IGEM DIRECTIONS STATEMENT 2018

Lessons Management in Disaster Management: Directions Statement

Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management February 2018

Inspector-General Emergency Management

Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Foreword

Inspector-General Emergency Management Iain MacKenzie (centre) with Richmond Shire Chief Executive Officer Peter Bennett and Mayor John Wharton. Photo courtesy of IGEM

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Directions Statement

As part of our 2017 review of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, we identified the need for an ongoing program of work aimed at delivering sustainable improvement based upon the identification and analysis of issues and the development, implementation and monitoring of improvement strategies. In response, the Government tasked this Office with leading the implementation and maintenance of a system-wide lessons management program. Comprehensive lessons management programs are being developed by other jurisdictions which build on the Commonwealth’s earlier work. Preliminary discussions with Emergency Management Australia, Emergency Management Victoria, the Office of Emergency Management NSW, SES NSW and the Centre for Army Lessons have shaped our early thinking about a lessons management program in Queensland, as has our review of other’s approaches, such as used by NATO. This Directions Statement briefly outlines the approach we will be taking. I am keen to ensure we adopt a collaborative approach, utilising a co-design methodology, and therefore invite nominations from those interested to be involved in informing direction and in the development of the lessons management program.

This significant piece of work will strengthen our disaster management arrangements into the future and result in improved outcomes for Queenslanders.

Iain MacKenzie afsm Inspector-General Emergency Management

Inspector-General Emergency Management

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Lessons management in Queensland’s disaster management sector

Pine Creek Road at Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland cut by Cyclone Debbie. Photo courtesy of ABC News – supplied: Kira Lowe

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Directions Statement

The Lessons Management in Disaster Management: Directions Statement aims to inform you about the planned approach to lessons management across the disaster management sector. Queensland’s Emergency Management Assurance Framework underpins a culture of performance, focusing on improved disaster management outcomes for the community.

The Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience 2017 promotes the capacity to adapt.

To do this, various mechanisms harness learnings, good practice and innovation at different levels of Queensland’s disaster management arrangements. However, there is currently no consistent approach to lessons management.

Learning must occur in collaboration and in a way that challenges siloed thinking.

Multi-agency, multi-group and system-wide lesson-learning and information-sharing is crucial to improve future practice.

A system-wide lessons management program incorporating a robust method of monitoring and reporting on improvement strategies will lead to sustainable improvements and positive change.

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Developing a lessons management program

A chapel on Hamilton Island, from The Cyclone Debbie Review.

Photo courtesy ABC News – supplied: Dennis Garrett

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Directions Statement

Following The Cyclone Debbie Review , Government endorsed a range of actions to implement recommendations for improvement. This action plan provides the authority for the IGEM to lead the development of a system-wide lessons management program. 1

Recommendation

Background

Lead

Where there were comprehensive and consistent approaches to debriefing, opportunities for improvement and good practice were better identified. By capturing lessons from the broader disaster management system, lessons will be more easily turned into sustained improvements. Lessons can be captured by developing a system for collating and disseminating lessons learned and monitoring implementation.

IGEM

Culture of Learning

Queensland should implement and maintain a system-wide lesson management program.

Support to develop and deliver this program will be provided by all agencies, disaster management groups and practitioners. We will work in close collaboration with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Queensland Police Service, which both play key roles in supporting system improvement.

1 The Cyclone Debbie Review Action Plan 2017

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

What a lessons management program means for Queensland

Rural road in southern Queensland. Photo courtesy Shutterstock – Ralph Loesche

Queensland has a sophisticated disaster management system. Capability continues to evolve to ensure communities are safe and resilient. A comprehensive lessons management program will enable the disaster management sector to make sense of observations, to co-design improvement strategies and leverage innovative solutions and ideas to grow capability.

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Directions Statement

The impact of a lessons management program and future direction:

1. Identify

Better information for decision-making and planning

We will develop mechanisms for the sector to collect and analyse observations, insights and findings to sense-make in a complex system. Lessons will be better identified and prioritised. By thinking differently, we can look at issues from a multitude of angles, frames and viewpoints and challenge the norms. 2. Equip

Consistent tools to manage lessons

We will provide of a range of tools and make learning opportunities available to be applied consistently across the sector. Training and education will enhance sector capability to apply these tools. 3. Integrate and collaborate

Mechanisms to contribute and share learnings, and support good practice

We will design, develop and trial new ideas, processes, systems and technologies that inspire change and turn learnings into action. An online environment will provide opportunities for disaster management practitioners to share, learn and network.

4. Monitor and validate

Clear governance and accountabilities will ensure learnings are ‘hard-wired’ into the sector.

We will create a system of monitoring and validation that provides strong feedback loops. The effectiveness of solutions and innovations will be validated to ensure we learn from

what we do well, from what we don’t do so well and to put knowledge into practice. This commitment will enable sector resilience and the ability to effectively meet future challenges.

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Our approach

Corn planted in regional Queensland for ultimate use as biofuels. Photo courtesy Shutterstock – MicrostockMan

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Directions Statement

Along with the Government’s Cyclone Debbie Review Action Plan , the Office of the IGEM has the legislative function under the Disaster Management Act 2003 to make disaster management standards (S.16C (i)). As such, this program will reflect the Emergency Management Assurance Framework ; align with the Standard for Disaster Management in Queensland and associated disaster management policy, guidelines and plans. To be effective, the program will need to incorporate good-practice attributes from the Standard for disaster management in Queensland:

scalable – applicable to the context of all groups and entities

comprehensive – applied across all phases of disaster management and for all hazards

interoperable – connect the different approaches to lessons management

value for money – be efficient and effective

adaptable – be flexible and able to meet new challenges and changes within the sector

The development of a lessons management program for approval by Government will be a phased approach:

1 2 3

Release of a discussion paper for consultation

Collaboration with sector representatives to co-design the program

A comprehensive implementation strategy to support the endorsed program.

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Next steps

A moment’s reflection during a driving tour of rural Queensland to consult with local councils and entities. Photo courtesy IGEM

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Directions Statement

Your participation and partnership is encouraged.

The development of the lessons management program will draw upon meetings, workshops and other consultation measures. If you wish to be involved, please provide your agency, entity or disaster management group’s nomination –

To: IGEM.info@igem.qld.gov.au

By: Friday 16 February 2018

We will be giving you regular updates about lessons management.

To keep up with the latest news, ensure you ‘like’ the Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management’s Facebook page or subscribe to

IGEM Connect

If you have any questions, or for further information, contact IGEM.info@igem.qld.gov.au

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management

Impressum

Late afternoon view from the escarpment of the Blackdown Ranges National Park in Central Queensland. Photo courtesy Shutterstock – Meg Forbes

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Directions Statement

Document details

Classification

PUBLIC

Date released

1 February 2018

Authority

Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management

Author

Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management

Document status

FINAL

Version

1.01

Contact details

All enquiries regarding this document should be directed to the Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management: • Email: info@igem.qld.gov.au • Telephone: 07 3029 8813 • Mailing Address: IGEM Mail Cluster 15.7, GPO Box 1425, Brisbane Qld 4001 The Queensland Government, acting through the Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management, supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of publicly funded information and endorses the use of the Australian Governments Open Access and Licensing Framework (AusGOAL). All Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management material in this document, any material protected by a trademark, and unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode The Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management has undertaken reasonable enquiries to identify material owned by third parties and secure permission for its reproduction. Permission may need to be obtained from third parties to re-use their material. Written requests relating to the copyright in this document should be addressed to: Intellectual Property Coordinator, Legal Services, Ministerial and Executive Services Public Safety Business Agency, GPO Box 9879, Brisbane Qld 4001 Email: PSBA.Copyright@PSBA.qld.gov.au

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Lessons Management in Disaster Management: Directions Statement

Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management February 2018

Inspector-General Emergency Management