Research guides communications with community

Improving outcomes for those in the face of natural hazards was the central focus of the latest Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Advisory Forum in Hobart.

More than 60 delegates came together for the Communications, Community Engagement and Education RAF, where research presentations and group breakout discussions looked at the CRC’s research program. Together, researchers and emergency services agency representatives discussed the application of research, explored how the research can be tailored to improve its value and looked at further opportunities for use.

Presentations covered the latest research in communications, community engagement and recovery around disaster management.

CRC researcher A/Prof Kim Johnson (Queensland University of Technology) and Dr Barbara Ryan (University of Southern Queensland) shared the outcomes of their Tactical Research Fund project, Mapping approaches to community engagement for preparedness in Australia. Their presentation detailed the Australian generative model of community engagement for preparedness and shared details of two toolkits that have been produced by the research.

CRC researcher Dr Briony Towers (RMIT)presented on the Child-centred disaster risk reduction project, which has evaluated programs and strategies based on a child-centred disaster risk reduction framework for the Victorian Country Fire Authority, Victoria State Emergency Service, New South Wales Fire and Rescue, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and the Red Cross. Dr Towers explained how their work is providing end-user agencies with practical guidance and tools for evidence-based disaster resilience education policy and programming.

All presentation slides are available online.

The final RAF for 2019 focuses on Predictive Services and will take place in Sydney on 17 October.