In 2020, the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) approved a sector-led review of local emergency management arrangements (LEMA). Following extensive sector consultation, a comprehensive LEMA Improvement Program and implementation approach was endorsed by the SEMC in August 2023.

One of the projects being delivered by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) as part of the LEMA Improvement Program, is the development of an online Local Government Emergency Management Knowledge Hub (EM Hub).

The EM Hub explains all roles and responsibilities of local governments as outlined in the Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act) and the State Emergency Management (EM) Framework. It consolidates and summarises key information into a single, digital resource and provides direct links to useful documents for further reading and reference. It has been designed to assist local governments develop and maintain their local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) so they are better prepared for emergencies.

Hosted on the DFES website, the EM Hub is designed as both an introduction to emergency management for those new to emergency management and a quick-reference for experienced practitioners.

The EM Hub is built around the four phases of emergency management in Western Australia: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR).

Each section includes:

• A short introduction to explain the topic.
• An overview of the primary requirements of local government under the EM Act and State EM Framework.
• Advice about practical steps local governments can take to meet their primary requirements.
• Links to resources such as templates and guidelines.

It can be navigated sequentially or accessed via hyperlinks and menu bars to efficiently locate specific information.

We welcome feedback on the EM Hub until 27 March 2026.