01 SepEmergency and Evacuation Policy
In September 2022, all Australian states will move to a new fire danger forecasting system called the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). This new system:
- ensures a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings
- is based on the latest scientific research
- will provide more accurate predictions for fire danger and
- has clearer, simpler messages.
The new system has four fire danger ratings:
- Catastrophic
- Extreme
- High
- Moderate
‘Code Red’ will now be known as ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger.
Read more about the new system at: Australian Fire Danger Rating System.
Now is a good time to review your Emergency Management Plan (EMP) and ensure that your emergency management contact details in the EMP are up to date.
Make sure you update all references in your EMP from ‘Severe’ to ‘Extreme’ and ‘Code Red’ to ‘Catastrophic’ in line with the new AFDRS ratings.
All early childhood services must have an EMP, and are required to regularly rehearse their emergency and evacuation procedures (see regulation 97):
- every three months and document it
- involve everyone present at the service at the time of the rehearsal. This includes all staff members, volunteers and children and the responsible person about service who is present at the time of the rehearsal.
A copy of the service’s emergency and evacuation policy and procedures must be available for inspection at the service premises, at all times or on request.
The EMP must be reviewed annually, and immediately following a significant critical incident or emergency. For a copy of the 22/23 EMP template – click here
Services listed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register BARR or in Category 4 (grassfires) no longer need to submit their EMP to QARD.
Does your service have fully up-to-date policies?
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