Disability inclusion in disaster

The latest edition of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management is now available, informed by CRC research and expertise.

The July 2018 edition focuses on social vulnerability and the inclusion the very young, physically or intellectually disabled groups, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and Indigenous populations in disaster.

Dr Briony Towers (RMIT University) and Mark Whybro (Fire and Rescue NSW) write about the importance of emergency response education. Dr Towers discusses the Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge, which is an interactive safety game and mobile phone application. The game teaches children between four and seven years about reporting and communicating information in an emergency. After trialling the game in primary schools highlighted its success, the research team have now modified it for greater use to provide children with the information and skills they need to correctly identify and report emergencies.

Andrew Gissing (Risk Frontiers), Dr Katharine Haynes, Dr Matalena Tofa (Macquarie University) and Jonathan Van Leeuwen (Risk Frontiers) have investigated how levees in Lismore, NSW, influence flood preparedness. The paper discusses the paradox of levees after a 2017 survey discovered that 14 out of 15 local business owners believed that the community was less prepared for flooding since the construction of the levee.

Looking at the evidence to support incident management teams' capability is Dr Christine Owen, A/Prof Benjamin Brooks (University of Tasmania), Dr Peter Hayes (RMIT University), Cameron Scott (National Broadband Network) and Geoff Conway (Crossbow Consulting Services). The team outlines the review into the capabilities required for senior AIIMS Level 3 Incident Management Team roles, which considered the human factors and emergency management literature, as well as research conducted through the Bushfire CRC. Analysis and synthesis of the evidence identified three broad capabilities, each with three sub-capabilities important in incident management. The three categories were to model leadership and teamwork, to think and plan strategically and demonstrate self-awareness. Based on the findings of this paper and the demanding nature of the capabilities required by senior IMT personnel, AFAC has published guidelines on continuing professional development programs as part of the Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme.

You can access the entire edition online for free. If you would prefer to receive the free email alert for the online edition so that you don’t miss out, subscribe to email alerts. 

The Australian Journal of Emergency Management is published by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.