How to become an Emergency Management Officer

Coordinates, plans and manages the development and implementation of strategies, policies and programs to respond to and recover from disasters or emergency situations, such as floods, cyclones and biosecurity incidents.

Main tasks

• Develops policies, strategic and operational plans and processes to respond to and recover from disasters or emergency situations
• Identifies and analyses key issues and their impact on disaster risk reduction, emergency management, policies and response capability
• Coordinates response activities to respond to and recover from disasters or emergency situations
• Establishes and manages networks to liaise on emergency preparedness, prevention and response and recovery operations from disasters or emergency situations
• Leads the development of recovery programs and activities to support the recovery of communities following a disaster or emergency situation

Ways in

• University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue) (PUA30322); Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations) (PUA30922); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue Management) (PUA42619); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Leadership) (PUA40422); Certificate IV in Public Safety (Leadership) (PUA41019); Certificate IV in Public Safety (SES Leadership) (PUA40219); Graduate Diploma of Crisis Leadership (PUA80119); Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management) (PUA60120)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $147,940 a year
• About 68,800 people work in this job group now, and about 82,900 are projected by 2035. (+20.4%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Correctional Facility Manager
• Airport Manager
• Sports Administrator
• Arts Administrator or Manager
• Library Services Manager
• Commissioned Defence Force Officer

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Emergency Management Officer?

Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue); Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations).

How much does an Emergency Management Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $147,940 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Emergency Management Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 68,800 to about 82,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Emergency Management Officer?

Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Certificate III in Public Safety (Aquatic Search and Rescue); Certificate III in Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Operations).

Will AI change the work of an Emergency Management Officer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04