Unit of competency Outline

Information current as of
21/10/2026 12:12 AM AWST

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Manage information function at an incident

Manage information function at an incident

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAOPE021A
State Code
D5509
TGA Status
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
17/08/2012
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/08/2011
Original Release Date
09/02/2011
Nominal Hours
40
Field of Education
091105 - Police Studies
Description
This unit covers the competency required to manage the information function within the Incident Management Team. The information function prepares and disseminates timely, accurate and relevant incident information to a range of stakeholders including community, government, media, incident personnel and their organisations, as well as other organisations.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
General notes
N/A
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Establish the Information Unit
  • 1.1 Initial briefing and information required to establish the Information Unit (Unit) is sought and obtained from the supervisor.
  • 1.2 Unit priorities are confirmed with the supervisor and are in accordance with the Incident Action Plan (IAP).
  • 1.3 Unit is established and resourced to meet incident requirements and establishment is communicated to the Incident Management Team (IMT).
  • 1.4 Structure of the Information Unit is determined by incident complexity and consequential communication requirements.
  • 1.5 Media Officer is appointed within the Unit, if required, to prepare media releases for authorisation by the Incident Controller, to provide information to the media and to ensure media needs and deadlines are met.
  • 1.6 Briefings to members of the Unit are conducted upon commencement of shift and at regular intervals.
  • 1.7 Safe work practices, health and welfare arrangements for work area are implemented and monitored.
2 Collect information on the current and predicted incident situation
  • 2.1 Accurate information on the current and projected incident situation as well as incident control objectives, strategies and resources working at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination.
  • 2.2 Local knowledge and information regarding risks, issues and local factors provided by stakeholder groups and the community is communicated to the IMT.
3 Develop an Information Unit Communications Plan
  • 3.1 Information Unit Communications Plan (IUC Plan) is prepared and specifies the objectives and strategies to meet the information needs of the community, media, incident personnel and involved and affected organisations.
  • 3.2 Analysis of the incident, risks and constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated in the IUC Plan.
  • 3.3 Tactics and timelines required to implement the strategies are identified in the IUC Plan.
  • 3.4 IAP is supported by the IUC Plan by confirming the process and means by which information is to be disseminated both within the incident and to parties external of the incident.
  • 3.5 How information is to be communicated internally and externally, to the community, media and other relevant stakeholders is confirmed in the IUC Plan.
4 Disseminate information to the community
  • 4.1 Timely, accurate and relevant information, approved by the Incident Controller, is disseminated to stakeholders in conjunction with the IMT.
  • 4.2 Planning Officer is advised of any emerging issues.
5. Engage with the community
  • 5.1 Community information strategy is developed by the Unit in accordance with the IAP requirements.
  • 5.2 Communication with communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident are organised and conducted.
  • 5.3 Communities are provided with information to prepare themselves and to manage risks.
  • 5.4 Community meetings to respond to community information needs are coordinated.
  • 5.5 Information and feedback from the community on the effectiveness of its communications strategies and community concerns is sought.
6. Manage the Information Unit
  • 6.1 Members of the Unit are briefed on their responsibilities in meeting the outcomes of the IUC Plan.
  • 6.2 Unit is publicised as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident.
  • 6.3 Accurate and regular flow of information within the incident and to parties external to the incident, is maintained and effective incident management is supported.
  • 6.4 Work by members of the Unit is undertaken in close liaison with the Management Support Unit and Liaison Officers.
  • 6.5 Structure of the Unit is adjusted during the incident to meet the predicted and actual information demands of the incident.
  • 6.6 Unit is managed in accordance with control agency workplace policies.
  • 6.7 Appropriate document management and record keeping systems are established.
7. Contribute to the planning processes
  • 7.1 Communication is maintained with the IMT formally, through meetings, briefings and debriefings, and informally, as required.
  • 7.2 IMT is briefed on social or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns as required.
  • 7.3 Input is provided to the development of the IAP in relation to information collection and dissemination.
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Initial briefing may include:
Current situation
Objectives and strategies
Potential occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues
Potential public health and environmental risks
Supervisor may be:
Incident Controller in NCTC ICCS
Planning Officer in AIIMS
Incident Action Plan may include:
Accommodation and welfare arrangements
Communications Plan
Incident objectives
Information on alternative or fallback strategies
Information Plan for dissemination of information to all stakeholders
Information regarding the necessary logistical arrangements
Management arrangements, including establishment of sectors and divisions
Management structure if established
Maps or site plans of the incident
Medical Plan and consideration of occupational health and safety issues
Resources to be allocated to each division and sector
Statement of current situation and predictions of the incident's likely development (including key risk exposures)
Strategies to achieve defined incident objectives
Structural chart depicting the personnel in the incident management arrangements, including establishment of divisions and sectors
Timings of meetings and changeovers
Traffic management
Incident Management Team may include:
Incident Controller
Planning Officer
Operations Officer
Logistics Officer
Safety Advisor
Structure of the Information Unit may include:
Community relations
Internal communication
Media liaison
Web updates
Incident complexity may include:
Agency policy
Fuel type
Incident location
Incident size and behaviour
Jurisdictional boundaries
Organisational complexity
Political sensitivity
Threat to life and property
Topography
Type of incident management and combat operations implemented
Values at risk
Briefings may include:
Situation
Mission
Execution
Administration
Command
Communications
Safety
Information Unit Communications Plan may include:
Communication objectives
Communication strategies for communicating with the media, the community, internal stakeholders, and involved and affected organisations
Feedback mechanisms
Messages
Target audiences
Timelines for communicating with target audiences
Involved and affected organisations may include:
Combat organisations
Contracted companies and organisations
Control agency
Recovery organisations
Support organisations
Utilities
Risks may include:
Consideration of worst case scenarios
Misuse of information by stakeholders
Release of incorrect information
Safety risks and hazards
Values at risk
Constraints may include:
Environmental
Physical
Political
Social
Temporal
Target audiences may include:
Businesses
General public
Government agencies
Incident personnel
Internet users
Local landowner groups
Local conservation groups
Media
Ministers
Stakeholders may include:
Community
Government
Media
Other organisations
Communication with communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident may include:
Door knocks
Forums
Letter drops
Meetings
Radio communications
SMS
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
collate and prepare timely, accurate, relevant and consistent information to be disseminated to a range of stakeholders to meet their individual information requirements
develop an IUC Plan to meet the needs of the community, media, stakeholders and the incident control structure
organise and conduct community meetings to assist local groups to prepare themselves and to manage their risks
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in an operational environment or in an industry-approved multi-agency simulated workplace environment.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
incidents or simulation of incidents, in a multi-agency workplace environment
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
No information
No information