community and health providers about public health risks and promoting behaviours and strategies to mitigate and avoid risk. It also includes the development of national policies, standards and strategies to promote improvements in public health generally and supports the health system to respond to national public health risks. Health emergency response During The planning, provisioning, response and coordination of and health emergency care, including triage, treatment and distribution of patients, in a timely and structured manner, all available resources to maximise positive health outcomes. Relief assistance During The provision of well-coordinated, integrated and timely assistance to meet the immediate health, wellbeing and essential needs of affected communities, during and immediately after an emergency event, with the aim to support social cohesion and build resilience. Environmental response During To assess and manage the consequences to the community, environmental values, domestic animals and livestock of a hazardous materials release, naturally occurring pests or biological hazard. Economic recovery After Return economic and business activities including food and agriculture to a healthy and develop new business and employment opportunities that result in a sustainable and economically viable community. Natural and cultural heritage rehabilitation After Protect natural and cultural heritage resources through appropriate planning, mitigation, response and recovery actions to preserve, conserve, rehabilitate and restore them, consistent with post-disaster community priorities and best practices and in compliance with applicable environmental and heritage preservation laws. Built recovery After Restore essential infrastructure and establish safe during and following an emergency, ensuring the provision of facilities and services to support and benefit communities. Social recovery After The longer-term provision of assistance and access to services that allows individuals, families and communities to achieve an effective level of functioning after an emergency event. This includes safety, security, shelter, health and psychosocial wellbeing and re-establishment of those elements of society necessary for wellbeing. Assurance and learning After Support continuous improvement to improve emergency management practice and community safety by extracting understanding from experience and research, reviewing community consequences, investigating causes and outcomes,
18 Contribute to local flood warning services in partnership with other agencies in line with flood risk severity and community support. Community information and warnings 19 Advocate for its community's emergency management and priorities. Identified practice of one or more councils Building community resilience 20 Gather knowledge local assets, values and support systems (including its community’s history and values), to inform risk management planning. Identified practice of one or more councils Building community resilience 21 Support the development and delivery of emergency management training for council staff involved in activities before, during and after emergencies. Identified practice of one or more councils Planning 22 Establish agreements, partnerships and systems with other councils to support surge requirements during emergencies including to: share intelligence and information exchange staff and other resources to maintain capacity align activities with business continuity plans. Identified practice of one or more councils Planning 23 Work with sector partners to integrate intelligence- and information-sharing systems, tools and networks of trained personnel (such as by using Emergency Management Common Operating Picture [EM-COP]) to deliver intelligence requirements and contribute to information-sharing forums, portals and committees. Identified practice of one or more councils Intelligence and 24 Identify standards for the clean-up and recovery of council-managed assets. Identified practice of one or more councils Planning 25 Encourage and support the community to engage with emergency management agencies to participate in emergency management awareness programs, so people understand responsibilities and can better prepare for, respond to and recover from an emergency. Identified practice of one or more councils Building community resilience Emergency management responsibilities & activities – during an emergency Table 4: Councils' emergency management responsibilities & activities during an emergency No. Council responsibility /activity Source Victorian Preparedness