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About the Commissioner The Role of the Emergency Services Commissioner

The position of the Emergency Services Commissioner was established by the Emergency Management Act 1986 to provide independent advice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Premier, or another Minister as required, on any issue in relation to emergency management.

The Emergency Services Commissioner supports the role of the Coordinator in Chief of Emergency Management (the Minister for Police and Emergency Services) in overseeing emergency planning, response and recovery.

The Emergency Services Commissioner establishes and monitors standards for the prevention and management of emergencies, which are required to be adopted by prescribed emergency service agencies.

The Commissioner oversees effective utilisation of the common resources of the emergency services, and encourages and facilitates cooperation between all agencies before during and after an emergency. The Commissioner develops emergency management policies on behalf of government.

Under the Act the Commissioner has independent statutory abilities to undertake sensitive investigations or inquiries into the activities of the emergency services, or the state's emergency management arrangements.

During the actual or imminent occurrence of a significant emergency the Commissioner facilitates the activities of the Victoria Emergency Management Council Coordination Group, as well as attending the Central Government Response Committee and Security and Emergencies Committee of Cabinet as the expert emergency management advisor to government.

The Emergency Services Commissioner works directly with communities before and after emergencies to ensure the community has the appropriate opportunity to speak directly with senior representatives in Government, and to contribute to the planning and policy of the way emergencies are managed.

During international emergencies where the need to commit Victorian resources to an Australian overseas deployment occurs, the Commissioner’s office, in conjunction with Victoria Police, coordinates the bringing together of Victorian resources.

The Commissioner is the state’s link to Emergency Management Australia, the Australian Government agency responsible for coordinating national deployments overseas, and represents Victoria on the Australian Emergency Management Committee.