Welcome to the first AWE newsletter for 2019. This year we’ll be providing you with more content but on a monthly basis.
AWE online!
We’re excited to announce that AWE is featured in the Victorian Rural Women’s Network January newsletter. You can like the repost on Facebook and LinkedIn.
AWE event – International Women’s Day 2019
AWE was conceived almost 1 year ago at an International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast in 2018. To celebrate the anniversary, AWE members have the opportunity to attend one of the 2019 International Women’s Day Breakfasts in March that are being hosted by UN Women and held in the following capital cities:
Adelaide
Brisbane
Canberra
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
Chapter Leads will be organising tables for AWE members, watch out for an email with more information.. Can’t afford the tickets or a breakfast not in your area? Why not host your own IWD breakfast at your workplace or a local café with some AWE colleagues … you can contact your Chapter Lead to help organise it. See below to contact the Chapter Lead in your area.
AWE State and Territory Chapter Leads
The AWE Committee is proud to introduce the new AWE State and Territory Chapter Leads. We were thrilled to have received multiple nominations for a number of states, and decided that the role be shared amongst all of the talented and AWEsome women who nominated. Chapter Leads will organise local forums and events and will liaise with members and the AWE Committee as AWE continues to grow and develop. Please contact Chapter Leads by email to [email protected]
ACT Chapter Lead Leah Bach is a Policy Officer at the Department of Home Affairs and is a volunteer with the ACT Rural Fire Service and with Team Rubicon Australia.
NSW Chapter Lead Catherine Strods is a crisis, emergency management and business continuity specialist currently working at the University of Technology in Sydney as Emergency Manager.
Northern Territory Chapter Lead Jessica Arnold is the Manager of Emergency Management at the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources.
Queensland Chapter Co-Leads Alicia Palmer is the Disaster Management Coordinator for the Whitsunday Regional Council, and Alessia (Alex) Anibaldi is a humanitarian specialist co-leading a course at the University of Queensland on humanitarian action for Indonesian government officials working in disaster preparedness and response.
South Australia Chapter Co-Leads Abigail Walters is a Risk and Compliance Consultant with the South Australian Royal Automobile Association and is a volunteer with the SA State Emergency Service, and Anastasia Bougesis is a paramedic with the South Australian Ambulance Service, and is the Director of Development for Team Rubicon Australia, a veteran led disaster relief agency.
Tasmania Chapter Lead Debra Ong is the Operations Coordinator, Emergency Services for Australian Red Cross (Tasmania).
Western Australia Chapter Co-Leads Charmaine Dalton is an Emergency Management Professional and Rescue Technician/Nurse and Volunteer Fire Fighter for Metro VFRS and Two Rocks Marine Rescue, and Erin Fuery is the State Manager of the Emergency Services program for Australia Red Cross in WA.
Victoria Chapter Co-Leads Angela Draper is the Emergency Management Project Officer for the Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges Council Cluster Project, and Amanda Taylor is a research officer at the Australian Council for Educational Research working on DFAT-funded projects in the area of education and development.
Deb Brown has been involved in Community Development for the past ten years, before, during and after significant events, and Pauline Boorer is a fire fighter and Junior Leader at Drouin West Fire Brigade Victoria.
New Zealand Chapter
We are in the process of appointing a New Zealand Chapter Lead to support our AWEsome colleagues across the Tasman Sea – stay tuned!
What an AWEsome list of women! This list of chapter leads demonstrates the breadth of skills and experience that women bring to emergency management and disaster resilience.
2009 Victorian bushfires 10-year anniversary
Almost 10 years ago, Victorians lived through the worst heatwave and bushfires in Australia’s history. Tragically, 173 people lost their lives in the fires, and the heatwave saw deaths increased by 374 people. Many more were injured, lost their homes or their livelihoods. As the anniversary approaches, people may experience different emotional, physical and mental reactions. Everyone’s journey through recovery is different, and for many it remains ongoing.
Heightened bushfire risk may also coincide with the anniversary of the 2009 fires, which may raise community anxiety and stress, particularly for those who live within bushfire prone areas. If you know someone who was affected by the bushfires you can check in on them to see that they are ok.
Support is available for anyone who may need advice or help. Visit www.vic.gov.au/2009-bushfires for information on the services available.
What’s AWE doing next?
The AWE Committee will be working on a range of priorities over the next few months. This will include:
Website development and launch
Member communications
Networking events
Developing a mentoring program
Fundraising
Incorporation
If you’ve got any ideas or queries in the meantime, please feel free to contact us or your state or territory’s Chapter Lead(s) at [email protected].
We welcome all contributions for the AWE monthly update. Please email us with your ideas by the 15th of each month.
You don’t have to just follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, you can also post your own entries and share ideas, thoughts, invitations, etc.
You can email us with any queries, and remember that our iconic AWE badges are available from our shop.
