Community engagement research picks up prizes

CRC research is making an impact all around the country, and has recently been recognised in the Emergency Media and Public Affairs (EMPA) 2019 Awards for Excellence.  

Community preparedness in NSW

Led by Dr Josh Whittaker from the University of Wollongong, CRC research into community preparedness and responses by affected communities following the 2017 fires in NSW won the Excellence in Research award. The research, conducted at the request of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, has led to the RFS putting in place new processes to better liaise with communities during major fire events, and further strengthening of RFS' approach to public information through websites, smartphone applications and face-to-face communication.

CRC CEO Dr Richard Thornton says the research has had a substantial impact.

“The outcomes are significant for the Rural Fire Service, and the emergency management sector more generally. It shows that quality research is highly valued by our partners, and the benefits that the Rural Fire Service gain really allows them to make positive changes and improve the services they provide to the community."

Dr Josh Whittaker was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the research team, which was comprised of himself and Dr Mel Taylor of Macquarie University.

“To be recognised by EMPA shows how valuable this research has been to the NSW Rural Fire Service in allowing them to refine their warnings and community engagement,” said Dr Whittaker.

To find out more about this research, read Hazard Note 45 or view the full report.

Conflicting cues in warnings

Highly commended by EMPA was research on conflicting cues and how they impact emergency warnings. Led by Dr Paula Dootson at the Queensland University of Technology, this research is the first to offer empirical evidence of how environmental, social and media cues can affect how people respond to emergency warnings. The results are significant, showing that conflicting cues do exist and that these can affect information processing of risk perceptions and therefore prevent appropriate protective action. The research shows the problem is not particular to one hazard type.

Along with Dr Dootson, this research was conducted by Queensland University of Technology researchers A/Prof Dominique Greer, Sophie Miller, Prof Vivienne Tippett.

Find out more about the research in Hazard Note 59.

Science in the media acknowledged

A collaboration between Liam Mannix, science journalist with The Age, and CRC researchers Dr Josh Whittaker and Dr Katharine Haynes, was also recognised with the judges choice award. During February Dr Whittaker and Dr Haynes spent a week as ‘Scientists in residence’ at The Age, working with Liam Mannix as part of a program run by the Australian Science Media Centre.

Their article on 6 February looked at research into bushfire warnings, highlighting that while the message may have changed since Black Saturday, people are still choosing to stay even when they are advised to leave.

Read the article here.