AWE Newsletter – July 2023

More than 1000 Australians were recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service. For the first time since the awards began, more women than men were recognised in the general division, with gender parity or better also at the three highest levels in the Order.

Alicia Palmer is stepping down as AWE QLD Chapter after more than four years in the role.
Alicia says she has absolutely loved her time promoting the work of Queensland women, supporting them in different stages of their careers and fostering a sense of community for Queensland women in emergencies. Her highlights include hosting the Magnetic Island retreat in February this year, and meeting with other network members last year at the APMCDRR in Brisbane. Alicia has made a huge contribution to AWE from the start and we will miss her insightful contributions, leadership and pioneering mind. Thank you Alicia!

We’re looking for a new AWE QLD Chapter Lead to continue the great work that Alicia has undertaken. If you’re interested in this role, please contact Amanda at [email protected]

New AWE climate change blog

AWE VIC Chapter Lead Akira Kelly has published a new blog outlining findings from three new reports on the health and mental health impacts of climate change in Australia. Akira says that taking action to address the challenges identified in these reports can help to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians in the face of climate change and associated emergency events. Read Akira’s full blog here.

In June, more than 15 women attended the AWE NZ HERoes Connect speed networking event in Wellington to expand their professional networks, gain stronger working relationships and make new friendships. Read more about this event here!

In response to the conversations and ideas generated at HERoes Connect, AWE NZ has created an AWE NZ Facebook Group as a dedicated platform for further engagement and collaboration, and hopes to organise at least one event each month, alternating between social gatherings and educational workshops. Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you’d like to get involved. 

A second event – Stronger Together Wellington – saw 40 amazing women from 13 different agencies and organisations connect, tell their stories, and grow stronger together. Attendees identified their superpowers, made playlists, and explored ways to look after themselves in tough times. With thanks to Hummingly, WREMO and NEMA for their support of this event. AWE NZ hopes to host more events like this – please contact Jennifer at [email protected] for more information. 

Did you know AWE is available to MC, Chair or facilitate your events? AWE recently MC’d Fire Rescue Victoria’s (FRV) Long and Good Service Awards in Geelong and Melbourne . It was a privilege to help recognise the commitment, dedication and service of FRV employees, and to acknowledge their contributions to FRV and helping keep Victorians safe. AWE also chaired the Women Practitioners in Emergencies Sesssion at the XX ISA World Congress of Sociology which saw presentations from around the world on topics including gender in leadership, the needs of people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, disasters from a queer perspective and communicating with multicultural communities.

We have a range of AWE members who are available to MC, Chair or facilitiate your next event. Please contact us for more information. 

2023 WIN DRR Leadership Awards: Nominations are now open for the 2023 WIN DRR Leadership Awards. For the first time people in Australia are now eligible. We encourage you to consider any nominations for these awards for women’s leadership in DRR.

Climate change, managed retreat and resilience: Check out this great article on the challenge of floods, the cost of housing and options for adaptation, including retreat. The article explores reconstruction and supporting communities after events, but also on resilience.

140 Years of St John Ambulance in Australia: From its establishment in Australia on 24 June 1883, St John Ambulance has grown to more than 14,000 volunteers and staff across the nation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger. Check out the celebrations planned here.

Animals and disaster management: The Global Animal Disaster Management Conference connects leading animal emergency and disaster researchers with practitioners and fellow academics. The online format offers a staggered series of free-to-view online webinars. 28-31 July 2023.

Cultural burning: This article in The Conversation explores how Indigenous cultural burning may help save lives, land, flora and fauna – and help protect all of us from the ravages of climate change.

Is a seat at the table enough?: Women and girls are conditioned to believe success is “a seat at the table.” In this Ted Talk creator, actress and author Lilly Singh thinks we need to build a better table. In this hilarious, incisive talk, Singh traces the arc of her career from up-and-coming YouTuber to history-making late-night talk show host, offering four ways to build a more inclusive society where girls are encouraged and empowered to do great things.

4-5 July               Emergency Management Conference 2023 Melbourne

11-12 July           Disaster and Emergency Management Conference

21 August           National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Summit

21-25 August      National Custodians of Country Gathering 2023

22-25 August      AFAC23 & Australian Disaster Resilience Conference 2023 & WAFA23

10 October         Australasian Women in Emergencies Day