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 website provides the key online 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.

Emergency management cooperation with New Caledonia

Australia and French New Caledonia have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in preventing and responding to bushfires and other natural disasters, under a Letter of Intent signed by the Attorney-General, Robert McClelland. For more, read the Emergency Management Cooperation with New Caledonia Media Release.

Flood grants for small businesses and primary producers

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Anna Bligh have announced joint Commonwealth-State funded grants to help small businesses and primary producers affected by recent flooding in Queensland. For more, read the Flood Grants for Small Businesses and Primary Producers media release.

Commonwealth assistance for New South Wales flood affected communities

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent storms and flooding in New South Wales. For more, read the Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Affected Communities media release.

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

Based on the adage that a ‘picture is worth a thousand words’, the Attorney-General’s Department 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 Volunteers page.

Tsunami awareness project

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Director of Life Saving, Peter George, have promoted an innovative awareness program at Bondi Beach to help the general public and surf life savers better prepare and respond to tsunami warnings. For more, read the Tsunami Awareness Project media release.

Commonwealth extends assistance for Queensland flood victims

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide additional financial assistance to Queensland communities affected by heavy rainfall and associated flooding. For more, read the Commonwealth Extends Assistance for Queensland Flood Victims media release.

Earthquake in Chile

On 27 February, an earthquake measuring 8.8 magnitude occurred around 300 km south of Santiago, the Chilean capital, centred on the town of Conception. There has been loss of life and widespread damage to major infrastructure, including roads and buildings. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has announced an initial contribution of $1 million in emergency assistance in response to the earthquake. Further information from an Australian Government perspective can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

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, announced a comprehensive trial of bush fire detection cameras. Read the Trial of Bushfire Detection Cameras 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 were deployed to assist efforts in Haiti. To find out more, read the media releases from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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.

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).

Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Communiqué

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 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.

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.