This year marks 50 years since the Australian Government established a national emergency management organisation.

The first agency was established in August 1974. This was the National Disaster Organisation within the Department of Defence, headed up by Major-General Sir Alan Stretton CBE, AO and 5 other Director Generals after him until December 1992 when the next iteration of the National Disaster Organisation, Emergency Management Australia (EMA) was formed. The first Director General of EMA was Commodore Clem Littleton AO RAN with the last of nine Directors General of EMA being Joe Buffone PSM in 2022.

“Over the last 5 decades, nationally coordinated efforts have supported local communities through many emergencies,” said Brendan Moon, NEMA’s Coordinator-General.

“This country has seen a bit of everything. From the Brisbane floods and Darwin’s cyclone Tracy in 1974, Ash Wednesday in Victoria and South Australia in 1983, the Newcastle earthquake in 1989, the Thredbo landslide in 1997, Canberra bushfires in 2003 and Black Saturday in 2009 where sadly 173 people died. Just to name a few.”

There are recent events that also come to mind for Australians reflecting on disasters. The Black Summer Bushfires of 2019-20 and the cyclones and flood events throughout 2022-23.

In 2023, the Australian Government supported communities through 38 disaster declarations and 174 Australian disaster events. These events had an impact on almost a quarter (173) of all Local Government Areas.

NEMA enters the story

In 2022 NEMA was created. We coordinate national efforts across the Emergency Management Continuum. Working year-round to improve Australia’s emergency management capabilities, reduce disaster risk and support our communities.

Our focus is on mitigating risk and building back better. We also work with our partners to ensure that supports are in place to respond to and recover from disasters.

Over the past year, we have enhanced Australia’s national capabilities and resilience. This has been achieved through initiatives like:

• The Australian Government National Situation Room / Joint Common Operating Picture
• the National Exercising Capability
• the Crisis and Strategic Planning methodology
• the National Emergency Management Stockpile (NEMS)
• Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) and
• Aerial Firefighting

Disaster Relief Australia (DRA)

DRA is a volunteer-based organisation that provides relief and recovery support. We have coordinated 4 DRA deployments, to assist communities following disaster.

The Disaster Ready Fund

The Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is a key initiative for disaster resilience and risk reduction. The Australian Government is providing up to one billion dollars through the DRF. The funding runs over 5 years from 1 July 2023.

The funding supports projects that address the physical and social impacts of disasters.

DRF Round One provided $200 million of Australian Government investment. Funding 187 projects across all states and territories in 2023-24.

Round Two 2024-25, will deliver up to $200 million of Australian Government funding. It will be matched by state, territory, local government and other applicants, where possible. Successful projects are expected to be announced in the second half of 2024.

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)

The Australian Government has supported states and territories by sharing the financial burden of responding to disasters, and providing urgent financial assistance to disaster affected communities, through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

For the 2023-24 Financial Year, a range of assistance under the DRFA was available for 70 events across 204 Local Government Areas. Of these events, 5 were considered major disasters for which the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and/or Disaster Recovery Allowance were activated. Over 58,000 claims were paid out, totalling almost $80 million.

National Emergency Management Stockpile (NEMS)

We launched the  NEMS Panel in May 2024. It now includes 9 suppliers and helps provide goods and services needed during emergencies. We are close to completing a second round of submissions, which will further broaden the NEMS supplier network.

We’ve already successfully used the panel to procure 6 new generators for the stockpile ranging from 60kVA to 850 kVA. The larger generators can restore power to places like hospitals and evacuation centres, and other community infrastructure.

The NEMS emergency shelter capability was deployed for the first time in January 2024, and provided shelter to DRA emergency response workers following ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper.

The shelters have off-grid capability. With their own power, water and waste-water storage. Each shelter has climate control, lighting, and power. They can sleep up to four people.

“While the states and territories have primary responsibility for responding to disasters, we support them to prepare for, and respond to, nationally significant crises,” said Joe Buffone, NEMA’s Deputy Coordinator-General, Emergency Management and Response.

“Through data-informed decision-making, we guide national policies, fund projects and can deliver resources to support when the states and territories are stretched beyond capacity.”

“We contribute to saving lives, reducing harm and mitigating the consequences of disasters, maintaining public trust in the Emergency Management system.”

The National Preparedness Program

We also deliver a National Preparedness Program ahead of the Higher-Risk Weather Season.

The Program includes a series of activities, including a briefing program to ensure emergency services organisations have accurate information about the seasonal climate outlook and the Australian Government’s capabilities ahead of the higher risk weather season. The pinnacle of the Program is the National Preparedness Higher Risk Weather Season Summit. It is held in September and includes briefings to inform the sector about the seasonal outlook.

“By sharing up-to-date information, Australia’s emergency management professionals can better work together to mitigate, plan for, and respond and recover from any national disaster,” said Joe Buffone.

Future focused

As we plan our efforts to support the next Higher Risk Weather Season, Coordinator-General Brendan Moon said it’s a time to reflect, but also remain future focused.

“Our predecessor agencies helped set the foundations of national emergency management in Australia. It’s now time for us at NEMA to build on these and prepare for the future,” Brendan said.

“We are proud of what we have been able to build upon that legacy, but we know there’s still plenty to do, and my team is committed to that challenge.”

Note: The fatalities noted for Cyclone Tracy in the above video contain an error. The correct number is 66. Access a transcript of the video.

Find out more about our programs: Programs | National Emergency Management Agency (nema.gov.au)

For information about the Higher Risk Weather Season.