved

VIFM

Coroners Court of Victoria

DH

VCC EM

 

Health and medical assistance (DH)

Ensure that health and medical emergency responses are coordinated and appropriate

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Advice on wellbeing in recovery

DH

ARC

DFFH

Municipal councils

VCC EM

Primary and acute health services

DH

DH funded health care services

Other primary & acute health services & agencies

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

 

Local economies (DJPR)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist voluntary non-profit groups, communities and economies

EMV

DJPR

DPC

RAC

Implement approved actions and projects to assist economic recovery

DJPR

Municipal councils

Encourage and bring forward the resumption of local trade and economic activity

DJPR

Municipal councils

Implement marketing/public relations and industry product development activities to assist affected tourism regions and businesses to recover

DJPR

Municipal councils

Regional Tourism Boards

Visit Victoria

Monitor broad economic impacts and consequences

DJPR

Municipal councils

 

Businesses (DJPR)

Information, advice and support to businesses to facilitate good decision making and assist their recovery

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Assist businesses to access available information and advice following an emergency

DJPR

Municipal councils

Information and advice to small businesses to support decision making and encourage return to business

DJPR

Municipal councils

Implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist small businesses’ recovery

EMV

DJPR

DPC

RAC

Implement funded activities to support business recovery

DJPR

Municipal councils

Provide opportunities for the enhancement of knowledge and skills within small businesses

DJPR

Municipal councils

Coordinate the insurance industry response, information, advice and government liaison

DTF

ICA

VMIA

 

Agriculture (DJPR)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Deliver recovery programs and advice to primary producers, and rural land managers and other animal businesses

DJPR

ERV

DTF

Municipal councils

Victorian Farmers Federation

Implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist primary producers’ recovery

EMV

DJPR

DPC

RAC

Provide technical advice to primary producers and rural land managers on re-establishment or alternative strategies

DJPR

 

Assist farmers repair and restore fences damaged by bushfire or suppression activities

DELWP

 

 

Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environmental 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. 

 

Energy services (DELWP)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Electricity services assets reinstatement and return to reliable supply

DELWP lead gov’t liaison

AEMO

Electricity companies

ESV

Gas services assets reinstatement and return to reliable supply

DELWP lead gov’t liaison

AEMO

ESV

Gas companies and other pipeline companies

Restoration of liquid fuel supply

DELWP lead gov’t liaison

Fuel companies

Pipeline companies

 

Public telecommunications (DJPR)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Public telecommunications assets reinstatement and return to reliable supply

DJPR lead gov’t liaison

Telecommunications carriers

 

Reticulated water and wastewater services (DELWP)

Replacement of essential water used for bushfire firefighting operations

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Recovery and rehabilitation of reticulated water supply

DELWP

Water Corporations

 

Restoration of reticulated wastewater (sewerage) services

DELWP

Water Corporations

 

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

CFA

DELWP

Water Corporations

 

Transport (DoT)

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

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Restoration of access to airports 

DoT lead gov’t liaison

Airport owners and operators

Other agencies and businesses as required

Restoration of port infrastructure

DoT lead gov’t liaison

Port Managers

Other agencies and businesses as required

Undertaking the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and tunnels

DELWP (fire)

DoT (arterial)

Municipal councils (local)

Infrastructure operators

VMIA (DELWP, DoT)

VicTrack (rail crossings, rail corridor networks)

Restoration of tram, bus, rail services

DoT

Transport operators

VMIA

 

Buildings and assets (Activity leads)

Management of risk and facilitating restoration of buildings and assets

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Coordination of approved state-led or supported clean-up of residential property

ERV

DJPR

EPA

Municipal councils

VBA

WorkSafe Victoria [6]

Provision of financial assistance to Municipal councils for the restoration of essential municipal assets

EMV

N/A

Undertaking the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets (e.g. roads, bridges, sporting facilities, public amenities, station buildings, schools, hospitals) where an agency is the owner or manager of that respective building or asset

Respective asset owner or managing agency

DJPR (sporting facilities, public amenities, station buildings)

DoT (roads, bridges)

DET (schools)

EPA

Municipal councils

Building advice and information to residents

VBA

Municipal councils

Administration of insurance claims for state assets

VMIA

 

Insurance and claims management advice and support for Departments and participating agencies during an emergency

VMIA

 

Provide policy and regulatory settings, issues resolution and support for land use planning, building and heritage to facilitate rebuilding for housing, local businesses, and public buildings and services

DELWP

Municipal councils

VBA

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 waterways (DELWP)

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

Service Recovery 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 infrastructure

Relevant land manager

CMAs

Melbourne Water

Rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and assets directly responsible for managing

DELWP/PV

CMA

VMIA

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

DELWP

EPA [7]

Parks Victoria

CMAs/Melbourne Water

VFA

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

CMAs

DELWP

EPA

Survey and protect threatened bird, marsupial, aquatic and plant species

DELWP

CMAs

PV

Develop and implement protection activities to support ecosystem recovery and regeneration

DELWP

CMAs

PV

Monitor the rehabilitation of injured wildlife

DELWP

PV

Waste pollution management strategies

DELWP

EPA

Protection and rehabilitation of cultural and heritage sites

DELWP

PV

DPC

 

Threatened ecosystems and species (DELWP)

Service Recovery lead agencies (RecLAs) Recovery support agencies (RecSAs)

Scientific and technical advice on interventions, response plans and targeted interventions to maintain species diversity and presence within an ecosystem

DELWP

PV

Zoos Victoria

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). Municipal councils recovery coordination responsibilities include local level coordination for the 2019-20 Eastern Victorian Bushfires
  2. Where Municipal 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. ‘Strategic’ relates to the broad strategy for spontaneous volunteers and not the management of spontaneous volunteers in response to an event
  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.