• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Definitions
• Section 4 - Policy/Regulation
• Section 5 - Procedures
• Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 6 - Procedures
• Activation of Critical Incident Management
• Statements to the media or public
• Business Continuity
• Emergency Control Organisation Structure
• Records
• Section 7 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Procedure states how Victoria University (VU) will manage critical incidents, emergency planning and business continuity.

Section 2 - Scope

(2) All staff.

Section 3 - Definitions

(3) Business Continuity  

(4) Chief Warden  

(5) Crisis

(6) Critical Incident

(7) Critical Incident Team

(8) Emergency Operations Centre

(9) Emergency

(10) Emergency Control Organisation

(11) Emergency Planning Committee

(12) Incident

(13) Incident Classification

(14) University Incident Controller

(15) Site Emergency Management Plan

Section 4 - Policy/Regulation

(16) See Critical Incident, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Policy.

Section 5 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Section 6 - Procedures

(17) The UIC may delegate some or all management functions of incident control - planning, intelligence/public information, operations, logistics and finance as the incident or critical incidents escalate in size or complexity.

(18) The CIT will:

1. Seek advice from Legal Services about any statutory obligations or external reporting obligations arising from a critical incident.
2. Ensure that stakeholders and regulatory bodies, including but not limited to, the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency, Work Safe Victoria and the University's insurer are notified in a timely manner and provided with appropriate information.
3. Enlist Subject matter experts within the University to:
   1. assist with the response as required;
   2. implement any operational guidelines relating to a specific incident type, e.g. international student incidents, off-shore incidents or national/international disasters.

(19) Each nominated key decision-making member of the CIT has delegated powers for operational decisions made within the scope of their specific role. Such decisions must always place primary importance on the impact on the VU community. These decisions must also be consistent with the purpose, values and objectives of the University.

(20) Predefined members of the CIT will be trained for their roles and responsibilities. It is their responsibility to ensure staff within their business units are aware of their responsibilities. The CIT delegates will ensure the continuity of the team in a prolonged incident.

(21) In the event that an emergency or incident results in a critical incident being proclaimed (or not).

1. If onshore, the Chief Warden and Security will manage the matter at a local level and will report to the UIC or designated person for direction.
2. If offshore, the responsible officer will manage the matter at a local level and will escalate the matter to the relevant senior officer and the UIC or designated person for direction.

Activation of Critical Incident Management

(22) The UIC has delegated authority to declare a critical incident and to do all things necessary to manage VU’s response and recovery.

(23) The University will respond with appropriate resources arising from a critical incident. The UIC will activate the emergency operations centre as required, convene regular briefings as required for key senior officers and key subject matter experts. Quick and effective control measures through communication with key stakeholders and the community are required to mitigate against such damage.

(24) The University will maintain a central point from which all critical incidents can be commanded, controlled and coordinated in order to support teams during response and recovery activities. The CIT will identify alternative locations for emergency response operations in the event that the dedicated Emergency Operations Centre is rendered unusable or unsafe.

(25) Any critical incident should be reported and managed through standard procedures via People and Culture for staff matters and safety and triage team for critical incidents relating to students in consultation with University Security. 

1. Support services available include but not limited to informing supervisors or academics, student counselling, safer community, welfare, employee assistance program and Police.

(26) All critical incidents that immediately threaten people, assets or University operations must be reported to the University's Security Services who will notify the University Incident, Controller or nominee.

1. Reporting of critical incidents via Quick Safe  aims to achieve timely risk assessment and intervention in the line of supervision extending from students or staff to academics or supervisor through to Senior Executive Group.

(27) The UIC has full discretion over the assigned level of response activated.

1. Minor incident, with or without any disruption to critical business service/process: this will be managed and dealt with at the local level. For example (but not limited to):
   1. Minor injury during a lecture or staff meeting
2. Moderate disruption to critical business service/process: the CIT is notified and a response as required. For example (but not limited to):
   1. Equipment malfunction
   2. Email being compromised
   3. Mental health concerns
3. Major disruption to critical business service/process: CIT involvement is mandatory. For example (but not limited to):
   1. Loss of a University building
   2. Loss of University staff due to pandemic (see Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework)
   3. Major Cyber Attack or indiscriminate acts of Violence

(28) The UIC or nominee will coordinate a post-incident operational debrief (within 10 University business days of the incident) to review actions and to ensure lessons learnt are adopted to ensure continuous improvement.

Statements to the media or public

(29) As soon as possible the UIC will liaise with the Communications Team, prepare a critical incident communication plan.

(30) The critical incident communication plan may include but not limited to:

1. Media update
2. Communications to staff and students
3. Liaison with the emergency service media personnel or other regulatory bodies
4. Maintaining documentation for University’s records.

(31) The Vice-Chancellor or delegate may speak for the University in commenting on matters associated with a critical incident. The Vice-Chancellor may authorise members of the CIT or other officers to issue statements to the media.

Business Continuity

(32) Implementation of an appropriate business continuity response is the responsibility of the relevant delegated officer/s and the relevant most senior officer for that area will liaise with the UIC as required.

(33) Relevant senior officers will be responsible for improving the resilience of their respective areas. This includes ensuring that business as usual operations are fit for purpose and able to cope with a range of disruptions. Contingent to after-hours or before-hours contact arrangements provides additional capability and guidance on approved and adaptive courses of action to be initiated during a disruptive incident (Resilience in Crisis).

Emergency Control Organisation Structure

(34) The University's Emergency Control Organisation has been established in accordance with Australian Standard AS 3745 'Planning for Emergencies in Facilities' and provides members with guidance to the planning for, and management of emergency and critical incident situations across all University Premises.

(35) If an emergency is declared, the campus-based emergency structure will implement an appropriate response to emergency situations in accordance with the Site Emergency Response Plan. In the event that the campus emergency generates into a critical incident, the Emergency Control Organisation hierarchy will come into effect and the CIT will manage the critical incident at the local level, liaising with the Emergency Control Organisation.

(36) During an Emergency or emergency exercise, pending the arrival of the Emergency Services, Emergency Control Organisation personnel shall have absolute authority to issue instructions to evacuate all persons from buildings and/or other areas of the University's Premises.

Records

(37) The UIC or delegated person will ensure records are maintained detailing communications, decisions and actions of the CIT for documentation of the University’s response. Each member of the CIT is responsible for ensuring that similar documentation is developed and maintained for their respective portfolios.

(38) VU will take reasonable steps to ensure that the information it handles is protected from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure. VU's requirements in relation to information technology security are set out in the Information Security Policy, the Records Management Policy and relevant associated procedures.

Section 7 - Guidelines

(39) Nil.