Elements and Performance Criteria
- Establish the Information Unit
- Initial briefing and information required to establish the Information Unit (Unit) is sought and obtained from the supervisor
- Unit priorities are confirmed with the supervisor and are in accordance with the Incident Action Plan (IAP)
- Unit is established and resourced to meet incident requirements and establishment is communicated to the Incident Management Team (IMT)
- Structure of the Information Unit is determined by incident complexity and consequential communication requirements
- Media Officer is appointed within the Unit, if required, to prepare media releases for authorisation by the Incident Controller, to provide information to the media and to ensure media needs and deadlines are met
- Briefings to members of the Unit are conducted upon commencement of shift and at regular intervals
- Safe work practices, health and welfare arrangements for work area are implemented and monitored
- Collect information on the current and predicted incident situation
- Accurate information on the current and projected incident situation as well as incident control objectives, strategies and resources working at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination
- Local knowledge and information regarding risks, issues and local factors provided by stakeholder groups and the community is communicated to the IMT
- Develop an Information Unit Communications Plan
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- Information Unit Communications Plan (IUC Plan) is prepared and specifies the objectives and strategies to meet the information needs of the community, media, incident personnel and involved and affected organisations
- Analysis of the incident, risks and constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated in the IUC Plan
- Tactics and timelines required to implement the strategies are identified in the IUC Plan
- IAP is supported by the IUC Plan by confirming the process and means by which information is to be disseminated both within the incident and to parties external of the incident
- How information is to be communicated internally and externally, to the community, media and other relevant stakeholders is confirmed in the IUC Plan
- Disseminate information to the community
- Engage with the community
- Community information strategy is developed by the Unit in accordance with the IAP requirements
- Communicationwith communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident are organised and conducted
- Communities are provided with information to prepare themselves and to manage risks
- Community meetings to respond to community information needs are coordinated
- Information and feedback from the community on the effectiveness of its communications strategies and community concerns is sought
- Manage the Information Unit
- Members of the Unit are briefed on their responsibilities in meeting the outcomes of the IUC Plan
- Unit is publicised as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
- Accurate and regular flow of information within the incident and to parties external to the incident, is maintained and effective incident management is supported
- Work by members of the Unit is undertaken in close liaison with the Management Support Unit and Liaison Officers
- Structure of the Unit is adjusted during the incident to meet the predicted and actual information demands of the incident
- Unit is managed in accordance with control agency workplace policies
- Appropriate document management and record keeping systems are established
- Contribute to the planning processes
- Communication is maintained with the IMT formally, through meetings, briefings and debriefings, and informally, as required
- IMT is briefed on social or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns as required
- Input is provided to the development of the IAP in relation to information collection and dissemination