Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework

1 Australian Disaster . Preparedness Framework . A guideline to develop the capabilities required to manage severe to catastrophic disasters OCTOBER 2018. Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework 4 Foreword 5 Introduction 5 What is a Severe to Catastrophic Disaster ? 5 The Purpose of this Document 6 What is the Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework ? 6 What the Framework is Not 6 How will the Framework be Governed? 7 Framework Goals 8 Capability and Capacity 10 National Capability Requirements 14 National Preparedness Principles 15 Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework Components 16 Establish Effective Governance, Roles & Responsibilities 17 Understand Risk & Consequence 18 Understand Capability Requirements 19 Enhance & Develop Capabilities 20 Foster Partnerships 21 Plan & Coordinate Capabilities & Partnerships 22 Inform Policy, Investment & Expectations 23 Continuous Improvement 23 Building and Sustaining Capability 24 How to Use the Framework 25 Maturity Levels Foreword Natural hazards are a fact of life in Australia every year, bushfires, floods, cyclones and storms devastate our communities.

2 The intensification of hazards, the growing vulnerability of the population and the interconnectedness and interdependence of our systems have the potential to result in national and systemic Disaster outcomes. The task of preventing these outcomes is becoming more complex and it is widely accepted that no one jurisdiction, agency or organisation has the knowledge or capacity to do this alone. The need to scale up, integrating capability and extending Preparedness beyond traditional boundaries is growing in importance and urgency. Further, understanding core capabilities necessary to manage risks associated with any hazard is an essential element of a Disaster risk reduction and resilience system. While Australia has an excellent baseline of standing capabilities, these are not nationally integrated to enable a holistic, national response to large-scale, multi-jurisdictional severe to catastrophic events. Preparedness and Disaster risk reduction is a shared, though not equal, responsibility in which all sectors of society need to be involved.

3 The Australian public rightly expects that severe to catastrophic disasters will be dealt with effectively to minimise loss of life and property and ensure that recovery can occur as quickly as possible. This requires a mechanism that enables the holistic consideration of national capability. The Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework (the Framework ) will support Australia to develop the required capability to effectively prepare for and manage severe to catastrophic disasters. Such disasters could be the result of a single event or the cumulative effect of a number of events. Severe to catastrophic disasters do not accord to jurisdictional boundaries and, because of their scale and consequences, require the ability to draw on capabilities that exist, with governments, private sector, and communities nationally and with governments or the private sector internationally. The collaborative development of this Framework recognised the work being undertaken in all jurisdictions and incorporates current thinking and common approaches to emergency management.

4 The Framework is a key contributor and enabler to national Preparedness for severe to catastrophic disasters. Paul Grigson Darren Klemm AFSM. Deputy Secretary Commissioner Security and Resilience Group Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia Department of Home Affairs Australian Government Co Chairs Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee 4 - Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework Introduction The Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework (the Framework ) will support Australia to develop the required WHAT IS A SEVERE TO. capability to effectively prepare for and manage severe to CATASTROPHIC Disaster ? catastrophic disasters. Such disasters could be the result of a single event or the cumulative effect of a number of The Framework uses the following de nition of a events. Severe to catastrophic disasters do not accord to catastrophic Disaster . jurisdictional boundaries and, because of their scale and consequences, require the ability to draw on capabilities that exist nationally and internationally.

5 These capabilities are not A catastrophic Disaster is what is beyond our necessarily con ned to those owned by governments and current arrangements, thinking, experience include capabilities that could be drawn from the private, non- and imagination ( that has overwhelmed government and community sectors. our technical, non-technical and social The Australian public rightly expects that severe to systems and resources, and has degraded or catastrophic disasters will be dealt with effectively to minimise disabled governance structures and strategic loss of life and property and ensure that recovery can occur and operational decision-making functions). as quickly as possible. This requires a mechanism that Emergency Management Australia enables the holistic consideration of national capability. The need for such a mechanism was identi ed as the rst It should be noted that severe to catastrophic disasters action item in A Capability Roadmap: Enhancing Emergency differ from emergencies in that they exceed business as Management in Australia 2016 (the Capability Roadmap).

6 Usual emergency management systems and capability design parameters. The development of this Framework recognises the work being undertaken in all jurisdictions and seeks to incorporate current thinking and common approaches to emergency management. The Framework also addresses the requirements set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT. Risk Reduction 2015-2030 to build Australia's resilience, Preparedness and management of severe to catastrophic This document describes the Australian Disaster disasters; and is designed to complement the National Preparedness Framework and its seven components. It Strategy for Disaster Resilience by providing guidance on outlines the principles that underpin national Preparedness understanding risk, partnering with those who effect change, and de nes what constitutes Preparedness capabilities and supporting capabilities to ensure Preparedness . The for severe to catastrophic for disasters. Importantly, the Framework is also an enabler of the National Risk Reduction document provides guidelines that can be used by all Framework (under development).

7 Jurisdictions1 to inform the development of capability across Australia to prepare for and manage2 severe to catastrophic The Framework provides guidance to all jurisdictions disasters. in understanding, developing and enhancing capability requirements to prepare for, manage and recover from severe to catastrophic disasters. Together, the capabilities of each jurisdiction make up Australia's national capability for Disaster Preparedness . A holistic understanding of existing capabilities, gaps and partnerships provides a national picture of the capability requirements to be prepared for severe to catastrophic disasters. 1 For the purpose of this document, jurisdictions refer to all Australian states and territories as well as the Commonwealth, unless stated otherwise. 2 Management of severe to catastrophic disasters is across the continuum of prevention, Preparedness , response and recovery . Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework - 5. The Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework informs the strategic governance, policy and investment required WHAT IS for Disaster Preparedness .

8 The Framework is a dynamic THE Australian mechanism by which all jurisdictions collectively prepare for severe to catastrophic disasters. It incorporates Disaster Preparedness consideration of risk and consequence, and new and Framework ? emerging ideas and technologies, to inform the strategic capability requirements and arrangements across governments and the private, non-government community and international sectors. WHAT THE Framework IS NOT HOW WILL THE Framework BE. GOVERNED? The Framework is not an assessment mechanism by which jurisdictions will be held to account. Rather it provides a This Framework will be governed through the Australia-New collaborative mechanism to ensure the capabilities required Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC). to respond to severe to catastrophic disasters are well ANZEMC will determine its application, utility, implementation understood and can be developed and/or accessed to and evaluation in the national context to ensure the provide Australia the ability to manage such disasters.

9 Continuous improvement of the Framework . The Framework is not intended to mandate a speci c approach to developing capability. It provides a guide that Based on ANZEMC determinations, agreement and guidance, may be useful for jurisdictions to consider as they develop each jurisdiction will determine how it will apply or utilise the their capability to effectively prevent, plan, respond and Framework . It is not intended that jurisdictions must adopt the recover from disasters. Framework in its entirety but utilise the guidance it provides and align their respective approaches and frameworks for The Framework does not focus on disasters or emergencies consistency and commonality to the Australian Framework . that fall below the threshold of a severe to catastrophic Disaster . The Framework acknowledges the responsibility of all jurisdictions to deal with disasters or emergencies within their existing arrangements. The focus of the Framework is to ensure the capabilities required to manage severe to catastrophic disasters are identi ed and to promote collaboration to ll any existing gaps.

10 6 - Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework Framework GOALS. Provide Australia with a mechanism to effectively articulate its Preparedness and capability requirements to prevent, plan for, respond to and recover from severe to catastrophic disasters. Use the current work undertaken in Australia and incorporate international best practice approaches to build an appropriate level of capability across Australia to manage severe to catastrophic disasters. Provide a method by which all jurisdictions across Australia can understand, assess and begin to develop the capabilities required to deal with a severe to catastrophic Disaster . Provide a mechanism to determine what capabilities meet national priorities and thresholds, and how they may be enhanced, developed, accessed and sustained to deal with severe to catastrophic disasters. Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework - 7. Capability and Capacity Capability is the collective ability and power to deliver and sustain an effect within a speci c context and timeframe.