The research team from the Flood risk communication project have had their paper published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Dr Katharine Haynes and Matalena Tofa (Macquarie University), Lucinda Coates, Jonathan van Leeuwen (Risk Frontiers) and Ashely Avci discuss the different evacuation behaviours that occur during floods and how to create better compliance to evacuation orders. The paper explores a study of NSW residents and business owners who chose to shelter rather than evacuate during a major flood event in 2017. The research paper highlights the importance of understanding the different decisions that take place in emergency management responses and risk communication.
The second paper published by Dr Craig Cormick (Instinct and Reason) focuses on the values of decision-making. Dr Cormick writes about the importance of understanding what the community values in terms of diversity. The paper follows a study of 539 community members and their values and attitudes towards emergency management organisations. The data from this survey provides a base for understanding existing community values in relation to diversity and inclusion.
The research team from the Child-centred disaster risk reduction project have had their paper published in the Australian Journal of Emergency Management. Dr Briony Towers (RMIT University) and Mark Whybro (Fire and Rescue NSW) write about the Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge, which is an interactive safety game and mobile phone application that teaches children about reporting and communicating information during an emergency. The paper outlines the need for better emergency response education in younger demographics as it follows a study of the application in a Melbourne primary school. The research team have since modified the game for greater use to provide children with the information and skills they need to correctly identify and report emergencies.
PhD Student Ryan Hoult’s thesis at the University of Melbourne has been made available online. Ryan’s student project Seismic assessment and design philosophy of reinforced concrete in Australia has conducted a review of the current Australian Standard for Earthquake Actions (AS 1170.4:2007), and has been involved with assessing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structural walls across different types of Australian buildings.