Emergency Management Planning- FAQs

At Upwey South Primary School, we review and update our Emergency Management Plan (EMP) annually. 

 

The management of EMP actions is highly detailed, and can alter dependent upon environmental changes which may impact upon schools (e.g. geographical location, changes to surrounding bushland/vegetation, changes to community access/buildings, etc). 

 

In order to simplify the complexities of an EMP, we provide families with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) reference.

 

These FAQs provides you with:

  • possible emergency scenarios which may require a school to enact its Emergency Management Plan

  • actions specific to our school, when enacting our Emergency Management Plan

  • information about the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS)

Please familiarise yourself with the actions we are taking to provide a safe learning environment for our students.

 

Should you require further information, please speak with the Principal, or visit the Department of Education (DE) Reference Guide online:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/emergency-critical-incident-management-planning/policy 

 

 What is classified as an emergency?

 

When we refer to the term emergency, we are referring to “an incident which impacts directly upon the daily operations, welfare and/or safety of the school community."

 

The possible list of emergencies which may be faced by our school are many and varied, and can occur both during and out of school hours.

 

The reason for these emergencies can occur naturally, (such as weather-related events) or can occur due to human action (such as a vehicle accident).

 

The impact of these emergencies can also vary; impacting at an immediate school level, neighbourhood level, local area level, or even state level.

 

During a real emergency, what type of information is shared with students?

 

During a real emergency, the Principal as the Chief Warden (or a designated Incident Controller) will determine what information is relevant to be shared directly with students and parents/carers.

 

As a school, we are aware that emergency situations may cause raised levels of anxiety, curiosity, and questioning, which can be different for each student.

 

Discussions which staff hold with students will be age-appropriate, and provide students with the information which is required for them to be aware of the actions they are required to take to promote the safety and welfare of themselves and those around them. 

 

In certain situations, the Principal will make the decision to not share the details of an emergency, as it may be deemed unnecessary to the promotion of ongoing student welfare.

 

During a real emergency, what type of information is shared with parents/carers?

 

During a real emergency, the Principal as the Chief Warden (or a designated Incident Controller) will communicate with parents/carers via an electronic communication.

 

Information regarding the details of the emergency will be shared with parents/carers, in consultation with local emergency services and DET emergency management services.

 

In certain situations, the Principal will make the decision to not share the details of an emergency, as it may be deemed unnecessary to the promotion of ongoing community welfare.

 

How often should schools practise enacting their EMP?

 

Schools should aim to practise enacting their EMP at least once per term (four times per calendar year). Each practice drill should focus upon a different scenario for the school to assess its preparedness to manage differing situations.

 

Whenever our school undertakes a practice drill, we utilise a 'social story' to hold age-appropriate discussions in the classroom. Click on the link below to view possible classroom discussion points: 

 

Emergency Management Drills social story discussion

 

What type of emergencies does the EMP refer to?

 

Given the variety of emergencies which can occur in a school, our Emergency Management Plan (EMP) categorises possible emergency situations into two major categories:

 

Evacuation: this is a situation in which people must vacate a building or premises for their own safety.

  • Some possible scenarios:

    • fire/smoke posing a threat within a certain building/ buildings

    • an animal/person who poses a threat within a certain building

    • a structural/electrical/climate or other fault posing a threat within a certain building

    • associated storm damage posing a threat within a certain building

    • health/sanitation threat within a certain building.

Lockdown: this is a situation in which people must limit their movement around the school, and stay away from a given location for their own safety. This situation may involve people having to vacate a building, or vacate an external area beyond the school buildings. During a lockdown, all people within the school grounds are directed to remain in a given location.

  • Some possible scenarios:

    • the vacating of a certain area of the school due to fire/smoke which poses a threat to people within the immediate area

    • a traffic accident in the immediate area, which poses a threat to people within the immediate area

    • an animal/person who poses a threat to people within the immediate area

    • a weather event which poses a threat to people within the immediate area

    • health/sanitation threat which poses a threat to people within the immediate area

    • a localised emergency which poses a threat to people within the immediate area (such as a neighbourhood situation involving damage to utilities/surrounding infrastructure)

Will families be informed when Upwey South Primary School has a Practice Drill?

 

For emergency evacuation drills (shelter-in-place): Yes. You will be sent an electronic communication from the school.

Published within our yearly Compass calendar, we will inform families of the type of drill being practised, and possible discussion points which you may like to raise with your child.

 

For lockdown drills (isolated limitation of movement):

Yes. You will be sent an electronic communication from the school. Published within our yearly Compass calendar, we will inform families of the type of drill being practised, and possible discussion points which you may like to raise with your child. During a lockdown drill the impact upon students is minimal, as students continue with their learning in the classroom. Students are also generally unaware of when these drills occur, as they are managed in-confidence by school staff; with the aim of reducing potential anxieties in our student cohort.

 

Where is the Upwey South Primary School Evacuation Point?

 

The Primary Evacuation Point for our school is the school gymnasium (gym). This has been selected, as it provides an area in which containment is more achievable in a real emergency situation.

 

At times, dependent upon the type of emergency and if access to the gym presents a danger, our Primary Evacuation Point may move to the school oval. This area of the oval is indicated by a green emergency sign next to the scoreboard.

When an evacuation occurs, all people on-site will be assembled and supervised at an agreed point where they will await further instruction from the Chief Warden.

 

The Secondary Evacuation Point for our school is the Riley Road carpark. This is only used in a situation when access to the school hall, or oval, is unsafe. When utilising the Secondary Evacuation Point, all access to and from the carpark will be limited.

 

In extreme measures, if we are required to evacuate the school premises, our Off-Site Evacuation Point is the Upwey South Tennis Club. If this site is utilised it will be done with the direct consultation and assistance of local emergency services.

 

Where is the School Shelter-in-Place?

 

The Shelter-in-Place for our school is the school gym.

 

If there is an external emergency/threat during which it is deemed unsafe to remain in classroom buildings, all people on-site will be assembled and supervised in the shelter-in-place where they will await further instruction from the Chief Warden.

 

 

Bushfire Information

 

Upwey South Primary School is in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria, which is one of the most fire-prone areas within Australia. Due to our geographical location, our school is listed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR).

 

What is the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR)?

 

The BARR is a list of sites across Victoria, which have been identified as at an increased risk of exposure to bushfires.

Schools, kindergartens, and childcare facilities at the highest risk of fire danger are placed on the Department's BARR. Inclusion on this register requires listed facilities to communicate information to their communities.

 

For more information and an alphabetical listing of BARR sites, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-risk-register-barr

 

Upwey South Primary School BARR information:

BARR Category: CAT 3 (as pictured above)

Local Government Area: Yarra Ranges

Fire Weather District: Central

 

What happens to Upwey South Primary School during a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating (previously Code Red)?

 

All schools and early childhood services that have been listed on the Department’s BARR will close on days determined

 

'Catastrophic' by the Emergency Management Commissioner.

 

The distribution of communications is managed at a regional level. Schools are not to circulate their own communications without regional authority. 

 

When a school or early childhood service is closed due to a Code Red determination, no staff will remain on site, and all out-of-school care programs (including vacation, before, and after-school programs) will not operate.

 

Where can I find out more information about the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS)?

 

For a summary of the national rating system, please refer to the information below:

 

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System

 

In September 2022, Australia implemented the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). This is a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings based on the latest scientific research. This will result in more accurate predictions for fire danger.  It has fewer levels (from 6 to 4). It also has clearer, simplified messaging for all communities.

 

The department worked with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to update our bushfire risk methodology in line with the changes. There were minimal changes to the methodology and department policy because of the AFDRS. 

 

The key changes outlined in the below graphic were implemented from the start of the 2023/2024 bushfire season:   

 

  • Extreme fire danger rating (FDR) under the AFDRS covers what used to be known as Severe and Extreme.

  • Catastrophic fire danger represents the worst conditions (previously Code Red).

As a result, the triggers for pre-emptive relocation and closure on elevated fire danger days were adjusted slightly to reflect this new system.

  • Category 1 and Category 2 schools will relocate, or close, in accordance with their pre-approved plan on a day forecast Extreme FDR for their LGA.

  • Like before, all schools on the BARR (Category 1-3) and Category 4 list must close on a forecast Catastrophic FDR day in their weather district. Their buses will be cancelled. All other buses that travel through the Catastrophic FDR area will also be cancelled.

To find out more information visit: https://afdrs.com.au/

 

 


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