Book of Abstracts 2013 - Australian and New Zealand Disaster ...

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Dr Donell Holloway Research Associate, Edith Cowan University Co Authors - Prof Lelia Green, Professor of Communications, Edith Cowan University. Dr Danielle Brady, Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University. Developing a user friendly FireWatch site: Debunking sociotechnological assumptions about Internet users in remote communities Catastrophic fire weather alerts have been occurring over Australia this summer, and long term forecasts predict an increase in bushfire events throughout many areas of the country. Several government inquiries into bushfire disasters over the last ten years have called for “more effective communication regarding bushfire information during bushfires” (Elsworth et al, 2008). This paper reports on the development of a user friendly, web based, fire information site which is based on an existing, but highly technical, fire information site run by Landgate WA. Community consultation and onsite prototype testing in the Kununurra area of WA revealed that sociotechnological assumptions regarding ‘the remote community Internet user’ need to be reconsidered and reconceptualised at a microgeographical level. Our findings indicate that a full understanding of the sociotechnological capacities of individuals and communities is vital in establishing a user friendly site which can present fire information both relevant to, and delivered in a manner most suited to, remote community users. These capacities include the level of Internet access, availability and reliability, the variety of Internet enabled devices (or platforms) used in remote Australian communities, digital literacy levels, as well as general attitudes towards the use of the Internet for delivering bushfire information. The use of multiple communication channels and platforms to inform citizens about bushfire emergencies ensures a greater degree of coverage—in case of communication systems breakdowns or difficulties. This is particularly relevant to remote communities where the communications infrastructure is less reliable, and where even VHF, UHF and satellite phone technologies are erratic. The development of FireWatch’s user friendly site will help with the delivery of vital fire information to these under-served remote communities. It will also enable the general public of these areas to source bushfire information previously accessible only to scientists, foresters, land managers and fire experts. Ms Jan-Adele Hotz Director of Nursing, Mundubberra MPHS, Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service Co Authors - Mr Phillip Duncan, Senior Safety Consultant Rural, Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service. Mrs Judy Morton, Director of Nursing Ruaral & Family Services, Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service. " Mundubbera - Floating To a Halt " - the Rural Impact of Cyclone Oswald Low pressure system, Ex Tropical Cyclone Oswald, hit Munduberra in Jan 2013, resulting in the activtaion of Counter Disaster operations. The Burnett River peaked at 23 metres inundating the town of Mundubberra. 100 homes and businesses were evacuated were a further 100 properties impacted upon in close rural areas. The township was isolated for five days. Electricty, telecommunications, sewage and water treatment was significantly compromised, adding many challenges to managing this disaster. Key community organisations were mobilised and the whole community assisted in removing and storing the contents of flood prone homes. An evacuation centre was quickly set up in the town hall. The command centre received multiple RFA (Requests for Assistance) resulting in the implementation of a priority management system. Flood effects were minimised due to the quick mobilisation of resources to assist prior to the waters rising. The Hopsital had the only suitable, sustainable essential power supply wihtin the community and hosted the command centre for disaster management whilst maintaining service provision. This was compouded by no telecommunications systems, generator only power, diminished staff numbers and no district support. The recovery phase included supporting both staff and the wider community to come to terms with
their losses whilst ensuring public health requirements were met. There were no outbreaks of any infectious diseases as a direct result. During the event the community witnessed losses, both personally and economically, including livestock devastation with a total of 3000 pigs and 1500 cattle recorded to have been washed away. The financial effects of this will be felt for many years on this small rural community, as the residents rebuild their livelihoods. Through co-ordinated collaboration, with multiple community agencies and with limited resources, the disaster managemnt team managed this disastrous event, with no loss of life. Mr William Hurtes PhD Candidate, University of Canterbury Co Authors - Dr. Billy O'Steen, Senior Lecturer and Dr. Chris Gomes, Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury. The Competent Professional Emergency Manager Disasters are not new phenomena, nor are they rare. So why is it that so little attention is paid to the profession concerned with managing them and the people who have dedicated their careers to it? Typically emergency managers have less than five years of experience dealing with complex emergencies and few have formal education in the field. Non-formal professional development training attempts to prepare staff for their roles, but too often, experience is the ultimate teacher. The past twenty years have seen an explosion of academic and certification programs in the area of disaster studies. Job offerings too have developed to recognize the specialization and independent nature of the emergency manager. This combination suggests that the field is advancing and professionalizing. However, extant research does not provide a good understanding of what the job is and the characteristics of those that are most successful. This research identifies the key competencies of exceptional emergency managers from government, notfor-profit, and businesses around the world. Qualitative, ethnographic observations and analysis of practitioners were compared with reflections from their peers and the general public. Inductive analysis and emergent coding was then used to reveal successful career competencies. The implications of this research suggest a further exploration of how the key competencies may be utilized in the hiring of staff, improving worker performance appraisals, developing professional development training, and educating students new to the field. Dr Valerie Ingham Lecturer in Emergency Management, Charles Sturt University Co Author - Mr Ian Manock, Lecturer & Course Coordinator Emergency Management, Charles Sturt University Current trends in emergency management education Over the past 10 years there has been an increase in the scrutiny of emergency managers and the decisions they have made during emergency events. Major Government initiated enquiries are now a common occurrence after emergency events and, in a number of cases, these have resulted in senior emergency managers being stood down or losing their jobs. Within Australia there is now an increased expectation from the public as well as our political leaders that emergency managers have the required skills, knowledge, expertise and qualifications to effectively and efficiently manage disaster events of an increasingly complex nature. The bushfire events in the ACT (2003), Victoria (2009) and Western Australia (2011), as well as the flood event in Queensland (2011), are examples of complex disasters that have had dire consequences for not only the communities impacted, but also for some of the emergency managers tasked with coordinating the response to these disasters. With this increased expectation and requirement placed upon emergency managers, more and more are today seeking out professional qualifications in the field of emergency management. Tertiary level courses in disciplines such as geoscience, town planning, architecture and environmental science, are increasingly incorporating an emphasis on natural hazards in relation to disaster planning. Within the
Page 1 and 2: Australian & New Zealand Disaster a
Page 3 and 4: Mr Mark Armstrong Director, Full Ca
Page 5 and 6: Dr Haydn Betts Manager Water Resour
Page 7 and 8: UHF/VHF communication plan during d
Page 9 and 10: The project included a range of lea
Page 11 and 12: Dr Lisa Gibbs Assoc Director, Brock
Page 13: however, because of their exception
Page 17 and 18: natural catastrophe? The discussion
Page 19 and 20: Mr Michael MacLennan Principal Cons
Page 21 and 22: Aucklanders will also receive advan
Page 23 and 24: Ms Catherine O'Mullan Lecturer, CQ
Page 25 and 26: Mr Avijit Paul Queensland Universit
Page 27 and 28: Area of NSW’s Emergency Managemen
Page 29 and 30: Government Organisations, and Emerg
Page 31 and 32: as a potential lifeline to better u
Page 33 and 34: Mr Mark Armstrong Director, Full Ca
Page 35 and 36: disasters always involve a portion
Page 37 and 38: Mr Bob Dick Independent scholar, In
Page 39 and 40: 35.65 % (about 808 ha) of the urban
Page 41 and 42: approach in redesigning the FireWat
Page 43 and 44: managers from around the world chal
Page 45 and 46: involved in coping with, and growin
Page 47 and 48: from a failure of a flood defence.

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