Recognition for animal research

Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research on animals in emergency management has helped a local community group receive a Highly Commended Community Award in the 2018 NSW Resilient Australia Awards. 

The Blue Mountains Animal Ready Community (Blue ARC) group has been working closely with the Managing animals in disasters project to highlight the impact of animals on the behaviours of people in natural hazards, and reinforce the need to support communities to be prepared and to plan for animals. Using a ‘community-to-community’ approach to enhancing awareness, preparedness and planning, Blue ARC have been increasing the preparedness of people within the Blue Mountains for a bushfire.

Project leader Dr Mel Taylor (Macquarie University) was on hand at the awards ceremony in Sydney on 16 October to accept the award with Jenny Bigelow and MaryLou Keating from Blue ARC.