AWE Newsletter - August 2023

Promoting, supporting and recognising the contributions of women
in emergency management and disaster resilience across Australasia.

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the AWE Newsletter

Click on the links below to get straight to what you want to read:
AWE News
AWE Conference Presentations
AWE Events
AWE Women in Emergencies for Climate Action
AWE Chapters
News, events and resources
Job Opportunities
Key sector events

AWE News

Announcing the AWE Excellence Awards!

The Australasian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE) is thrilled to announce the inaugural AWE Excellence Awards. The AWE Excellence Awards will formally recognise and honour women’s contributions to emergency management and disaster resilience across Australasia.

Four categories will be on offer and nominations can be made by all AWE members. Nominations open on 10 August and close on 10 September,
with winners to be announced in October.

We’ll be emailing all members with full details soon.

AWE-AFAC and Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Webinar

Around 50 AWE members came along to hear from AFAC CEO, Rob Webb, and Stephanie Andrade, AFAC D&I lead and Cassie Lindsay from Champions of Change about the Fire and Emergency Champions of Change 2022 Progress Report.

We heard that while progress is being made across the sector, and particularly in leadership, where women’s representation has increased, overall progress is slow and there is room to accelerate. There are some areas of inconsistency and regression, and these will be important to focus on. We also heard of initiatives undertaken by AFAC members in support of gender equity, including supporting gender equity in field officer and volunteer roles, gender balance recruitment, sponsorship of diverse talent, and creating safe and inclusive environments. We had a great range of questions and comments from all members, feeding back to our presenters, and we hope to have an ongoing conversation with the Champions of Change initiative.

Given the interest in the topic, we are hosting a follow-up open forum discussion session for AWE members tomorrow – Thursday 3 August at 12 pm AEST – to have a follow-up conversation about things we heard and anything further we want to feed back to AFAC and Champions of Change. Register your interest here.

The link to the Champions of Change session is here.

AWEsome experts

Check out these AWEsome experts who presented at sector conferences recently:

EMC 2023:

Bronnie Mackintosh – Building community capacity & emergency preparedness
Blythe McLennan – Sustainable emergency management volunteering
Carla Hall and Ella Cheeseman – Young people, disaster recovery and (re)building communities
Siusan MacKenzie – Emergency Service Foundation Report
Fyowna Norton – Diversity, equity and transparency

Disaster and Emergency Management Conference 2023:

Vicki Booth – People at risk in emergencies
Claire Cooper – Keynote Panelist
Sally Foreman and Dr Fiona Roberts – CALD community resilience
Renae Hanvin – Business climate roadmap
Berinda Karp – Autism awareness training
Amanda Lamont – Women in Emergencies for Climate Action
Melinda McDonald – Culturally appropriate communication
Alison Moad – Keynote Panelist and Transport for NSW disaster recovery
Allison Rifai – Partnerships and collaboration
Michelle Villeneuve – Reducing risk for people with disability

AWE Conference Presentations

AWE at AFAC23

AWE is presenting the Re-framing Vulnerability: Community Recovery and Resilience in Australia through an Intersectional Gender Transformative Lens panel discussion at 11:40am on Thursday 24 August at AFAC23 in Brisbane in August.

AWE Committee Member Ashleigh Brady (left) will be moderating the session which will focus on understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change and disasters on diverse communities, through sharing lived experiences from a range of perspectives that are often underrepresented in disaster planning. Through storytelling, the panel will seek to reframe the terms like ‘vulnerable cohorts’, to avoid generalising and stereotypes of diverse and complex elements of people’s identities. We will explore how different factors like gender, perceived race, age, disability, religious affiliation, and socio-economic status intersect and shape people’s experiences before, during and after crises.

Through the lens of intersectionality and gender transformation, we will challenge traditional perspectives and gender roles, and explore how systemic power imbalances and inequalities contribute to the disproportionate impacts of disasters. By centreing the voices of those most affected by climate change and disasters, we can work towards inclusive solutions that address the root causes of vulnerability and promote equitable recovery and resilience.

Our panel disussion will foster a deeper understanding of these complex issues, emphasising the importance of including diverse voices, amplifying unheard stories, and building collaborations to create a more inclusive and resilient future for all. Join us in celebrating the tapestry of strength and diversity in disasters, and keep watch on our socials for the introduction to our panellists.

Contact Ashleigh if you’d like to know more.

#InclusiveResilience #AWENetwork #IntersectionalVoices

AWE Events

AWE hosted a number of networking events in July, including breakfasts in Melbourne and the Gold Coast, sunset drinks in Darwin, and mid-winter drinks in Wellington. Close to 100 AWE members, friends and allies attended to connect and build relationships.

We’re hosting more events throughout August – we’d love to see you!

AWE Coffee Meet and Greet Melbourne

9:30am Sunday 6 August
Espresso 3094
44 Were Street, Montmorency

Come along and meet some new friends and colleagues over coffee. Everybody welcome! Please RSVP AWE VIC Chapter Lead Akira

AWE Drinks and Networking Canterbury

5.30pm Wednesday 9 August
Emerald Room, Dux Central
Poplar Lane, Christchurch

AWE is excited to invite those working, volunteering or studying in the Canterbury area to mid-winter social drinks and networking! AWE members, friends and allies all welcome. Please contact: Janelle Mackie on [email protected] with any queries.

AWE Networking Drinks Darwin

5pm Friday 18 August
Smith Street Social
22 Smith St, Darwin

If you are attending the Darwin Festival, why don’t you drop in and say hi! Send us an email at [email protected] if you think you might make it.

AWE Networking Breakfast Brisbane

7.30am Wednesday 23 August
Olio Cafe and Bar
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Attending AFAC23, or live or work in Brisbane? Join AWE members and other women, allies and friends working, volunteering or studying in the emergency management and disaster resilience sector over breakfast! RSVP [email protected]

AWE events are a great way to learn about and get to know other women in the emergency management and disaster resilience sectors. Keep an eye on our calendar of events, Missed an AWE event? Many of our past events are available for viewing on our YouTube page.

AWE Women in Emergencies for Climate Action

AWE at ANZDMC Conference

We had a great show of support at the Australasian Women in Emergencies Network presentation at the ANZDMC conference on Women in Emergencies for Climate Action: a sustainable future for all. Amanda Lamont and Claire Cooper presented and shared insights into our climate change worsening disaster landscape and the unequal impact of disaster on girls and women, and the important role women play, within and outside the emergency sector in addressing the challenges, and a strong call to action.

Amanda Lamont and Claire Cooper presenting at the ANZDEMC Conference in Queensland in July.

Many thanks to the women who entrusted us with their stories and experiences and contributed to the presentation. We plan to write the presentation up as a paper given we had to squish three hours of content into 20 minutes!! It’s important we don’t miss out on all the information we gathered. Stay tuned! We will share a link to the recording if it becomes available. Thanks to Amanda Lamont, Claire Cooper, Mittul Vahanvati, Chris Miller, Ramona Miranda, Sioux Campbell, Toni Cannard and Tevvi Bullock.

Next AWE Women in Emergencies for Climate Action Meeting

Our next meeting will be held at 12pm AEST on 14 September 2023. After hearing Sally Bamber speak at the ANZDEMC conference right after the AWE presentation, we knew that we had to have her along to speak to the AWE climate action members. Sally is a behavioural scientist speaking about climate adaptation and disaster resilience in a policy and strategy context. During her presentation, Sally spoke about risk, and whether decision-makers are accounting for all the elements which contribute to risk and not just what is directly attributable to climate change. She framed her talk around the question, are we underestimating the risks?”. This is a great opportunity for AWE members to learn from Sally about how they can have this conversation about risk and climate change in their organisations.

Hope you can come along to this event. You can register for the session here.

AWE Chapters

AWE SA

Weekend Hike – October/November. Our South Australian AWE Chapter is gearing up to offer an opportunity for AWE members in SA to some outdoors networking. We are keen to hear from members about whether they would be interested in a weekend hike and winery visits in one of the beautiful wine regions around Adelaide, or a 1-2 night hike in Adelaide surrounds.

Please send an email by 15 August to [email protected] to let us know what you would like to do.

AWE QLD

If you would like to meet other AWE members in south west Queensland, we are currently organising an event in your area. Want to know more? Get in touch with Jenna Buckley at [email protected] or send us an email at [email protected]. We would love to reach our many current and potential members in this part of the state and we are keen to hear how we can support you and build stronger connections within the sector.

We had a great turnout at the AWE Breakfast on the Gold Coast for attendees at the ANZDMC Conference (above). Lots of new connections made and great ideas about how we can continue to grow the network and influence in the emergency sector in south east Queensland. Thanks to those who bought along new members and please continue to invite others to the network as we continue to expand our footprint in Queensland.

AWE NT

AWE NT Networking Drinks – 5pm on 18 August at the Smith Street Social. If you are attending the Darwin Festival, why don’t you drop in and say hi! Send us an email at [email protected] if you think you might make it.

AWE NT Chapter drinks at Mindil Beach in Darwin with Amanda, Annette and Aurora (left). A spectacular setting for our catch up and opportunity to discuss ideas and how to expand AWE activities and membership in NT.

Email us at [email protected] if you’d like to get involved in AWE NT, and pass on this newsletter to others in NT who may want to become a member of the AWE network.

AWE VIC

25 AWE members and friends (left) braved a cold Melbourne morning to catch up over breakfast before the Victorian Emergency Management Conference. Over a slow breakfast we quickly made new connections and friends across the sector. Thanks to all who came along and we hope to see you again soon!

Come along to a coffee meet and greet at 9:30am this coming Sunday 6 August in Montmorency. Everybody welcome! For more information, or to RSVP, please contact AWE VIC Chapter Lead Akira.

AWE NZ

We’ve got a drinks and networking event coming up for those living or working in Canterbury. Check out the events section above for details – hope to see you all there!

Emergency response and tempo have been relentless over the past six months, placing a considerable burden on women in the sector. In July our fearless AWE Wellington wāhine toa (strong women) embraced the cold for a delightful round of mid-winter drinks (left). We shared to-do lists, exchanged ideas, and indulged in some whakaaro ā-rangi (blue sky thinking) about accomplishing our dreams. We also brainstormed exciting plans for future AWE events, including field trips to partner agencies. These wāhine toa are an unstoppable force, undeterred by even the chilliest of Wellington nights!

News, events and resources

Emergency Services Mental Health: This ESF hosted Mental Health Showcase is for staff and volunteers with an interest in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the 139,000 people working across Victorian’s emergency management sector. October 4. More details here.

Equal Pay Day: In February 2023 the average weekly pay for men working full time was $1,907.10 while women earnt $1,653.60 per week on average. That’s a difference of $253 every week or $13,183 every year. 25 August is Equal Pay Day – click on the link to find out how to get involved.

Let’s talk about resilience: Check out this short video on resilience by the Risk, Disaster and Resilience (RDR) Network at Victoria University which is made up of experienced researchers who work collaboratively to address some of the big risks we face today.

Mapping resilience for the Sustainable Development Goals: The 2023 UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction highlights how resilience can be strengthened to withstand and respond to shocks.

Resilience definitions, concepts and measurement approaches: A recently released New Zealand literature review examines key definitions, concepts and measurement approaches about ‘resilience’ as a backgrounder for policymakers and others interested in the topic.

Strategy for Aboriginal community-led recovery: Emergency Recovery Victoria has released a new recovery strategy outlining key focus areas for Government as system steward in planning, coordinating and supporting emergency recovery with strong and resilient Aboriginal communities.

State of Volunteering surveys now open: State and Territory Volunteering Peak Bodies around Australia are currently conducting surveys to inform their State of Volunteering reports. This is an important opportunity to voice your experiences and thoughts to help us understand the state of volunteering in your community.

New children’s resource: Phoenix Australia has released Harry and the Storm, A Story for Children who have Experienced Trauma, told by Harry, an 8-year-old struggling in the wake of disaster. The aim is for disaster-impacted children to connect with Harry, who can help them understand and process their emotions surrounding the disaster and begin their journey to recovery.

NZ Call for submissions: The Governance and Administration Committee has called for submissions on the Emergency Management Bill that would replace the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002.

Job Opportunities

ACT
Policy and Government Relations Director, The Nature Conservancy
Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Bureau of Meteorology

NSW
Project Manager Sustainable Cities, City of Sydney
Lifesaving Manager, Surf Life Saving NSW

QLD
PhD Scholarship: Culturally Inclusive, Future-Prepared Emergency Management, Griffith University
Executive Manager – SES Planning, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

SA
Lifesaving and Emergency Operations Coordinator, Surf Life Saving SA
Officer – Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross

TAS
Manager Project Management Office, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management
Business Manager, Statewide Operations and Capability, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

VIC
Community Resilience Officer, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Emergency Management Officer, Knox City Council

WA
Community Emergency Services Manager, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes
Manager Rangers & Emergency Services, Shire of Esperance

NZ
Community Readiness and Recovery Support Coordinator, Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Emergency Management Advisor – Dunedin City, Otago Regional Council

Key sector events

If you are attending any of the events below in 2023 and would like to meet up with other AWE members, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you to connect.

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

Newsletter contributions

The AWE Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed to more than 1800 AWE members across Australasia. For contributions, queries or to let us know what you would like to see in the newsletter, please email us at [email protected].

About AWE

The Australasian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE) promotes, supports and recognises the contributions of women in emergency management and disaster resilience across Australasia.

www.awenetwork.org.au

[email protected]

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AWE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, and pays our respect to Elders, past, present and emerging.