Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - Role statement

Promote awareness of safe practices and emergency procedures and implement safety and warning systems for clients and funded services of DFFH  

2.1

Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional area of human services and community wellbeing with a focus on child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQ+ equality, veterans, women and youth.

Table 10: Support agencies for response

Responsible for regional relief coordination, and appoints Regional Emergency Relief Coordinators to fulfill these responsibilities 

Table 12: Relief coordination

Tables 13-18: Recovery coordination

Relief Coordinating Agency (RecCA) of emergency shelter, emergency financial assistance and psychosocial support

15.1, 15.3, 15.4

Table 12: Relief coordination

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

15.4

Table 12: Relief coordination

• arrange emergency shelter and accommodation for displaced households when requested by Municipal councils

15.1

Table 12: Relief coordination

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

15.3

Support EMV to lead whole of government coordination of public information and communication in relation to relief

2.1, 3.2

Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) responsible for the recovery functional area coordination of housing and accommodation, psychosocial support, individual and household assistance

20.1, 20.2, 20.3

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) responsible to:

• support securing interim accommodation, when requested by councils and other referring agencies, for individuals, families and households whose primary residence is destroyed or damaged

20.2

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

• coordinate plans when requested, to assist households to prepare for the transition to permanent housing

20.6

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

• administer income-tested re-establishment payments through the Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help eligible households re-establish as quickly as possible

20.6

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

• coordinate the provision of personal support through information, practical assistance, assessment of immediate needs and referral to other support agencies and services in recovery centres

20.6

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Family Safety Victoria is the Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) for family violence services and information.

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Lead agency responsible to:

• coordinate 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

20.1

• coordinate the provision of mental health services and information and targeted psychosocial support

• assess, restore, clear and rehabilitate DFFH managed public buildings and assets.

Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to DJPR to refer primary producers and animal owners to available services, such as psychosocial support services

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to DH to provide advice on wellbeing in recovery

Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment

Maintain DFFH state-wide emergency management surge capability and undertake annual/seasonal preparedness activities for emergency management operations, including reviews and updates of operational manuals, procedures, protocols and policies

Establish and maintain contemporary DFFH regional-level relief and statewide social recovery policies, guidelines, frameworks and programs, built on insights and lessons captured from previous major emergencies, exercises and better practice case studies