The regionally based Multi-agency Capability and Capacity Project was initiated in 2011 in response to the requirements set out in the then Fire Services Commissioners “Joint Standard Operating Procedure 2.03 : Incident Management Teams – Readiness Arrangements”.  The broad aim of the project was to gain a better understanding of Emergency Management capability and capacity across all response agencies within the Grampians and Barwon South West Regions, in a Readiness sense via the development of a Joint Skills List. 

The agencies were asked to confirm the Primary and Secondary roles of their staff, which then allowed analysis to be completed on our ability to meet the  J.SOP.  The results clearly identified roles for which we had critical shortfalls, and roles which could not be sustained beyond first attack.  This analysis led to the identification of both short and long term strategies, some of which include:

·         the adoption of submitting agency blind State Training Nominations, ensuring that the most suitable applicant from the Region was accepted. 

·         development of a Priority Mentoring list, identifying staff who were close to being endorsed/accredited for a  particular role, and staff who had been training in a role which we had a critical shortfall in. 

·         delivery of additional training within the Region to upskill staff.

There is a strong commitment from the agencies involved to continue to connect staff and provide opportunities that build our capability and capacity in emergency management.   There is potential to develop a system or tool to allow for a more streamlined delivery of this project which would greatly enhance the interoperability of it across the agencies, and would allow it to be easily applied to other emergencies (eg. planning for Biosecurity emergencies, development of workforce scenarios to identify business critical staff at various times of the year).