About the Department of Health
The Department of Health (DH) works to minimise the impact of emergencies on individuals, communities, and the health system. DH plan and prepare for the health response in emergencies, including consequence planning, community preparedness, and capability planning for the health system.
Mitigation
Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
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Provide whole-of-health leadership and direction to plan and prepare for emergencies with major health consequences, including mass casualties |
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Promote awareness of safe practices, emergency procedures and implementing safety and warning systems for health services, such as extreme heat and epidemic thunderstorm asthma |
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Implement legislation, programs and monitoring procedures to minimize public health risk from:
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Participating agency for the following bushfire mitigation activity: community education, awareness and engagement to prevent and respond to bushfire smoke |
Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation |
Participating agency for the incident mitigation activities pertaining to radioactive materials:
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Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation |
Participating agency for the following heatwave mitigation activities:
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Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation |
Participating agency for the following viral pandemic mitigation activities:
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Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation |
Participating agency for the water supply disruption mitigation activity: legislative framework and regulations including Water Act 1989, Water Industry Act 1994 and Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 (risk management plans and audits) |
Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation |
Response (including Relief)
Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
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Control agency for:
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3.1, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 Table 9: Control agencies for response |
Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional areas of health services, and health protection – public health |
Table 10: Support agencies for response |
Provide public information to protect the community during health emergencies. Issue warnings for communicable and human disease, radiological and biological leaks and spills, major food and drinking water contamination. |
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Provide public health and mental health information and advice and promote services available during and after major emergencies in coordination with other agencies |
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Provide a State and Regional Health Coordination response during an emergency with major health consequences |
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Coordinate training, development and deployment of suitably-qualified health professionals to enable Victoria to contribute to national or international deployments of health and medical teams, when requested by an interstate government, or by the Commonwealth Government under Australian Government Overseas Assistance Plan 2018 (AUSASSISTPLAN) |
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Reduce preventable death, illness and disability in all health emergencies and other emergencies with potential health impacts |
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Undertake a technical support role for blue green algae bloom event, providing expert public health advice to DELWP |
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Through the SEMP, SHERP and relevant sub-plans, ensure a safe, effective and coordinated health and medical response to emergency incidents that go beyond day-to-day arrangements |
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Access additional resources for the provision of appropriate care during an emergency with major health consequences |
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Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to provide public health advice |
Table 12: Relief Coordination |
Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to:
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Table 12: Relief coordination |
Support EMV to lead whole of government coordination of public information and communication in relation to emergency management for major emergencies |
Recovery
Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
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Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) responsible for the recovery functional area coordination of health and medical assistance |
Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) responsible to: |
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Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
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Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
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Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
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Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
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Table 14: Recovery coordination: For services across all environments |
Lead agency responsible to assess, restore, clear and rehabilitate DH managed public buildings and assets |
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Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) for Coroners Court of Victoria to promote mental health information and services available to support bereaved families |
Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment |
Support the lead recovery agency in its role to coordinate whole of government public information and communication following major emergencies |
Assurance and Learning
For assurance and learning activities, refer directly to the department for further information.