Managing exercises

Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection: Handbook 3

In 2011, Handbooks were introduced to better align the Series with the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience. Compiled by practitioners with management and service-delivery experience in a range of disaster events, the handbooks comprised principles, strategies and actions to help the management and delivery of support services in a disaster context.

The first edition of this handbook was published in 2001 and was developed by a steering committee consisting mainly of emergency services personnel. Over the intervening years many more stakeholders have become involved in the conduct of exercises, from the health to counter terrorism sectors. 

The principles and concepts outlined in this handbook have been brought together from agencies in the emergency management and counter terrorism sectors to produce an all-hazards framework for exercises. The concepts and principles contained in this handbook are also incorporated in an exercise management unit within the Public Safety Training Package, a competency based qualification. It is recommended that those planning to conduct exercises avail themselves of accredited training in this area to ensure best practice.

Some goals of this handbook are:

• to provide a shared understanding of key concepts, principles and frameworks used in Australia
• to provide national consistency in the terminology, management structures and documentation used in exercise management throughout Australia, and
• to provide resources that improve the quality of exercises.