How Recovery works

What is recovery?

Recovery is the process of restoring or improving the livelihood and health, as well as the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets, systems and activities of a disaster affected community. It is a complex process that provides an opportunity to enhance community resilience and to ‘build back better’ to avoid or reduce future hazard/disaster risk.

Recovery can be grouped into the following domains:

The social domain considers the impact an event may have on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. This domain is primarily concerned with safety, shelter, health and psychological wellbeing.

The economic domain considers the direct and indirect impacts that an event may have on business, primary production, tourism, and the broader economy.

The built or infrastructure domain considers the impact on essential infrastructure, including essential services, commercial and industrial facilities, housing, and public buildings and assets e.g. road networks.

The natural domain considers the impact that an event may have on a healthy functioning environment, which underpins the economy and society. Components of the natural environment include air and water quality, land degradation and contamination, plant and wildlife damage/loss, national parks, and cultural and heritage sites

Recovery at the state and community level

In South Australia, responsibility for all phases in emergency management (prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery - PPRR) is shared between state and local governments, business and industry, non-governmental and community service organisations, as well as communities and individuals.  While responsibilities may not be shared equally, all stakeholders are charged with working collaboratively with affected communities to provide a range of recovery activities, programs and services.

When a recovery event is complex or of a scale that exceeds the capacity for recovery at a community level, it will be coordinated by the State Government, with Community Recovery Coordinators appointed as relevant.

The aim of state-coordinated disaster recovery programs is to help communities reach a point where they can successfully facilitate their own recovery, i.e., they are sustainable and resilient.

All agencies involved in recovery operations are to engage with affected communities and stakeholders during the development of plans and delivery of recovery activities following an emergency.

When a significantly complex recovery effort is required, two key groups are instituted at the state level:

1. The State Recovery Coordination and Planning Group (SRCPG) focuses on consequence management, longer-term recovery planning and the establishment of funding avenues for recovery.

2. The State Recovery Operations Group (SROG) focuses on immediate operations such as water replenishment, relief and recovery centre support, as well as waste and carcass management.

More information on state-led recovery is outlined in the State Emergency Management Plan and in the State Disaster Recovery Framework and Guidelines.

Where an event is localised or within the capacity of local government or community arrangements, recovery will be coordinated at the community level.

State Government departments relevant to the type of event will provide initial advice and access to tools in support of community coordinated recovery.

These tools and advice seek to complement (not replace) any community recovery plans that may exist through such groups as emergency management zones or local community groups.

In smaller or less complex events, a Community Recovery Coordinator (CRC) may be appointed to guide and support an affected community’s development of a recovery plan.

CRCs may be drawn from a variety of sources, such as local government, community leaders, community organisations, or regional State Government staff

Where an event is within the capacity of a community to coordinate recovery, a council can appoint a Council Community Recovery Coordinator (CCRC). When a CCRC position is established, a Local Recovery Committee (LRC) may also be formed to facilitate coordination of recovery efforts in the community.

The LRC is chaired by the CCRC. The CCRC may support the establishment of other relevant groups commensurate to scale and issues.

More information on community-led recovery is outlined in the State Disaster Recovery Framework and Guidelines.

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience's Community Recovery Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to community recovery in Australia.

Recovery governance coordination by scale of event

There are varying governance arrangements for different scales of events in South Australia.

Examples of event: River Murray Floods, 2019-20 Bushfires
The State Government (The Department of the Premier and Cabinet) coordinates recovery efforts, which involves various agencies, local government with input from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local communities, organisations and businesses.

Examples of event:  Severe weather and flooding event, January February 2022

Recovery coordination is led at the community level, with varying involvement of specific government agencies depending on the nature of the hazard causing the damage.

Examples of event: Lucindale and Cherry Gardens fires, 2020

Recovery coordination is at the community and local government level with input from non-government organisations (NGOs), local organisations and businesses. There is likely to be some government agency involvement, depending on the hazard.

State Emergency Management Plan

The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) is responsible for the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP), which sets out the state’s comprehensive emergency management arrangements.

It outlines a coordinated approach to building resilience and reducing vulnerability across all aspects of the community, including state and local government, business, the non-government sector and individuals.

State Emergency Management Plan

National Emergency Management Agency

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is Australia’s National Disaster Management Organisation.

NEMA manages the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan under which states and territories may seek Australian Government assistance when the scale of an emergency or disaster exceeds or exhausts the jurisdiction’s response capacity and capabilities, or where resources cannot be mobilised in sufficient time.

NEMA delivers programs, policies and services that strengthen Australia's national security and emergency management capability.

For more information visit the NEMA website.