AWE Newsletter – June 2022

AWE on the world stage

In May, AWE co-founder Amanda Lamont attended an informal dinner with the Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) while at the UNDRR Global Platform 2022. This was a great opportunity to meet with around 50 passionate women from around the world working in DRR, and to profile some of the great work AWE is doing in Australia and New Zealand.Read more about Amanda’s experience at the UNDRR Global Platform here.

WIN DRR is excited to continue and grow the collaboration and opportunities to network with AWE. You can join WIN DRR, by completing this form.

AWE is also listed as a recommended platform on the UN Women’s Resilience to Disasters Knowledge Hub.

Philippa Woolf Scholarship

We received more than 40 applications to the Philippa Woolf Scholarship this year. All applications were testament to the skills, experience and passion of the AWE membership. AWE and ACIM are thrilled to announce the successful recipients of the 2022 Philippa Woolf Scholarship are Donna Brown and Rebecca McDonald.

Donna Brown, Disaster Management Officer at the South Burnett Regional Council, said, “I am absolutely thrilled and can’t wait to take on this diploma. I’m honoured to have been selected for this opportunity.” 

Rebecca McDonald, Operations Officer at VicSES, said, “Thank you for awarding me this incredible opportunity, which I am honoured to have received. I know that the calibre of applications this year was very high, and I am humbled that you have selected me in such a strong field. I am excited to begin my study and hope that I can be a valuable member of the AWE Network going forward, both as a mentee and in future sharing my newfound knowledge with others.”

Congratulations Donna and Rebecca, and many thanks to all members who applied.

Read more here.

AWE Events

AWE hosted two events in May. At the May Open Discussion, a small group of AWEsome people met online to share their ideas and experiences about volunteers and volunteering in the emergency management and disaster resilience sector. The emergency management sector would fall apart without volunteers and most AWE members work with volunteers, are volunteers, or both. Participants spoke about their own experiences in being assisted by volunteers, their own roles in being or supporting volunteers, and the implications of the phenomena of ‘Spontaneous Volunteers’. One participant wisely summarised the discussion with “communities are going to do what communities do” reflecting that agencies can plan to and should work in partnership with the generous and well intentioned responses that will arise to support impacted communities.

Our second event, Sharing insights to recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires, was held in partnership with the Australasian Institute of Emergency Services. Hosted jointly by Jaimee Morgenbesser and Christine Miller, and with presentations from Zoe D’Arcy and Sue Ford, participants reflected on the process of recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires. Both events were very well attended and raised valuable issues that come directly from people’s experiences of our sector.

Our June Open Discussion will focus on climate change – see the Events section below. If you have an idea for a future Open Discussion section – an issue that is faced across the emergency management sector and is close to your heart – please email us.

Connect with AWE members

The Emergency Management Conference 2022 takes place in Melbourne on 5 & 6 July. AWE members presenting include:

• Dr Faye Bendrups, National SES Volunteers Association
• Dr Claire Cooper, Emergency Management Victoria
• Angela Gardner, Country Fire Authority
• Anne Leadbeater OAM, Leadbeater Group
• Siusan MacKenzie, Emergency Services Foundation

The Australia New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference takes place on the Gold Coast on 25 & 26 July. AWE members presenting include:

• Elly Bird, Councillor, Lismore City Council and Coordinator of Resilient Lismore
• Georgie Cornish, Deputy Chief Officer, South Australian Country Fire Services
• Renae Hanvin, Corporate2community
• Associate Professor Valerie Ingham, Charles Sturt University
• Rachel Treeby, VicSES

If you’re attending either of these conferences and would like to meet with any of these presenters or other AWE members, email us and we’ll make sure you connect. Don’t forget to wear your badge!

AWE Newsletter survey

Many thanks to all members who completed the AWE Newsletter survey. Here’s what you told us: 

• More than 70 per cent of members enjoy receiving the AWE Newsletter
• Almost 80 per cent agree that the content was valuable or extremely valuable
• AWE Events; News, events and resources; and AWE News are the three most popular sections in order
• That you’d like to see more member profiles and a Q&A

We’ve taken all your valuable feedback on board and you’ll see some changes over the next couple of months. Thanks for letting us know your thoughts.

National Reconciliation Week

27 May – 3 June is National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

AWE is committed to reconciliation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. 

Matariki

24 June is the first public holiday for Matariki in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Matariki marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar, and is a time for:

• Remembrance – Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki
• Celebrating the present – Gathering together to give thanks for what we have
• Looking to the future – Looking forward to the promise of a new year

AWE acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand.

AWE QLD Brisbane networking
Date: Wednesday 15 June
Time: 5pm onwards
Venue: The Bavarian, Eagle Street Pier
More information can be found here

AWE QLD Townsville networking
Date: Monday 20 June
Time: 5pm onwards
Venue: Townsville Yacht Club
More information can be found here

Supporting women leaders: A new Victorian sponsorship program is pairing women from across the emergency management sector with senior leaders from different agencies to build on the valuable and diverse talent, promote professional development for participants and to increase their opportunities within the sector.  

Disaster research forum: The Queensland Disaster Management Research Forum on 23 September is open to all disaster management practitioners and researchers. It will be a space for researchers and practitioners to meet, share ideas and start conversations. Book now.

Bushfire programs for children and young people: New Monash University research aims to understand Australian programs for children and young people before, during and after a bushfire event. Researchers are seeking interview participants from organisations that have delivered such programs. Contact Daliya Greenfeld at Monash for more information.

Disaster researchers wanted: The Disaster Challenge is a national challenge to encourage new ideas, new thinking and new research. The Disaster Challenge is calling out to early career researchers and postgraduate students across Australia for innovative ideas and solutions for the wicked problems we are facing with natural hazards.

Have your say in disaster recovery capacity building: The University of Melbourne is looking at developing short courses for people who are working with communities to improve disaster recovery outcomes. The University is looking for people to participate in a short survey to help understand the needs and preferences for training opportunities in disaster recovery.

National Action Plan for DRR: The National Recovery and Resilience Agency is leading the development of a Second National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction. Have your say via the Developing the Second National Action Plan Discussion Paper and/or survey until 14 June.

International Heat Action Day: This AIDR/Red Cross webinar will feature a range of speakers and cover the impacts of extreme heat, how we warn people about heat, how we can reduce the impacts of heat and understanding the mental health impacts of heat.

Volunteering organisations survey: The Volunteering in Australia organisation survey is an opportunity for Volunteering Australia to develop the most comprehensive understanding of volunteering in Australia’s history. Don’t miss this chance to tell us how your organisation involves volunteers, the challenges you’re facing, and your vision for the future. Closes 14 June.