In 1995 a Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land was developed for Victoria, Australia. The challenge for Victorian fire managers has been to balance the safety of humans living nearby to parks and forests with the needs of flora and fauna. The Code was one of the first strategies to set an overall framework for integrated management of wildfire and fire-related activities on Victorian parks and forests. Significant public scrutiny and key learnings from the 2002-2003 fire-season provided a solid basis to begin the scheduled 10-year review of the 1995 Code. Over an eighteen month period, a thorough review of the Code was undertaken. Essential to the review was collaboration with the Victorian community, stakeholders and wildfire specialists. The approved 2006 Code is now being implemented across the seven million hectares of parks and forests in Victoria and interest has been shown in a broader application of the Code by international wildfire experts. The Code establishes a framework for the public administration of fire management, with community engagement providing the foundation for successful wildfire prevention, suppression and recovery. It links wildfire management with the active use of fire for ecological purposes and contributes to global wildfire management strategies.