Relief services and co-ordination

View and print this section as a single document (PDF).

The table below provides a guide for agencies involved in providing relief, which forms part of the response phase. It details the range and types of assistance, and the providers of each, to support community relief during and immediately after emergencies.

The information shown is in summary form. This guide does not prevent other organisations from providing relief services, including activities or additional services. However, the provision of all relief services must be managed under the established co-ordination arrangements.

Relief co-ordination responsibilities are:

for state relief co-ordination: Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) supported by a range of organisations
for regional relief co-ordination: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
for municipal relief co-ordination: municipal councils [5], activated by the relevant incident controller.

The table shows relief services and co-ordinating agencies (RelCAs), and relief lead agencies (RelLAs) and relief support agencies (RelSAs) at the incident tier.

Table 11: Relief services and co-ordination agencies, including incident-tier lead and support agencies

Relief services and co-ordinating agency (RelCA)	Activity	Incident tier		VPF core capability (major emergencies)
Relief services and co-ordinating agency (RelCA)	Activity	Relief lead agencies (RelLAs)	Relief support agencies (RelSAs)	VPF core capability (major emergencies)
Emergency shelter (DHHS)	Arrange emergency shelter and accommodation for displaced households	Municipal councils	DHHS	Operational Management Relief Assistance

Food and water (ARC)	At regional and state levels, ARC co-ordinates food and water including support from agencies, and provides support at the local level when requested	ARC	Foodbank Victoria Salvation Army	Operational Management Logistics & Chain Management Relief Assistance

Reconnecting family and friends (VicPol, ARC)	Operate Register.Find.Reunite in relief centres, enquiry centres or online, to reconnect people with family, friends and their communities	VicPol	ARC	Operational Management Relief Assistance

Disbursement of material aid (non-food items) (Salvation Army)	Provide essential material aid (non- food items) to emergency affected persons including clothing, bedding and other personal requisites.	Salvation Army		Operational Management Logistics & Chain Management Relief Assistance

Emergency financial assistance (DHHS)	Administer relief payments through the DHHS Personal Hardship Assistance Program, to help individuals meet their basic needs	DHHS		Operational Management Intelligence & Information Sharing Relief Assistance

Animal welfare (DJPR, DELWP)	DJPR is the primary agency for animal welfare (other than wildlife) support services	DJPR	Municipal councils RSPCA VFF	Operational Management Relief Assistance Environmental Response

	DELWP is the primary agency to respond to wildlife welfare	DELWP	Municipal councils RSPCA VFF	Operational Management Relief Assistance Environmental Response

	Municipal councils are responsible for housing of displaced and lost/stray companion animals	Municipal councils	Municipal councils RSPCA VFF	Operational Management Relief Assistance Environmental Response

Drinking water for households in non-reticulated areas (DELWP)	Provide relief drinking water to eligible households	DELWP	DHHS (advice) Local resources [6] Water corporations	Operational Management Relief Assistance Health Protection

Food and grocery supply logistics continuity (DJPR)	DJPR will support food and grocery supply logistics continuity planning and operations with the major food distribution operators	DJPR		Operational Management Intelligence & Information Sharing Logistics & Chain Management

Health and Medical assistance and first aid (AV)	Provide pre hospital care to people affected by emergencies	AV	DHHS LSV St John Ambulance	Operational Management Health Emergency Response

	Establish field primary care clinics	AV	DHHS LSV St John Ambulance	Operational Management Health Protection Health Emergency Response

	Provide other health and medical relief assistance measures	AV	DHHS LSV St John Ambulance	Operational Management Health Emergency Response Relief Assistance

Community information (Relief co-ordinating agency)	Provide relief and recovery information to assist communities to make informed decisions about their safety	Lead agency	Municipal councils	Community Information & Warnings Operational Management Intelligence & Information Sharing Health Protection

Insurance and claims advice and support during an emergency	Insurance and claims management advice and support for Departments and participating agencies	VMIA		Intelligence & Information Sharing Economic Recovery Impact Assessment

Footnotes

[5] Refer to Municipal Emergency Management Plans for local emergency relief arrangements as they may differ from those listed in the Relief co-ordination agencies and incident-tier lead and support agencies table (table 11)

[6] Where local resources are unable to meet the demand, DELWP will co-ordinate emergency drinking water supplies to affected areas following public health advice from DHHS. Local resources include, but are not limited to, municipal councils - see critical task 15.2 for further details.

Relief services and co-ordination

Connect with us