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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Manage media unit
   • Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident
   • Media unit is communicated as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
   • Current and timely information consistent with incident requirements and local knowledge is provided to the media, in accordance with organisational procedures
   • Preparation and issuing of media messages is managed by the media unit, working in conjunction with media networks, to disseminate key messages
   • Preparation of key messages for press conferences and other media events involving the Incident Controller, or other members of the incident management team, are drafted and managed by the media unit
   • Media needs and deadlines are communicated within the public information section and to the incident management team
   • Media liaison officers and/or escorts are appointed to support incident ground media liaison as approved by the Incident Controller
   • Organisational requirements for media liaison are applied
2. Establish public information section
   • Initial briefing, including information required to manage the public information section, is obtained from the Incident Controller where the Incident Controller’s intent is confirmed
3. Public information section objectives and tasks are identified and confirmed with the Incident Controller
4. Information on the current and projected incident situation is obtained from the planning section, the intelligence section, if established, and from external sources including media reports
5. Appropriate structure for the public information section is established, tasks are delegated and briefings are provided to assigned personnel
6. Resources are identified and obtained to meet public information section requirements
7. Safe work practices and health and welfare arrangements for the work area are implemented and monitored
8. Manage public information section
   • Public information plan is prepared and objectives and strategies are specified to meet the information needs of the community and media
9. Analysis of the incident, its risks, constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated into the public information plan
10. How information is to be communicated internally and externally to the community, media and other stakeholders is confirmed in the public information plan
11. Timely and relevant information on the current and projected incident situation including, incident control objectives, strategies and resources at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination
12. Workload, progress and performance of the public information section is monitored and managed
13. Public information section meetings are conducted, as required
14. Structure of the public information section is adjusted during the incident to meet predicted and actual information demands
15. Arrangements are made for a log and/or record of activities and decisions to be kept
16. Manage information and warnings unit
    • Information and warnings unit is established, if required, to provide timely, tailored and relevant information and warnings to affected communities and stakeholders on behalf of the Incident Controller
17. Information is gathered from the incident management team to maintain situational awareness
18. Information gathered directly from the community and used by the information and warnings unit is provided to the intelligence unit
19. Ongoing liaison with the community liaison unit and the media unit is undertaken to ensure that information is disseminated according to the area of responsibility
    • Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident
20. Media unit is communicated as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
21. Current and timely information consistent with incident requirements and local knowledge is provided to the media, in accordance with organisational procedures
22. Preparation and issuing of media messages is managed by the media unit, working in conjunction with media networks, to disseminate key messages
23. Preparation of key messages for press conferences and other media events involving the Incident Controller, or other members of the incident management team, are drafted and managed by the media unit
24. Media needs and deadlines are communicated within the public information section and to the incident management team
25. Media liaison officers and/or escorts are appointed to support incident ground media liaison as approved by the Incident Controller
26. Organisational requirements for media liaison are applied
27. Managecommunity liaison unit
    • Community liaison unit is established, as required, to promote two-way communication between the incident management team and affected communities
28. Established community networks, groups and/or systems relevant to the incident area, that may assist with the acquisition and dissemination of incident information, are identified
29. In consultation with relief and recovery organisations the information needs of affected communities are identified and timely, tailored and relevant information is prepared
30. Community meetings and other activities are conducted to respond to community information needs and to log concerns requiring follow up
31. Liaison is maintained with the operations and planning sections, the intelligence section or unit and the resource unit to ensure the accuracy of information disseminated to the public
32. Liaison with the information and warnings unit is maintained to update incident information and potential threats to communities
33. Local knowledge and information provided by the community about risks, issues and local factors provided by the community are communicated to the incident management team
34. Information about the current and anticipated extent of the impact and broader effect of the incident on the community is communicated in a suitable and timely manner
35. Feedback is obtained from the community on the effectiveness of the community liaison unit’s communication strategies and responses to community concerns
36. Contribute to planning processes
    • Communication is maintained, as required, with members of the incident management team through formal and informal meetings, briefings and debriefings
37. Incident management team is briefed on social and/or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns
38. Monitor and review public information function
    • Allocation and performance of public information resources is monitored and reviewed, in accordance with organisational procedures
39. Briefings and debriefings are conducted, as required
40. Post incident analysis is initiated and/or participated in

Range Statement

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

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