Preparedness refers to the activities that build the capabilities and capacity needed to efficiently manage crises and effectively transition from response to sustained recovery. Australian Government agencies should ensure they build and maintain a sufficient level of crisis preparedness.
Near-term preparedness refers to a period within the preparedness phase of the continuum that requires senior officials and agencies to rapidly prepare to respond to forecast or potential impacts and consequences of an imminent crisis. This period could be marked by a sudden shift in the crisis threat environment generating potential for significant and acute consequences to Australia or Australian interests. The principle of ‘speed to action, speed to decision’ would now drive preparedness and response behaviours and an increased level of coordination actions across government would be expected.
The Lead Minister is responsible for ensuring their portfolio is prepared to coordinate whole of Australian Government responses to significant crises, including familiarity with relevant legislation and sufficient staffing capacity or surge arrangements. The Lead Coordinating Senior Official is responsible for ensuring their agency (as the Australian Government Coordinating Agency) is prepared.
To maintain crisis preparedness, the Australian Government Coordinating Agency is responsible for developing, maintaining, exercising and evaluating the capabilities required to coordinate Australian Government responses to the hazard(s) designated to the agency. These capabilities include:
- a national plan for each identified hazard designated to the agency by this Framework (see Appendix A on p. 47)
- sector-specific crisis coordination mechanisms and arrangements
- a trained workforce with appropriate security clearances
- planning capability and familiarity with relevant crisis tools
- systems and processes used in crisis management.
The Australian Disaster Preparedness Framework can help to inform the strategic governance, policy and investment required to support national disaster preparedness.13