Australian Emergency Management

This website provides the key online access point for emergency management information from the Australian Government. The Minister for Emergency Management is responsible for national emergency management and disaster resilience. The site provides information about Australian and regional emergency management, in a national security context, including content on policy formulation, national emergency operations and development of national and international capability. For more information please visit our organisation.

For information on recovery assistance following a disaster visit the Disaster Assist website.

Latest media releases from the Minister for Emergency Management

30 April 2013 - Additional assistance for Queensland primary producers and small businesses
26 April 2013 - Disaster assistance for northern territory communities
5 April 2013 - Australian Government income payments now available for Tasmanian bushfire victims
28 March 2013 - Triple Zero kids save lives
26 March 2013 - Additional disaster assistance for NSW primary producers
25 March 2013 - Goondiwindi receives extra disaster assistance
22 March 2013 - 'Elvis' has left the building
20 March 2013 - New Disaster Recovery Allowance Bill introduced

Media releases from the previous Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management are available from the National Library of Australia's Pandora Archive.

Nominations now open for 2013 Resilient Australia Awards

The Resilient Australia Awards recognise and promote projects and initiatives across the nation that are making our communities safer, stronger, more resilient and better prepared for disaster. For more information visit the Resilient Australia Awards page.

Award for Pictorial community safety action guides

The Australian Emergency Management Institute has been awarded the 2013 Emergency Management Resilience Award for its Pictorial community safety action guides. The award was presented on Wednesday 13 March 2013 at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Australasia 10th annual conference and exhibition in Adelaide.

Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)

The Australian Government has announced the establishment of a new Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC from 1 July 2013 which will build on the work of the existing Bushfire CRC and expand research efforts into other natural hazards. The government will contribute up to $47 million over eight years, while it is expected that state and territory governments who have been closely involved in the existing Bushfire CRC, will continue to make substantial contributions to this important initiative. Read the $47 million CRC funding secures future bushfire and hazard research media release.

Communities across Australia have been severely impacted by bushfires, floods and severe weather events again this summer. This increased investment in research will improve approaches to mitigation, operational responses and community resilience to natural hazards. For more information visit the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre page.

Australian Journal of Emergency Management

The latest volume of AJEM is now available. This volume includes articles on current research as well as peer reviewed papers and information for the emergency management sector. To view the journal, visit the AJEM Current Issue page.

Launch of the National Security Strategy

The Prime Minister launched Australia’s National Security Strategy on 23 January 2013. The Strategy provides the overarching framework to guide Australian’s national security efforts over the next five years. View the National Security Strategy,

Launch of the Disaster Resilience Education for Schools website

Every year school kids and their families are affected by bushfires, storms, floods, cyclones and other disasters, that’s why teaching disaster resilience in our schools helps kids cope in these difficult situations. Children at Spotswood Primary School have joined with the Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management to help launch the next stage of the Disaster Resilience Education for Schools website. For more information visit the Disaster Resilience Education for Schools website.

Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management (SCPEM) Communiqué released

SCPEM comprises Australian and New Zealand ministers for police and emergency management together with a representative from the Australian Local Government Association. Following their meeting in Victoria on 23 November 2012, SCPEM released a communiqué which referenced a range of national emergency management matters. For details read the communiqué.

Australian Emergency Management Knowledge Hub launched

The Australian Emergency Management Knowledge Hub has been launched by the Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management. The Knowledge Hub provides information and an evidence base to help Australians plan and better prepare for disasters. For more information visit the Knowledge Hub.

National Strategy for Disaster Resilience

In February 2011 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) adopted the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience. This Strategy provides guidance on building disaster resilient communities across Australia. To read the Strategy please visit the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience page.

DisasterWatch phone app

The Attorney-General’s Department supports the free DisasterWatch phone app providing news and information about disaster events in Australia. Since its launch, more than 17,000 downloads have been recorded. To view details on the app please visit the DisasterWatch phone app page.

Triple Zero (000)

Knowing how to call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency can be the difference between life and death. The triple Zero (000) service is the quickest way to get the right emergency service to help you. It should be used to contact police, fire or ambulance services in life threatening or emergency situations. Calls to Triple Zero (000) are free and can be made from mobile, home, payphone and work phones. For more information please visit the Triple Zero (000) page.