Keeping children safe is the highest priority for schools and early childhood services. This includes during periods of increased bushfire and emergency risk when schools and services work to protect children. At times, this may include relocations or closures.
The Department of Education assesses the bushfire risk of all schools and early childhood services in Victoria every year. This is done using a Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) method designed specifically for educational facilities.
Following the lessons learned from Black Saturday and other emergencies, Victoria introduced the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) and the Category 4 List. These measures help identify schools and services in higher-risk locations and support early, pre-emptive action when dangerous conditions are forecast. A range of risk factors are carefully assessed, including being in a Bushfire Prone Area, surrounding vegetation type, local landscape risks, and access to and from the school or service, which impacts how quickly the site could be evacuated if an incident occurred.
One of the most important lessons from past disasters is that acting early saves lives. That’s why education facilities take early action to keep their communities safe from bushfires. Schools and services use the Australian Fire Danger Rating System as a trigger to enact their pre-emptive action plans, which align with their bushfire risk category and are approved by the department before each fire season. This also aligns with school and early childhood regulatory requirements.
- All schools and early childhood services on the BARR and Category 4 List are required to close on Catastrophic fire danger days in their fire weather district.
- In addition to this, very high-risk school sites and co-located services (Category 0-2 of the BARR) will relocate or close when they meet their fire danger trigger for their local government area, depending on their risk category and individual circumstances.
Some early childhood services also close depending on their individual circumstances.
Clear and early communication with families is also critical. Schools and services are encouraged to inform their communities about their emergency management plans and bushfire preparedness actions. This can help reduce uncertainty and anxiety and support families to be prepared to act. Schools and services aim to provide as much notice as possible when enacting their plans, however fire danger forecasts are dynamic, and small changes in wind speed, temperatures and other factors may cause changes in the forecast. This can limit how much notice can be provided to communities, with plans only able to be confirmed the afternoon beforehand in line with the weather forecast.
Schools and services prepare for emergencies throughout the year. This includes attending annual emergency management planning training, conducting regular drills for children and staff, and keeping their sites clear from excessive vegetation. Emergency management plans are approved annually and reviewed and updated throughout the year, as required. These plans cover a wide range of hazards, not just bushfire, ensuring services are prepared for many different types of emergencies.
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility. Families play an important role by staying informed, keeping contact details up to date, and developing and following their own bushfire survival or emergency plan. Reach out to your school or early childhood service if you have any questions about their bushfire plan, or you can view the Department of Education’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness policy on the Policy and Advisory Library: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/bushfire-and-grassfire-preparedness/policy
Additional information about bushfire preparedness in early childhood services is also available on the Department of Education’s Managing bushfire and grassfire risks in early childhood services website Managing bushfire and grassfire risks in early childhood services | vic.gov.au
You can also keep up to date with information regarding bushfire preparedness and warnings from the following sources:
- VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices to monitor for fires and other emergencies in your area
- VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
- Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
- Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)
- ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters
- Your Bushfire Plan via the Country Fire Authority’s website (https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/before-and-during-a-fire/your-bushfire-plan)
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in helping keep children safe.