Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department

Emergency Management in Australia

Schools Education and Disaster Resilience

Emergency services personel and school children attend a course

The schools education program supports the learning and teaching of disaster preparedness and risk reduction to enhance community resilience to the effects of disasters.  The program provides a range of publications, videos and interactive learning games for students, teachers and the general public.

Visit the Emergency Management for Schools website.

This web site provides the key on-line access point for emergency management information from the Australian Government. The Australian Government Minister responsible for Commonwealth Emergency Management is the Attorney-General. The site provides information about Australian and regional emergency management, in a national security context, including content on policy formulation, national emergency operations and development of national and international capability. For more information visit Our Organisation.

H1N1 influenza: please visit www.healthemergency.gov.au

Trial of bushfire detection cameras

Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland; Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron; and New South Wales Minister for Forest Resources, Ian Macdonald; today announced a comprehensive trial of bush fire detection cameras. Read the Trial of Bushfire Detection Cameras media release .

Anniversary of Black Saturday bushfires

The Australian Government today joined with Victoria in marking the first anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires. Read the Anniversary of Black Saturday Bushfires media release.

Australian Assistance for Haiti

Australia’s assistance package to Haiti now totals $15 million, comprising $10 million for immediate humanitarian needs and $5 million for long-term reconstruction assistance.  This is in response to the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti close to the capital of Port-au-Prince around 9am (AEST) on 13 January 2010. Australian Air Traffic Controllers are being deployed to assist efforts in Haiti. To find out more, read the media releases.

Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Queensland Communities

28 January 2010 - Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to North Queensland communities impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclones Olga and Neville. To find out more read the media release.  For previous announcements of Commonwealth assistance, visit the emergency management media releases page.

New issue of Australian Journal of Emergency Management

The January 2010 issue of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management is now available to view on the current issue page.

Winner of 2005 Volunteers Photo competition, Professional Category Volunteers National Photographic Competition 2010 – entries close March 31

Based on the adage that a ‘picture is worth a thousand words’, the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) is searching for the best photographs to recognise emergency management volunteers in action. The theme is ‘Emergency Management Volunteers – Thank You’. For details on the competition including competition flyer and entry form, visit the competition page. To find out more about volunteers, go to the Emergency Management Volunteers page.  

Council of Australian Governments Communiqué

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met in Brisbane on 7 December 2009 and agreed to a range of measures to improve Australia’s natural disaster arrangements. Given the expected increase to the regularity and severity of natural disasters, COAG agreed to a new whole-of-nation ‘resilience’ based approach to natural disaster policy and programs. This program recognises that a disaster resilient community is one that works together to understand and manage the risks that it confronts. To find out more, read the Communiqué (see pp. 13-14 and Attachment C pp. 22-23).

Attorney-General gives awards for national community safety projects

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has given top honours to 14 community-based projects from across the country in the annual Australian Safer Communities Awards. For more information, view the media release, the Awards page and the videos.

Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Communique

Attorney-General chairs the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management

On 20 November 2009, the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management met in Perth. The Council considered Australia’s preparedness for the current bushfire season and discussed other natural hazards such as cyclones and floods. The Council made significant progress on its work agenda to create a more disaster resilient Australia. To find out more, read the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management media release.

EMA and AusAID respond to the tsunami in Samoa

Under the auspices of the Australian Government Overseas Disaster Assistance Plan (AUSASSISTPLAN) and in conjunction with AusAID, Emergency Management Australia, a division of the Attorney-General’s Department, facilitated the deployment of Australian Government physical assistance to Samoa in response to the 29 September 2009 tsunami. This included the coordination of 80 officers (drawn from State and Territory agencies) and equipment deployed to assist the Samoans with search and rescue and medical treatment. EMA also coordinated the repatriation and reception of Australians from Samoa to Australia. AusAID has produced videos including interviews with Australians providing assistance in Samoa. Watch the video.

Ministerial Statement: Commonwealth preparation for the bushfire season

On 20 October 2009, the Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, made a Ministerial Statement about natural disasters during the summer season and arrangements implemented by the Commonwealth in preparation for this bushfire season. To find out more, read the Ministerial Statement.

Flood management guides launched by the Attorney-General

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has announced the release of four flood management manuals for emergency agencies, planners and local government.

The manuals (Manuals 20 to 23 inclusive) are part of the Australian Emergency Manual series, and have been developed by the Attorney-General’s Department in conjunction with the Australian Council of State Emergency Services.

To see the manuals, visit the Australian Emergency Manual series page. For more information, visit the media release.

National Broadcast of Emergency Warnings

The objective of the National Broadcast of Emergency Warnings project is to improve the effectiveness, clarity and consistency of arrangements between all broadcast media, and all emergency management organisations, for the request and broadcast of emergency public warnings. For more information visit the National Broadcast of Emergency Warnings website.

Natural Disaster Resilience Program

From 2009-2010, Commonwealth funding for disaster mitigation works and support for emergency management will be approximately $110 million over four years. The new Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) will consolidate a number of current funding programs. 

Learn more about the Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

Upcoming events

For details of national and international emergency management related conferences and workshops, visit the Conference List page.