AWE Newsletter – October 2022

AWE Open Discussion review

A record 64 people registered for AWE’s August Open Discussion – Burnout is real. Attendees came from all parts of Australia and New Zealand, including Kerang, East Gippsland, Dubbo, Lithgow, Bushland Beach, Greenacre, Coogee NSW, Wollongong, Canberra, Hobart and Townsville. Our discussion was based around the World Health Organisation’s definition:

‘Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:

• feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
• reduced professional efficacy.’

Some wonderful comments and suggestions were generated during our discussion, including:.

‘I’ve found that burnout is a combination of out-of-control workloads, high quality standards and an inability to say no – for me that equals burnout. Also often organisations (employed and volunteer places) take delivery for granted’ and ‘If an organisation is experiencing repeated loss of staff or issues due to staff getting burnt out, then the organisation needs to change, not the people.’

Thanks to the eight AWE members who supported the breakout rooms. As this is an important topic that obviously resonates with AWE members, we are planning to run the session again early next year. Keep an eye out for dates.

AWE in Brisbane

In what has probably been the biggest gathering of AWE members since our inaugural AWE launch day in October 2018, the UNDRR Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference in Brisbane in September was the perfect occasion for a reunion of AWE members and supporters. It was great to see those yellow badges and smiling faces after so long.

AWE hosted two events during the conference. Firstly, we were delighted to partner with Action Aid to host drinks for delegates of the Gender and Diversity Stakeholder Group one evening, where we were able to connect and network with other women in our region.

We also hosted a breakfast for over 50 women from across the DRR sector and across the Asia Pacific region. It was a great networking event, and a great opportunity to raise AWE’s profile in Australia and in our region. We were delighted to be joined at breakfast by 15 Indonesian female disaster management leaders who were visiting Griffith University.

AWE and the Pledge for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

AWE played a key role in supporting the UN Gender Stakeholder Group at the recent UNDRR Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference. The group hosted a Pledge Wall which was located in a prominent area of the conference venue. We asked delegates to make a pledge to gender equality and social inclusion in DRR. AWE members provided a huge amount of support in setting up the Pledge Wall, printing materials, and were present at the Wall throughout the conference to meet delegates and talk to them about their pledges. Special thanks to AWE Member Scotia Monkevitch from Creative Recovery Network for arranging printing of the poster and assisting in setting up the stall.

At the Conference, formal statements of commitment are made. You can find the statement of commitment of the UNDRR Asia-Pacific Group of Individuals and Organisations concerned with Gender (Gender Stakeholder Group) here.

New Victorian Chapter Lead

We are thrilled to announce we have a new Victorian Chapter Lead – Akira Kelly. Akira can’t wait to get to know AWE’s Victorian members and work with the Committee to promote, support and recoognise women in the emergency and disaster resilience sector.

Find out more about Akira, and how to contact her, in our AWE Member Profile below.

12 – 2pm AEDT  Monday 10 Oct 2022

October 10 is Australasian Women in Emergencies Day, a day to recognise and celebrate women in emergencies and disaster resilience.Speakers include

Margaret Moreton, Executive Director, AIDR

Bronnie Mackintosh, Youth Coordinator, Fire and Rescue NSW and Founder and Director, Girls on Fire

Anne Pickles PSM, President, Women & Firefighting Australasia Inc.

Join us at the Australasian Women in Emergencies Day Forum to hear from our keynote speakers, a panel conversation, and messages of support from the sector.

Book now

You can nominate yourself or another AWE member to be profiled in the AWE Newsletter.
Please email us for more information.