The attestation process will be broadened to address a wider range of emergency risks, including non-seasonal risks.

This will reinforce the requirements for the sector to be prepared to respond to any emergency event on any day of the year.

EMV and the sector will commence a review of Victoria’s State Bushfire Plan ahead of the 2021–22 fire season.

The State Bushfire Plan is a sub-plan of the State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) and the principal document that guides the state’s bushfire emergency arrangements.

The Plan will be reviewed against the forthcoming SEMP, which will replace the SERP in September 2020.

In the lead-up to the 2020–21 fire season, EMV will work with responder agencies to review arrangements to ensure all required plans and procedures, recruitment, briefings and training are in place and completed. This will culminate in an attestation by the EMC to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on heightened preparedness arrangements informed by seasonal risk factors on behalf of responder agencies, to be delivered by 1 November 2020 and in subsequent years.

EMV will release the first Victorian SEMP in September 2020, which will articulate Victoria’s preparedness arrangements, including the command and control structures and plans and procedures necessary to efficiently and effectively undertake emergency responses.

Before the 2020–21 bushfire season, EMV will release an updated Emergency Risk in Victoria report, confirming the highest priority risks in Victoria.

Ahead of this fire season, the Victorian Government will invest in sector capacity and capability through recruitment, training and accreditation of key roles. FFMVic has already started recruiting project firefighting personnel in response to the seasonal outlook, to ensure adequate time for capability development training.

The emergency management sector is on track to deliver earlier pre-season preparedness briefings, including its State seasonal outlook, to inform briefings and training sessions across regional and municipal levels.

EMV is working with the sector to adapt its preparedness planning arrangements, including training and accreditation, to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

EMV, working with BRV and key partners, will finalise and maintain operational recovery guidelines for all emergencies.

EMV, working with BRV, will develop operational recovery guidelines to pilot with key partners and local government through the 2020–21 fire season.