Tasmanian Emergency Management Arrangements

Foundational Module

Module Intentions

  1. Provide knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the content of the Tasmanian Emergency Management Arrangements-TEMA
  2. Outline the Governance and Management structure of emergency management in Tasmania
  3. Understand the principles of the emergency management arrangements that apply across the all-hazards approach – Prevention Preparedness Response and Recovery (PPRR) spectrum
  4. Identify the key roles and responsibilities in emergency management.

Why do you need to know about the content of the TEMA ?

  • The TEMA is legally established by the Emergency Management Act 2006, which is one of the most powerful pieces of legislation in Tasmania.
  • It enables the emergency management arrangements in Tasmania
  • It informs stakeholders about the role of the various agencies and organisations and individuals within them
  • It details the planning and management arrangements that bring all the different elements together.

When will you apply the knowledge gained from completing this module?

The information contained in the TEMA is applied throughout the emergency management cycle and provides guidance as you undertake an emergency management role within your organisation.

What is the TEMA?

  • The TEMA outlines the authority (governance, administrative and legal frameworks) as well as the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘when’ in terms of the emergency management arrangements in Tasmania.
  • It covers all phases of emergency management: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR).

The Front cover of the TEMA.

Introduction to TEMA video

TEMA provides the main source of guidance for municipal emergency management. The video below provides an overview of the TEMA by Emergency Management subject matter experts in Tasmania.

Which emergencies do these apply to?

These arrangements apply to any emergency event in this State, no matter what the cause. Tasmania has adopted a whole-of-state, resilience-based approach to emergency management.

International and national events over the past two decades highlight the devastation caused by natural, technological and (human) behavioural-related emergencies. The consequences of climate change and increasing risks have contributed to Australia adopting a comprehensive and all-hazards approach to emergency management.

Tasmania has integrated security and emergency management arrangements. After outlining the context in which Tasmania’s emergency management arrangements operate, the TEMA describes roles, responsibilities and agreed arrangements for the four phases of emergency management, abbreviated to PPRR:

  • Prevention (mitigation)
  • Preparedness
  • Response
  • Recovery

The TEMA is maintained by the Tasmanian Government

The Tasmanian Government has primary responsibility for emergency management legislation, policies and frameworks within this jurisdictions. Arrangements are underpinned by partnerships between the Australian, state and local governments; businesses and industry; non-government organisations; community groups; emergency management and volunteer organisations; and communities.

These partnerships aim to:

  • Recognise the primacy of life
  • Build whole-of-community resilience to disasters by minimising vulnerability to risks associated with hazards
  • Protect property and the environment
  • Recognise the need to build disaster resilience into business and infrastructure
  • Minimise adverse social and economic impacts during and after emergencies
  • Facilitate recovery, restoration, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Tasmanian Disaster Resilience Strategy 2020-2025 underpins Tasmania’s approach to emergency management and complements the Tasmanian Emergency Management Arrangements (TEMA).

The TEMA describes the formal arrangements under the Emergency Management Act 2006 (which is discussed further on in this module).  A separate State Emergency Management Committee Strategic Directions Framework enables related Tasmanian Government actions. It aims to support an agile, inclusive and coordinated approach to emergency management. It outlines strategies for the SEMC to achieve its functions and mission in line with:

  • The Act and other relevant legislation
  • The Strategy
  • The Sendai Framework
  • Relevant national frameworks, particularly the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.