Resources
Resources are available to assist in the development, implementation and operation of an Emergency Management Plan (EMP).
Information and warnings
All schools should be aware of the following:
- VicEmergency (note: all principals and key school staff should download the App on their phone with a watch zone around their school to receive alerts and information regarding hazards and incidents in their vicinity)
- VicEmergency website (Incidents and
- Vic Emergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- Total fire bans and (CFA website)
Template documents and checklists
- Area map template – provides a sample layout to assist schools in identifying relevant landmarks and routes to offsite assembly areas
- Communications tree template – provides a sample layout to assist schools in developing their communications tree
- Evacuation diagram template – provides a sample layout and icons to assist schools in developing their evacuation diagrams
- Evacuation diagram checklist – to assist schools in developing their evacuation diagrams in line with relevant standards
- IMT structure (large school) template - provides a sample structure to assist schools in developing their Incident Management Team diagram for larger schools with sufficient staff to cover all functions
- IMT structure (small school) template - provides a sample structure to assist schools in developing their Incident Management Team diagram, tailored to the roles likely to be prioritised by smaller schools
Guides for developing and updating Emergency Management Planning
- Emergency and critical incident management planning guide for government schools
- Emergency and critical incident management planning guide for government schools
- School incident debrief facilitator guide
- Guide to developing your emergency management plan for early childhood services and non-government schools
- Emergency management considerations for schools on shared sites
Further resources
- Drill observer and debrief record (DOCX) (staff login
- Bomb threat checklist (DOCX) (staff login
- School bushfire site readiness review checklist
- Letter – socialise your school’s EMP and Short form – socialise your school’s EMP – sample communications to share key messages regarding your plan and procedures with your school community
- Personal emergency evacuation plan (employee) template and Personal emergency evacuation plan (student) template – sample templates outlining tailored response arrangements for staff and students with additional needs
- Managing trauma guide (PDF) (staff login – a comprehensive guide for schools and department staff on how to plan for and respond to incidents that may cause trauma. Includes recovery tools, practical resources to help schools to act following an event, to minimise trauma for students, staff and the school community
- Recovery tools excerpt (PDF) (staff login – an excerpt from the guide, as a separate downloadable document
e-Learning modules
All school staff can enrol and access a suite of emergency and critical incident management self-directed e-Learning modules any time. The modules provide a short, accessible introduction to the following topics:
- Emergency Management: Business continuity
- Emergency Management: Bushfire At-Risk Register
- Emergency Management: Conducting drills
- Emergency Management: Excursions
- Emergency Management: Planning essentials
- Emergency Management: Recovery after an emergency
- Emergency Management: Responding to and managing critical incidents
- Emergency Management: Response in government schools
- Emergency Management: Risk management
- Emergency Management: School bus transport emergencies
- Managing trauma online modules (staff login – 9 modules, based on the Managing Trauma guide, covering topics such as how to establish a recovery team, how to triage students in need, what supports are available to schools, communication strategies and tools, and self-care.
Staff can enrol in the eLearning modules through LearnED in eduPay (staff login by searching for the keywords ‘Emergency Management’.
Resources page containing supporting resources and links for this topic
Reviewed 15 August 2025