President’s Update

In response to a growing membership in New Zealand and the Pacific AWE is pleased to announce that as of 17 April 2019 we officially have a new name – the Australasian Women in Emergencies (AWE) Network.
 
We are thrilled to be working closely with our Pacific neighbours and know that we have as much to learn from them as they do from us. New Zealand Chapter Leads Elizabeth McNaughton and Jolie Wills will be working with the AWE Committee and other Chapter Leads to represent and promote AWE.

We are very excited to be growing and expanding!

The 17^th April was also the one year anniversary of the AWE Network, which was officially launched at a disaster resilience conference with a box of badges, some sign-up sheets and lots of enthusiasm.

Since then AWE has grown from strength to strength and we now boast just under 1000 members from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

In the News

SES Women in Rescue – Sunbury, Vic

The weekend of the 6th-7th April saw the Sunbury SES Unit host a Women in Rescue event at Sunbury, Victoria. This year’s event built on the outstanding success of Women in Rescue 2018 to include representatives from six different SES units, from three regions across Victoria.

In its second year the Women in Rescue event aims to achieve four goal:

• to build confidence in all roles associated with a rescue
• to increase familiarity with rescue tools through more ‘hands on tools’ time
• to provide a positive, welcoming and challenging learning environment
• to expand the leadership capacity and networking opportunities of women in emergency services.

Once again the AWE Network was invited to facilitate a session as part of this wonderful program which is such a great example of skills development, networking and the leadership roles that women play in the broader emergency management sector. Kath Cooney, our AWE Secretary received fantastic feedback from her presentation and conversation and we know she left the group feeling empowered and respected.
 

Doing Disasters Differently

  Renae Hanvin, founder and director of Corporate2Community and a member of the AWE Advisory Group, published her first ebook “Doing Disasters Differently” outlining the role of the private sector in supporting communities before, during and after a disaster.  You can download the eBook here https://corporate2community.com/.
 

Published

  In the latest edition of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management, AWE Committee Member Lisa Marie Jackson reviews a new book by Peter Dunn, Preparing to Lead in a Crisis and AWE Vice-president Amanda Lamont shares some reflections on her recent deployment to Townsville with Australian Red Cross where she supported people impacted by the monsoonal flood events in January.
 
  AWE member Nicola Palfrey, Director of the Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network at ANU, has led a team that has recently released a suite of resources to help workers and parents/carers to support children before, during and after a disaster or traumatic event. The Community Trauma Toolkit equips users to:

• prepare children and their families both practically and psychologically for a disaster
• interact with children during the event in a way that may enhance their resilience and recovery
• support children and their families in the ongoing recovery process
• understand the importance of self-care during and after a traumatic event; and
• identify any emotional and behavioural difficulties in children that may indicate more ongoing, specialised support is needed.

 
  AWE member Celeste Young, researcher at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, has co-authored a new Hazard Note, Making diversity and inclusion the new normal in emergency services. The Hazard Note states that a diverse and inclusive workforce that better reflects the community from which it is drawn can increase trust and help to build more resilient organisations and communities, and that it can also strengthen the capabilities and skills within emergency management agencies and their communities, so they can more effectively respond to social, environmental and economic drivers of change.
 
  NZ Chapter leads Elizabeth McNaughton and Josie Wills continue to receive accolades for their Cards for Calamity. “Cards for Calamity help you navigate life after disaster. Comprised of tales, tips and tricks, these 70 cards make life a little easier. In practical and profound ways, they guide you through the weeks, months and years after disaster. To come out of a disaster the best you can, it helps to have knowledge and inspiration from others who have been there before. The cards are available for purchase online at www.cardsforcalamity.com.

AWE Events

ACT 

The Canberra Urban and Regional Futures (CURF) Seminar Series at the University of Canberra is on the topic of Building Resilience in Climate Change Affected Communities. Mark Crosweller AFSM FAIM, Head of the National Resilience Taskforce and Susan Helyar, Executive director of ACT Council of Social Service will be speaking.
When: 5.30pm to 7.00pm Monday 13 May 2019
Where: Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra
It’s a free event and you can find out more or register at this link – https://www.curf.com.au/events/article/?id=curf-seminar-series-13-may-2019-building-resilience-in-climate-affected-communities.
 

NSW

The upcoming NSW AWE meeting that will take place at UoN – Central Coast Campus, Ourimbah on May 22. Bethany Orton from CIFAL has generously offered to host us this month. Please let AW NSW Chapter Lead Catherine Strods know if you wish to attend for catering purposes and if you have a topic, research interest or project you would like to discuss.

Non-members are more than welcome to attend as always (as well as male representatives).

  NSW AWE members held a small but very engaging function in April. Everyone was so passionate and knowledgeable about the same issues which we all care about. AWE chapter led Catherine Strods said she couldn’t ask for a better Friday night with such intellectual and passionate debates over a wine with the AWE girls.
 

AWE NSW Schedule of Events for 2019

QLD

AWE Queensland members met at the Crown Plaza in Surfers Paradise on 30th April for an AWE Queensland Chapter networking event.
 

VIC

Vic AWE Networking Event – Emergency Services Foundation
Conference – Melbourne, Tuesday 28 May

  An AWE Networking Event will be held in conjunction with the Emergency Services Foundation Conference in Melbourne on Tuesday 28 May from 5.30pm – 7.00pm. We are delighted to announce Carol Matthews will be our guest speaker for the evening. Carol was the lead litigant in the Black Saturday class action and she will be speaking about “Why sometimes you need to be a pain in the bum”.
 
The AWE networking event is free and you don’t have to be registered for the ESF event to come to the AWE event. Drinks are at own expense. Please register your attendance at the event at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/awe-networking-event-melbourne-28th-may-2019-tickets-59436835174

AWE will also be organising networking events at the following conferences:

• Gold Coast – ANZDEMC Conference 12-13 June
• Canberra – Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference 17-19 June
• Melbourne – AFAC and BNHCRC Conference 27-30 August 
• Melbourne – ADRC Conference 28-29 August 

Contact [email protected] for more information.

AWE Committee Update

Members of the AWE Committee and Victorian Chapter Lead Angela Draper recently met with Nuria Prat from the Pau Costa Foundation in Spain. The Pau Costa Foundation was established to undertake research and provide knowledge, tools, and techniques for forest fire management across Europe. The Pau Costa Foundation is commencing a project exploring gender and emergencies in Europe and Nuria was keen to learn more about AWE, the roles that women play in emergencies and disaster resilience in Australia. Nuria was also very keen for AWE to expand into Europe – perhaps we’ll see a further name change sometime in the future!

Membership – nearly 1,000 members!

AWE now has  998 members across Australia and New Zealand
 

Social Media

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The AWE website is coming soon – we will let you know when we go live.

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