Emergency services
Emergency services are vital to community survival, recovery, and wellbeing. These services are challenged by climate change and escalating events of floods and fires.
Regional Collaboration in Emergency Management
Local government has a central role and is further challenged by constrained resources, increasing roles and responsibilities, and being at the frontline of supporting communities. This is particularly acute for rural and regional councils.
Collaborative governance is called for to develop effective emergency management.
Research between La Trobe University and Northern Victorian Emergency Management Cluster investigated: how collaborative emergency management works in practice, and its benefits, challenges and opportunities, through a case study of the 2022 Flood event.
Key findings include:
- Collaboration during the 2022 flood event significantly increased the ability of councils to respond and benefited community health.
- Integrated planning between local government and agencies means councils are more prepared for events.
- Relationships of trust are crucial for staff when responding to emergencies, and as a response to trauma, and burnout.
- Institutional support is needed so collaborative arrangements are efficient and amplify the benefits.
Research involved interviews and ongoing discussion with 18 representatives of local government, agencies, and organisations in North and Central Victoria. Examples, stories, and quotes support each finding.
The report: Collaboration in Emergency Management – A Case Study of the Northern Victorian Emergency Management Cluster, is now available.
Details of the Report Launch: 2:00pm – 4:30pm, Thursday 31 July, 2025. Room: BUS-209, La Trobe University Bendigo campus.
For more information please contact: Dr. Lisa de Kleyn, Research Fellow, Climate Change Adaptation Lab, 0415 132 360, l.dekleyn@latrobe.edu.au