PPRR and AIIMS: a whole-of-government strategy in NSW

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the common Prevent/Mitigate, Prepare, Respond, Recover (PPRR) framework and the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) in NSW. The bushfire experience in Australia during 2019–20 revealed the limitations of existing approaches to 3 of the 4 PPRR phases: prevention/mitigation, preparation and recovery. A lack of coordination across agencies, as identified in the Final Report of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry (Owen & O’Kane 2020), reduced the value of much good work. A whole-of-government strategy using AIIMS structures is recommended to promote effective coordination across agencies rather than relying on current collaborative committees that are constrained by agency priorities. AIIMS provides a means of coordinating the work of agencies in prevention/mitigation, preparedness and recovery by working across agencies to enhance the safety of communities.