As we saw recently with Cyclone Alfred, Australia is increasingly at risk of natural disasters. Who is there to support us in our times of need?
In times of disaster, Australians rely on the public service to help keep us informed and safe. The public service plays a key role in helping residents prepare for and mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
So, what role does the public service play in preparing for and responding to emergencies in Australia?
Police
Local police services play a crucial role in disaster response. They are primarily responsible for ensuring the public is kept safe. They do so, by performing a number of functions including:
• Evacuation: Police help facilitate the evacuation of residents who may be in areas about to be affected by disaster
• Traffic management: Police block access to areas that may be unsafe or about to be affected by disaster.
• Informing the public: They are also responsible for working with other community agencies to communicate safety risks to the public.
• Patrolling: During times of disaster, police patrols can help identify possible safety hazards and help identify people who may be in need of assistance.
Healthcare workers
Healthcare workers such as nurses are responsible for treating those who may be injured in the course of a disaster.
Local government (council)
In preparing for and responding to disasters, local government plays several vital roles. These include:
• Promoting community awareness: Local government is responsible for helping to ensure the public is aware of potential risks and has the information that they need to respond.
• Co-ordinating recovery efforts: Local councils are also responsible for helping co-ordinate recovery efforts. This may include helping organise clean-up services or providing administration support to those needing to access recovery services.
• Mitigating possible effects: Local governments are also responsible for undertaking measures to help mitigate the possible effects of natural disasters. This includes developing building regulations.
In many cases, councils will employ roles such as Emergency Management Officer or Recovery Management Officer to oversee the response to disasters.
State Government
State government departments are responsible for developing policies that can be enacted in times of emergency.
In Victoria, the Department Of Justice And Community Safety is responsible for developing and implementing laws relating to emergency management.
State governments are also responsible for coordinating the response to emergencies, including communicating vital information to the public.
Federal Government
Emergency Management forms one part of the responsibilities of the Department Of Home Affairs. The department is responsible for National Emergency Management Agency. This agency is responsible for:
• Providing disaster response plans to be supplied to state governments
• Co-ordinating financial relief to be offered to victims of natural disasters.
• Administering the Disaster Relief Fund which provides funding for disaster relief and risk reduction
• Facilitating the National Emergency Management Stockpile, which supplies critical goods and services to communities in times of disaster.
Bureau Of Meteorology
The Bureau of Meteorology is a Federal Government agency which forms part of the Australian Public Service. It undertakes weather forecasting and provides warnings to communities which may be at risk of the effects of severe weather events.
Administration & Call Centre staff
This part of the public service’s role in responding to natural disasters is often overlooked. For people affected by natural disasters, relief payments are on offer. However, affected individuals must declare their disaster status, requiring extensive administrative work. Millions of disaster-affected residents rely on call centre operators and administration staff to process their disaster relief payments.
Of course, this article is simply a snapshot and there are many other ways the public service is involved in Australia’s emergency response. The role of the public service in helping Australians prepare for and respond to natural disasters cannot be overstated.
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Article References
Bajkowski, J (March 10 2025) ‘After the storm, people may just be less hostile to a larger public service’, The Mandarin, accessed 13 March 2025.
Department Of Home Affairs (n.d) ‘Emergency management’, Department Of Home Affairs, accessed 13 March 2025.
Emergency Management Victoria (n.d) ‘Municipal Council Roles’, Emergency Management Victoria , accessed 13 March 2025.
Emergency Management Victoria (n.d) ‘Role statement – Department of Justice and Community Safety’, Emergency Management Victoria , accessed 13 March 2025.
National Emergency Management Agency (n.d) ‘Our Work’, National Emergency Management Agency, accessed 13 March 2025.