A comprehensive review of the Western Australian Community Evacuation in Emergencies Guideline (Guideline) is undertaken every five years to ensure its relevance and continuous improvement. The upcoming review will begin with targeted feedback from key stakeholders on the current Guideline. This input will inform the development of a consultation draft, which will then undergo broad consultation across the emergency management sector.

State EM Policy 5.7 and State EM Plan section 5.3.2 on Community Evacuation will also be reviewed to ensure alignment.

The initial consultation will open from Tuesday 25 November 2025 and close on Friday 16 January 2026. Please submit your feedback by close of business on Friday 16 January 2026 using the Complete the survey or Drop a quick comment tabs. We welcome other questions or comments you have in relation to the WA community evacuation arrangements.

To guide the review process, the State Emergency Management (EM) Policy Branch has developed the following objective and principles:

To develop fit-for-purpose and contemporary State EM arrangements for community evacuation that assist Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) in planning for and conducting community evacuation for all hazards that may impact Western Australia.

• Provides best practice guidance to assist EMAs in planning and conducting community evacuation activities
• Clarifies roles and responsibilities for community evacuation in Western Australia.
• Ensures alignment with nationally agreed principles for evacuation planning and the recognised five-stage evacuation process
• Updates for currency, including consequential and factual amendments
• Improves readability, accessibility and useability