Media releases

For Inspector-General for Emergency Management media enquiries and media releases, call 0417 121 510.

To access ministerial media releases, visit the Premier of Victoria (External link) website.

Innovative research for wicked problems

March 17th, 2023

A national challenge to encourage new ideas, new thinking and new research

Survive the heat

February 22nd, 2023

Heat kills more Australians than any natural disaster

A group of people playing different sports and representing different emergency services

2023 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games

February 2nd, 2023

An opportunity to come together and prioritise physical and mental health

two lifesavers standing on beach watching people swimming between the safety flags

Going for a swim?

January 26th, 2023

Stay safe around water this summer

emergency management pride network members at midsumma 2022

Kick start Midsumma Festival with Carnival

January 16th, 2023

Say hello to the sector's Pride Network this Sunday

Photo of young person in car surrounded by smoke from bushfire

How well do you know fire?

January 5th, 2023

All Victorians need to know how to plan for and respond to fire

Survive the heat

December 27th, 2022

Heat kills more Australians than any natural disaster

every 18 seconds someone will rely on donated blood

When you give blood, you’re more than just a donor

December 20th, 2022

With three blood donations needed every minute, your blood really matters

GIVIT is the smart way to give to support recovery

Help support Victorians affected by the floods

December 20th, 2022

Your generosity will enable GIVIT to provide short, medium and long-term support to people who've lost everything.

A list of 10 risks which are relevant to Victoria

Assurance in Emergency Management

November 21st, 2022

Quarterly update - reports added

After the Disaster

November 15th, 2022

An ABC podcast helping people recover from disaster

Tony Pearce wearing Tony's Trek shirt surrounded by agency representative

One step at a time - Tony's Trek

November 10th, 2022

The Inspector-General's 1440 km solo trek to raise awareness and funds to support mental health

Donations for Victorian flood recovery

October 17th, 2022

Helping people affected flooding

Help for our wildlife

October 13th, 2022

Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service is available 24/7

Plan and stay safe

October 12th, 2022

Know your risk and prepare accordingly. Good information leads to good decisions.

Australasian Women in Emergencies Day - 10 October

October 5th, 2022

Recognising and celebrating women in emergencies and disaster resilience

Blue Ribbon Day - 29 September

September 21st, 2022

Thanking those who protect and serve our communities

Review of Victoria's water safety arrangements

September 16th, 2022

Identifying opportunities to improve the safety of Victorians in and around water

Victoria Nature Festival 2022

September 12th, 2022

Connect with nature this spring

Sign showing four ratings of fire danger

New Fire Danger Ratings are here

August 24th, 2022

A new national system to help it make it easier to understand and to provide you with clearer advice about how to stay safe

How 'bout a 1440km stroll?..

August 18th, 2022

Tony Pearce talks about his commitment to raising awareness of mental health in emergency management

Supporting women in regulatory leadership

August 9th, 2022

Inspector-General joins the Women in Regulation Leadership Summit 2022

Lived in the UK? You’re A-OK to donate!

July 26th, 2022

Lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996? You can now give blood and plasma in Australia

multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/multicultural-awards-for-excellence

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence - nominations now open!

July 13th, 2022

Recognising, celebrating and appreciating outstanding Victorians and organisations in emergency management

Assurance in Emergency Management - July update

July 1st, 2022

New resources addressing state, national and global risks

NAIDOC Week - ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!'

June 29th, 2022

Learn, share and participate in unique local and national celebrations

2022 Emergency Management Conference banner

Emergency Management Conference - 5 - 6 July

June 27th, 2022

Still time to register!

Resilient Australia Awards 2022

June 6th, 2022

Nominations open until Monday 13 June 2022

emergency workers stand with Hawthorn and Richmond AFL players

Emergency Services Match returns to the MCG

May 11th, 2022

Hawthorn to honour frontline workers this Saturday

The Disaster Challenge

May 10th, 2022

Calling out to early career researchers and postgraduate students across Australia. What can you bring to disaster management in Australia?

Assurance in Emergency Management homepage

Assurance in Emergency Management - online resource

April 29th, 2022

New reports added to nine emergency risk categories

Tony's Trek - new dates announced

April 27th, 2022

One step at a time to improve mental health outcomes for Victoria’s 139,00 emergency workers

implementation monitoring progress report 2021

Community update on the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

April 20th, 2022

IGEM's first update on implementation of Fire Season Inquiry recommendations

2022 Emergency Management Conference

March 23rd, 2022

Responding to the challenge ‘As the world changes, so must we’.

2021 Volunteering Awards - nominations open until 28 January

December 30th, 2021

Recognising and celebrating Victoria's volunteers, volunteer leaders and volunteer programs

Play it safe by the water

December 24th, 2021

RETHINK taking risks around water this summer

Improvements to VicEmergency Warning System

December 15th, 2021

Action statements advise exactly what to do in response to emergencies

How well do you know fire?

December 13th, 2021

Find out how you can plan and prepare for this fire season

A group of personnel at an incident control centre

Working towards an accessible emergency sector for all

November 18th, 2021

An International Day of People with Disability event - video available

Our future after COVID

October 29th, 2021

Join ESF's Insight Conversation on 17 November

Assurance in Emergency Management

October 20th, 2021

New titles added to our online resource

Community engagement before, during and after emergency

October 15th, 2021

Inspector-General joins EMC Webinar program - 18 October

Victorian Government responds to IGEM Fire Season Inquiry Phase 2 Report

October 14th, 2021

Government supports all 15 Phase 2 recommendations focusing on relief and recovery arrangements

Bushfire & Community Resilience

October 6th, 2021

An International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction event presented by the ABC and Natural Hazards Research Australia

Emergency Management Conference 2021

September 23rd, 2021

Victoria's premier emergency management conference goes online through October

Behind the Mask - 21 September

September 7th, 2021

Stories from the emergency services frontline with journalist John Silvester & guests

It's National Asthma Week

September 1st, 2021

Prepare yourself for grass pollen season

Enhancing Public Sector Stakeholder & Community Engagement

August 24th, 2021

Community engagement before, during & after emergency, what should it look like & why is it so critical?

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence - nominations open

August 18th, 2021

Honouring extraordinary Victorians for their service to our multicultural society

Victoria Nature Festival - 11-26 September

August 17th, 2021

Creative ways to connect with and act for nature

Emergency vehicles attend bomb threat at Epworth Hawthorn hospital

Assurance in Emergency Management

August 2nd, 2021

Quarterly update expands resources under six Victorian risks

Stadium Stomp 2021

July 29th, 2021

Now stomping Sunday 24 October at the 'G

Mental Health Matters

July 29th, 2021

Free workshops designed especially for emergency management / service volunteers

Indigenous perspectives of disaster recovery

July 13th, 2021

Exploring disaster impacts and recovery for First Nations Peoples

Our communities and our connections to Victoria

July 7th, 2021

Acknowledging Victoria's original custodians of our land and waters

NAIDOC Week - Heal Country!

July 5th, 2021

Celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

First Responders: Australian Stories

June 22nd, 2021

A four-part podcast acknowledging first responders in our community

Insight Conversation - recording available

June 21st, 2021

There is a name for the blah you are feeling: It’s called languishing

Deadly & Proud

June 8th, 2021

The Power of Cultural Burning and other stories of Aboriginal cultures from all over Victoria

Emergency Management Conference is on 6 - 7 July 2021

2021 Emergency Management Conference - new dates!

June 3rd, 2021

This year's conference will now be held on 4 and 5 October

Stadium Stomp 2021

May 28th, 2021

More time to train! Event rescheduled to 17 October

2021 Resilient Australia Awards

May 21st, 2021

Submissions extended to 18 June

2021 Emergency Management Conference

May 20th, 2021

How is emergency management adapting to change?

Emergency management pride marches again

May 20th, 2021

Celebrating Victorian's diversity and inclusion with Midsumma

National Volunteer Week 17-23 May

May 17th, 2021

Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine.

a collection of images of emergency events

Assurance in Emergency Management - online resource

April 29th, 2021

A contemporary listing of reviews and inquiries influencing Victoria's better emergency management practices

Emergency Management Conference - 6-7 July

April 21st, 2021

'The only thing that is constant is change'

Gender Justice in Disaster: Inspiring Action

April 12th, 2021

Bringing a gender lens to critical issues of contemporary emergency management practice

Mental Health Matters

April 7th, 2021

Free workshops designed especially for emergency service/management volunteers with an interest wellbeing

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

March 25th, 2021

IGEM's 8th progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Resilient Australia Awards 2021 - submissions open

March 19th, 2021

Recognising collaboration and innovative thinking

Victoria Police & Emergency Services Games - 17-21 March

March 9th, 2021

Registrations are open until 15 March & more than 40 sports to choose from

Fire Season Inquiry community meetings in Eastern Victoria

March 9th, 2021

Join a local meeting or drop in for a cuppa-and-chat with Inspector-General Tony Pearce and share your recovery experiences of the 2019-20 bushfires

Choose to Challenge

March 5th, 2021

Celebrating International Women's Day 2021

Fire Season Inquiry community meetings - new dates for East Gippsland

February 23rd, 2021

Meet with Inspector-General and share your feedback on recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires

Victorian Fire Season Inquiry community meetings 15 – 17 February postponed

February 12th, 2021

Meetings scheduled for 15 – 17 February are now postponed in accordance with today’s statement from the Premier

Media Release - Fire Season Inquiry Focuses on Community Recovery

February 11th, 2021

Community members throughout fire-affected Eastern Victoria are invited to provide feedback on the delivery and effectiveness of recovery activities since the 2019–20 bushfires

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

February 4th, 2021

IGEM's 7th progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Inspector-General appointed ESF Chair

January 19th, 2021

Supporting mental health and wellbeing in Victoria’s emergency management sector

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

December 18th, 2020

IGEM's 6th progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

October 14th, 2020

IGEM's 5th progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

September 29th, 2020

IGEM's 4th progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

2020 Emergency Management Conference

September 16th, 2020

This year’s conference is going online !

Saying 'Thank You'

August 19th, 2020

The Governor of Victoria and Mr Howard invite Victorian artist Heesco to create an artwork encapsulating the spirit of gratitude

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

August 10th, 2020

IGEM's 3rd progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Community update on progress of the Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season

July 9th, 2020

A progress update on the independent Fire Season Inquiry

Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements

July 6th, 2020

7 July hearings to focus on assurance and accountability mechanisms

'I am 000'

June 2nd, 2020

Stories from Victoria's emergency triple zero service

Update on the Fire Season Inquiry

May 27th, 2020

Tony Pearce provides his update on the Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian fire season

Fire Season Inquiry community meetings go online

April 2nd, 2020

Victorians can now contribute their views and experiences to the Victorian Fire Season Inquiry through online meetings.

Independent Inquiry Into Fire Season

January 14th, 2020

Victorian Government announces an independent inquiry into the 2019-2020 Victorian fire season

Inspector-General conquers Eureka Stair Climb

November 27th, 2019

Tony Pearce joins 1100 walkers and climbers in annual Fred Hollows Foundation fundraiser

Blue Ribbon Day 2019

August 30th, 2019

A message of thanks and appreciation from Victoria’s emergency management agencies to Victoria Police for serving and protecting our communities.

IGEM a Public Sector Awards finalist

December 17th, 2018

IGEM's ‘Innovative regulation for emergency services telecommunications in Victoria’ has been nominated for an IPAA Victoria Leadership in the Public Sector Award.

Building a human rights based culture

September 25th, 2018

The partnership with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Charter Project sets the foundations for IGEM's Human Rights Action Plan.

Communities to have say in review of emergency management reform

September 10th, 2018

Public submissions are invited to help shape IGEM's review

Residents surveyed on addressing high-risk communities during planning for emergencies

February 13th, 2018

IGEM is inviting residents across six municipalities to talk about natural-hazard risks in their area and how well prepared they are to respond.

Hazelwood report highlights significant progress in 2017

December 14th, 2017

On 14 December 2017 government released the Inspector-General for Emergency Management's Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry - Annual Report 2017 and Review of SKM Coolaroo Recycling Plant Fire report.

Fire services response data published for the first time

October 30th, 2017

The Victorian Government has asked the Inspector-General for Emergency Management to implement an independent assurance process, which will ensure the ongoing integrity of fire services' response time data. This will also include analysis of the data to inform the development of future response strategies.

Government announces review into Coolaroo Fire

August 15th, 2017

The Victorian Government has announced a review of the July 2017 fire at the SKM Recycling Plant in Coolaroo.

Thunderstorm asthma: new systems, training and resources to better prepare and respond

April 27th, 2017

Government has released and responded to the final report from the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) into the unprecedented thunderstorm asthma event of 21 and 22 November 2016.

New funding for pollen monitoring and thunderstorm asthma research

February 1st, 2017

Government has released the preliminary report from the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) into the unprecedented thunderstorm asthma event of 21 and 22 November 2016.

Communities to have a say in review of thunderstorm asthma response

December 15th, 2016

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management invites public submissions to their review of the emergency response to the thunderstorm asthma event of 21–22 November 2016.

Putting The Health And Safety Of Firefighters First

November 24th, 2016

Government has requested the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) to monitor the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Parliamentary Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville.

Strong progress on bushfire safety

August 23rd, 2016

Victoria’s emergency management agencies are making significant progress in improving bushfire safety across the state, a new report shows.

Strengthening bushfire recovery

February 26th, 2016

A greater sharing of community recovery experiences and knowledge will strengthen bushfire recovery according to a report released today.

Wye River report released

February 25th, 2016

Government has released and responded to the Inspector-General for Emergency Management’s review of the 2015 Wye River-Jamieson Track fire.

Government responds to Lancefield and sets out future of planned burning

November 19th, 2015

Government has released and responded to the independent investigation of the Lancefield-Cobaw fire and the Inspector-General for Emergency Management’s report into the review of performance targets for the future bushfire fuel management program on public land.

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