Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
The Local Government Emergency Management Knowledge Hub has been developed as part of the LEMA Improvement Project. If you have any feedback and or identify corrections please submit these through to recoverypolicy@dfes.wa.gov.au.
This Local Government Emergency Management Knowledge Hub (EM Hub) provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of local governments as outlined in the Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act) and the State Emergency Management (EM) Framework. It consolidates and summarises key information into a single, accessible resource and provides direct links to key documents for further reading and reference. It has been designed to assist local governments develop and maintain their local emergency management arrangements so they are better prepared for emergencies. The EM Hub is designed for both:
Emergency management in Western Australia is governed by the EM Act and the broader State EM Framework, which includes:
Under the EM Act, local governments are required to plan and prepare for emergencies within their local government districts, including maintaining up-to-date local emergency management arrangements (LEMA). Local governments must also comply with roles and responsibilities assigned in the State EM Framework. This includes responsibilities assigned to public authorities.
The EM Hub is organised around the four phases of emergency management in Western Australia (PPRR):
Each section includes:
A glossary is provided to explain terms used throughout the EM Hub.
The EM Hub can be navigated sequentially or accessed via hyperlinks and menu bars to efficiently locate specific information.
Emergency management is defined in the Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act) as the management of the adverse effects of an emergency through prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PPRR). It is based on planned and coordinated approaches that allow the State to respond effectively regardless of the scale or nature of the emergency. This is referred to as the comprehensive approach to emergency management (EM).
Western Australia's emergency management is underpinned by 8 key principles that are enacted through the EM Act and the State Emergency Management (EM) Policy. The key principles and detailed descriptions can be found in Appendix B of the State EM Policy.
Emergency management in Western Australia happens at three levels: State, District, and Local. Each level helps prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) employs a DEMA in each EM district to assist local governments prepare for, manage, and recover from emergencies by strengthening local and district emergency management arrangements across all-hazards. Contact details for DEMAs can be found here District and local emergency management committees.
Local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) are documents that are prepared and maintained by local governments to describe and plan how they will manage emergency risks, prepare for emergencies, respond to emergencies and manage recovery from an emergency in their district. They include strategies, objectives, actions, roles and information for staff and stakeholders.
Each LEMA must be specific to the local government district and responsive to the hazards and emergency risks in the district. A LEMA must include, at minimum:
This list does not exempt local governments from responsibilities and obligations established under other legislation, including the Bushfires Act 1954, and consequent requirements for Bushfire Risk Management Planning as defined in the State Hazard Plan Fire.
Local governments are encouraged to include plans or arrangements in their LEMA beyond the minimum requirements where it supports local emergency management capability and preparedness. Any additional content should reflect local risks and priorities profile and be informed by relevant Hazard Management and Support Agencies where appropriate.
LEMA should be practical, easy to navigate and readily accessible to emergency managers and members of the public.
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