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

EMA’s 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 EMA schools website.

The Attorney-General’s Department was restructured in early 2009. The new organisational structure was implemented following a review conducted by Mr Roger Beale AO in late 2008 with the aim of ensuring that the Department is able to deliver on the current and emerging priorities of the Government and provide high quality and well-coordinated portfolio-wide advice to the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs. For more information visit Our Organisation.

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

Australian Government assistance for natural disasters

High winds blowing though palm trees

The Australian Government alleviates the financial burden on State and Territory governments and helps facilitate the early provision of assistance to disaster-affected communities through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). The NDRRA is administered by Emergency Management Australia, a Division of the Attorney-General’s Department.

With both the Queensland floods and the Victorian fires that have occurred in the early part of 2009, the Australian Government received a formal notification from these State governments that assistance would be required.

Learn more about the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Aerial Firefighting

Helicopter used for aerial firefighting

The Australian Government has committed $41.2 million over four years to June 2011 ($10.22 million in 2008‑2009) to more efficiently and effectively address the risk of bushfire across Australia through its contribution to a national aerial firefighting fleet.

Learn more about the National Aerial Firefighting Arrangements.

Upcoming events

The National Security Capability Development Division of the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) proudly present the High Reliability Management and Crisis Leadership Forums to be held in Canberra on 2 September and in Sydney on 7 September.

Visit the Forums page.