Emergency Management Victoria

EMV plays a key role in implementing the Victorian Government’s emergency management reform agenda and supports the Emergency Management Commissioner, who has overall responsibility for coordination before, during and after major emergencies including the management of consequences of an emergency.

Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) is a Victorian Government agency, founded in January 2020, that’s wholly focused upon the recovery of bushfire-affected communities. ERV works in partnership with local government and communities to deliver what they need.

Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) operate under EMV and play an extremely important role in the safety of boaters around Victoria’s coastline, out at sea, and in many of our inland waterways.

17 Australia Volunteer Coast Guard flotillas
7 Independent MSAR units
2 Life Saving Victoria clubs
1 State Emergency Service unit

EMV shares responsibility with a range of agencies, organisations and departments, for ensuring the system of emergency management in Victoria is sustainable, effective and community focused.

Mental health and wellbeing

EMV is focused on providing support to the emergency management sector with mental health and wellbeing promotion, prevention and early intervention, and improving access to support services for emergency workers and volunteers.

ERV has been working hard to establish the agency’s Heath, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, Employee Assistance Program and Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee. All training undertaken by ERV staff is assessed to ensure it aligns to the VPS Mental Health and Wellbeing charter.

Collaborating with ESF

Each agency has a valuable role to play in the mental health and wellbeing of their people, but the value of sector wide collaboration is integral to bringing real transformation, long lasting and meaningful change. EMV and ESF have a critical role in facilitating Victoria’s input into Australia’s first mental health plan for emergency service workers: 2021 – 2024, as well as ensuring effective outcomes for our emergency services workforce and volunteers.

ERV was established as a coordinating agency – collaboration is a core principle of how we work. In our membership of the Emergency Services Foundation, we seek to deepen our collaboration with our emergency services peers to prevent, promote and address the incidence and impact of mental injury among volunteers and workers alike