Multi-agency emergency management coordination above the IMT

Better management of emergency incidents can reduce any adverse consequences on communities. As such, the aim of this project was to better understand how multi-agency emergency management coordination at regional and state levels can be improved. Research has found the challenges facing emergency managers working at the strategic level, above the incident management team (IMT), are different in both content and context from the challenges facing personnel working at a local IMT level (Paton and Owen, 2013; Owen et al. 2013). At a strategic level, managers are typically engaged in incidents that are of high potential consequence, are non-routine and have significant political involvement. These managers are also concerned with longer term issues related to post-incident support, such as community well-being and recovery. Assessing the overall response and recovery effort is also important at the strategic level. The research reveals a range of challenges and changes in the emergency management industry that will need to be addressed strategically. Key industry groups are identifying options and strategies to address these, in partnership with the research team.