Gemma Gray’s Masters research looked at the long-term viability of emergency services in Australia, given the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, and at examples of spontaneous volunteers arising to support their community in times of need. Her thesis addressed the paradox of people’s willingness to help and provide support during disaster event versus the capacity of emergency services to effectively utilise offer of assistance. Gemma’s research also explored the concept of shared reasonability to address future risks and reliance on emergency services and government through recent case studies of high-profile examples of spontaneous volunteering including the 2010–2011 Queensland floods and Christchurch earthquakes, identifying what impeded and what facilitated collaboration for more resilient communities during these disasters.
Gemma is now a project manager in the Executive Office of the Emergency Management Commissioner at Emergency Management Victoria.
