The MAV is the custodian of the Inter-Council Emergency Management Resource Sharing Protocol (Word 271KB), which sets out an agreed position between councils regarding the provision of resources to assist other municipalities with response and recovery tasks during and after emergencies.

The protocol is intended to clarify operational, insurance and reimbursement issues that may arise through municipal resource-sharing arrangements.

The protocol is consistent with the concepts and policy guidelines articulated in the Emergency Management Act 2013 and the State Emergency Management Plan.

Council adoption of the protocol is voluntary. It is not intended to inhibit or diminish the effectiveness of any existing inter-council resource sharing arrangement. Councils should review any existing arrangements to ensure that issues identified in this protocol are addressed.

Councils are asked to recommit to the protocol every four years. They can opt in or out of the protocol arrangements at any time by notifying us in writing and providing 30 days’ notice.

Version 3 (Word - 271KB) of the protocol came into effect in February 2021.

Human Resource Sharing Database

The MAV also established a Human Resource Sharing Database following the 19/20 North Eastern Victoria and East Gippsland fires to log offers of assistance from the local government sector. It is intended to only activate the use of the database in major emergencies to facilitate resource sharing.

Further information on the MAV Human Resource Sharing Database is provided in the MAV Human Resource Sharing Database FAQ (PDF - 232KB).

Case Study

The MAV and East Gippsland Shire Council developed a Case Study (PDF - 381KB) following the 2019/20 East Gippsland fires to share lessons from the implementation of the protocol in the large-scale disaster.

Protocol signatories

Councils that are currently signatories are formally indicating their support for the principles of the protocol. Under the Alpine Resorts (Management) Act 1997, the board of an alpine resort is deemed to be a municipal council for the purposes of the Emergency Management Act (1986). Therefore, alpine resorts are eligible to be signatories to the protocol.