Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
All health and community service agencies have a responsibility to ensure their staff and clients are safe during bushfire season.
At DFES, we recognise that agencies play an important role in linking their staff and clients with safety information and assisting them to be better prepared for bushfire. The At Higher Risk Communities Program assists agencies to improve their bushfire emergency management planning as well as assisting their staff and clients to keep themselves safe during an emergency situation.
People who need assistance to stay safe during an emergency should leave as early as possible. Trying to leave or helping to evacuate someone at the last minute could put your and their life in danger.
The Program provides resources, tools and information to support agencies and their staff in bushfire emergency planning. It includes:
This guide can be used to develop policies and procedures to plan, prepare and respond to bushfire emergencies affecting staff and clients.
The desktop simulation and emergency response exercises can be used to assess management and staff knowledge and understanding of their roles in emergency situations and to identify areas that require improvement or further training.
Service provider also have a responsibility to respond to an emergency if one occurs whilst travelling to and from or working in a client’s home. This guide will help staff to;
Service Providers are encouraged to keep a copy of the guide in their vehicles and familiarise themselves with it before and during the bushfire season.
If clients live near bush, even in a metropolitan area, bushfire is a real threat to them... Completing a Be Safe and Leave Early plan will encourage them to leave early, even before a bushfire starts, giving them more time to evacuate the area and alleviating pressure on service agencies and emergency services.
Asking family, friends or support networks for assistance means they don’t have to do it alone and sharing the plan with their service providers will help keep themselves and staff safe from bushfire.
To book an information session or for more information about the At Higher Risk Communities Program, contact the All Hazard Coordinator – At Higher Risk Communities on 9395 9983 or email communitypreparedness@dfes.wa.gov.au
