Emergency management in the community

Key research insights from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC featured over the four days of the 20th annual Emergency Management Conference Melbourne, which took place online over 29-30 September and 6-7 October 2020 and was attended by approximately 350 people.

Prof Lisa Gibbs (University of Melbourne), Recovery Capitals project leader, gave a presentation to explain how the new Guide to Post-Disaster Recovery Capitals can help navigate through the complexity and diversity of community recovery and resilience while considering the natural, social, financial, cultural, political, built and human resources associated with recovery.

Deakin University’s Dr Timothy Neale, lead researcher on the Hazards, culture and Indigenous communities project, presented findings from the project and reflected on how and why natural hazard management agencies engage with Indigenous communities, common roadblocks and enablers, and possible future directions for collaboration and partnerships.

From the Enabling sustainable emergency volunteering project team, Dr Darja Kragt (University of Western Australia) presented key research insights and practical tips for emergency volunteer leaders on the importance of volunteer expectations and how to improve recruitment messages. 

In the final block of the conference, the Diversity and inclusion: building strength and capability project was extensively featured in a joint presentation by project leader Celeste Young (Victoria University) and project end-users Janine Taylor (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services) and Steve O’Malley (Fire Rescue Victoria). In their presentation, the project team discussed the evolution of inclusive practice over the last three years, the purpose of diversity and the critical role inclusion plays in the management of social, human and natural hazard risk in communities and organisations.

The conference has been a landmark event for the past 20 years in Melbourne as the annual gathering for management and operations staff and volunteers from all Victorian emergency services. Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, it was conducted online.

The Emergency Management Conference Melbourne is an initiative by the Emergency Services Foundation, supported by the Victorian state government, Bureau of Meteorology, Inspector-General for Emergency Management, Emergency Management Victoria and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.