AWE Newsletter – December 2023

The AWE AGM 2023 will be held on Tuesday 12 December at 5pm AEDT. Join us to hear about AWE’s activities over the past year, learn what’s in store for 2024, and find out who’s been elected to the AWE Committee. We encourage all members to attend. Book now.

We’re thrilled to have received a large number of nominations for the AWE Committee. If you’d like to nominate please email us with your name, your current paid or volunteer role, and a 250 word statement about what skills you will bring and why you’d like to join the AWE Committee. Nominations close tonight!

AWE Mentoring Program

Following our insightful mentor workshop in October, we dove deeper into refining our mentoring program with a dynamic group of AWE mentees in November. The mentees emphasised the significant role of mentoring in sharing insights, fostering leadership, navigating gender stigmas, and promoting collaboration. They also highlighted key characteristics essential to impactful mentoring:

• Safety and Reciprocity
• Ease and Positivity
• Respect and Inclusivity
• Support and Friendship.

In our free and frank conversation, exciting enhancement opportunities were identified, including a shift to a growth-oriented approach that emphasises collaboration and flexibility. Suggestions ranged from peer group mentoring to video introductions, streamlined website connections, simplified processes, and supporting peer-to-peer opportunities. To stay relevant, the mentees stressed the importance of regular catchups, curated content, increased visibility, diverse recruitment, and alignment with AWE’s strategic goals.

Using feedback, we plan another workshop to strategise the program’s evolution. If you’re eager to contribute, let us know! Want to be part of enhancing AWE mentoring opportunities? We need diverse skills to plan, act on recommendations, and maintain the program. Email [email protected] to lend your support.

Gender equality in police and emergency services

If you missed out on the recent AWE webinar with Victoria’s Gender Equality Commissioner Dr Nikki Vincent you can now watch it here. Hear about the first gender equality legislation for the public sector in Australia, issues in the Victorian police and emergency services sector, and the systemic and structural reform needed to address gender inequality and issues relating to intersectionality. Need advice or support? The Commission shares links to a range of leading practice resources with topics including:

• Gender pay equity
• Workplace sexual harassment
• Sexual harassment benchbook                 
• Flexible work
• Sex discrimination
• Intersectionality

International Day of People with Disabilities

AWE recognises the strengths and abilities of all people with a disability every day, and especially on 3 December which was International Day of People with Disabilities. AWE is committed to furthering disability inclusion in all aspects of emergency management and disaster resilience. This includes building on these strengths and abilities, as well as identifying and removing barriers to the safety and wellbeing of people with disability before, during, and after disasters. 
AWE recognises Australia’s Associate Professor Michelle Villenueve and her team who are leading the way locally in inclusive disaster risk reduction with the Resilient Australia National Award-winning Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Certificate Course.

AWE also acknowledges, values and celebrates the rich diversity and intersectionality of our members, workplaces and communities. We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, respectful and safe network, where people of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, abilities and experiences feel they belong and are empowered and able to strive and thrive.

Last week the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria held its Rural Youth Sector Conference in Bendigo, Victoria. Theme was ‘Potholes to Possibilities’, and AWE was delighted to be asked to participate by sharing observations, insights and key messages as part of the panel session at the AGM, presenting at the Disaster and Climate Adaptation Session and also sitting on the panel for the session on Rural Futures Ignite: Empowering Youth for Climate Resilience and Equity. It’s great that AWE is able to work with such great organisations and build relationships to support our collective organisational vision and aspirations. Thanks again YACVic for the invitation, and we would love to have you along to speak at an AWE event in the future. 

YACVic and Victoria University are establishing a National Centre of Excellence in Young People and Disasters to empower young Australians to be active agents of change in emergency management, with one young person saying, “As a rural young person now working in disaster resilience, having young people part of this conversation is imperative. We need to empower young people to drive change in our communities, by building skills and creating opportunities. We want to learn today, in order to lead tomorrow.” 

AWE in 2024

We’ll be taking a short break over January but will be back in February 2024. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to connecting with members for another AWEsome year. If you’d like to contribute to AWE, or have ideas about how AWE can help promote, support and recognise women in emergencies in 2024, we’d love to hear from you! Please email us at any time.

In the meantime check out the events we’ve got planned over the next few weeks. We hope to see you there!

We continue to welcome Pasefika and others working or living in the Pacific to join our new AWE Pacific Chapter. Contact the Pacific Chapter Lead here or join the Pacific chapter here and please share widely with your networks so we can grow our newest chapter. To ensure we are meeting the needs of our members in the Pacific, we are hosting an online meet and greet:
Tuesday 12 December
0830 – Melbourne, Australia; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Honiara, Solomon Islands
0930 – Suva, Fiji
1030 – Apia, Samoa
Join the meeting here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82849979886?pwd=iqmyMFpfFDkjmZGcmv76pdby9CBbPv.1
Meeting ID: 828 4997 9886
Passcode: 997945
Please contact us with any queries.

AWE NSW

We are delighted to announce Catherine Gearing has been appointed as AWE NSW Chapter co-lead for NSW Mid North Coast. There has been a great show of interest from AWE members already across the area and Catherine is keen to hear from anyone with ideas about other activities and networking opportunities for AWE members. Please get in contact with Catherine at [email protected] or at [email protected], if you would like further details of or if you would like to get involved in helping out. 

AWE NZ

A couple of Wellington-based AWE members set off on an awesome day walk over the weekend along the incredible Ōrongorongo Track in the Remutaka Forest Park. It was great to talk all things emergency management, AWE, USA, breath some fresh air, look through ancient beech forest, while getting 12km and a G&T in!

We’re on the lookout for one or two people who might like to take up the role of AWE NZ Chapter Lead/Co-Lead. The role entails organising events to bring our wahine colleagues together for support, networking and information sharing. Please contact us if you’d like to know more.

AWE SA – watch our video!

In November, 10 women from SA said “yes!” to a weekend of outdoor fun, connecting with women who work and volunteer in the emergency sector. A ridiculously hot 42 degrees greeted us at Deep Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide (emergency information and evacuation plans well noted). The heat couldn’t dampen the spirits of Georgina, Jacqueline, and Amanda, who valiantly set up tents before the others arrived later. 

            

After a comfortable sleep under the stars in cooler weather, and full of campfire breakfast and coffee, we explored some local walks, before heading off with packed lunches for a longer trek down to Deep Creek Cove through a spectacular coastal landscape and bush covered in wildflowers, and lizards. A well-earned evening of shared conversation, experiences, drinks, snacks, meals and stories unfolded. In our relaxed environment, ideas and opportunities flourished, addressing some of the challenges we had seen in Australia’s emergency sector. The discussions sparked some great ideas and innovative solutions. Sunday morning offered a final walk before, one-by-one, we headed back to our homes and families, or onwards for more adventures on the coast.

Thanks to Miriam, Jacqueline, Georgina, Mina, Molly, Soozi, Vikki, Rachael, Karla and Amanda for saying ‘yes!’  You can watch the camping video here and check out more photos on the AWE website gallery here. We hope to see other members at one of our AWE weekend adventures in 2024. 

AWE VIC

For any AWE members looking for a deeper understanding of trauma, including intergenerational trauma experienced by First Nations People, Deakin University recently released a short course focused on trauma, shame and the complexities surrounding these issues. The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of trauma and tools to make a positive impact in people’s lives and communities. The course runs for 4 weeks and requires 3 hours of study per week. It is free if you select the limited access option, and paid versions are also available. This course is available to anyone regardless of location. Find out more here. 

AWE WA

We are excited to announce that Annette Turner-Duggan has joined Charmaine Dalton as AWE WA Chapter Co-Lead. Annette has worked and volunteered in the emergency management sector for over 20 years. Now located in Western Australia, Annette is looking forward to supporting the professional development, exchange of ideas, learnings and networks of other WA women in the emergencies.
You can contact Annette and/or Charmain at [email protected]

Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network: The Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network aims to advance research, policy and translation of evidence so that communities are better supported in preparation and response to disasters, pandemics and mass trauma.

Climate change and children’s health: The Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in the United States report describes and quantifies some of the future impacts of climate change on children across the U.S. 

Climate change and implications for Pacific Island Countries and Territories: This Policy Brief outlines how emigration has affected Pacific Island Countries and Territories not only in general socio-economic terms but also in terms of exposure and vulnerability to climate change effects and capacity to adapt to them.

Climate change and mental health: Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, storms and wildfires, are becoming more frequent and severe. This article outlines five ways this could increase the risk of harmful substance use.

Climate change is making Australians sick: A new paper outlines how climate change presents a major public health concern in Australia, marked by unprecedented wildfires, heatwaves, floods, droughts, and the spread of climate-sensitive infectious diseases.

Emergency services volunteer leadership: A new Churchill Fellowship report, Fire & Emergency Service Leadership: Fact or Fiction? identifies how public reporting of widespread poor leadership behaviour can be attributed to a failure to invest in leadership development.

Feminist approach to international relations: Check out this Feminist approach to international relations position paper recently released by the Scottish Government which puts the rights of women and girls, and other marginalised groups, at the heart of their international activities.

Gender and sexual minorities in emergency management: This publication by outlines the importance of emergency and crisis management professionals recognising the importance of all non-heterosexual, non-cis gender people (LGBTQIA+) individuals within their field and take steps to address their specific needs. This separate Reference Guide aims to disseminate and promote the significance of the knowledge learnt from incorporating gender and sexual minority studies into disaster risk reduction.

Indigenous knowledge, resilience, and Pacific Island communities: The Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment concludes that adaptation actions centred on local and Indigenous knowledge can improve the resilience of Pacific Island communities.

LGBTQ+ and climate change: This article explores the latest official Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment which includes LGBTQ+ issues for the first time.

Vanuatu climate adaption tool: The Vanuatu Climate Futures Portal will help identify current and future climate hazards, inform adaptation planning and support decision-making.

World’s cities unprepared for climate events: Cities across the world lack the infrastructure, societal safety nets and robust environmental policies needed to combat the worsening impacts of climate change, according to a major new report.

NSW
Climate Change and Environmental Protection Lead, Caritas Australia
Sustainability and Resilience Officer, Waverley Council

NT
Officer Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross
Surveyor – Geospatial and Infrastructure, Northern Territory Government

QLD
Climate Change Project Officer, Noosa Shire Council
Principal Environment Officer, Noosa Shire Council

SA
Policy Officer, Department for Environment and Water
SharePoint Project Officer, Department of the Premier and Cabinet

TAS
Senior Mitigation Officer – Bushfire Risk Unit, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management
Principal Project Manager (Disaster Risk), Department of Premier and Cabinet

VIC
Chief of Staff – Emergency Management Commissioner, Department of Justice and Community Safety
Emergency Management Officer, City of Greater Bendigo

WA
Regional Environment Sustainability Officer, WA Health
Project Officer – Capital Works, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

NZ
Project Lead – Regional Adaptation Plan, Wellington Regional Leadership Committee
Environmental Policy Analyst, Hamilton City Council

8 March                      International Women’s Day

16-18 April                  7th International Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference

22-23 April                  Climate and nature 2030

14-16 May                  Natural Hazards Research Forum

21-24 May                   2024 Floodplain Management Australia National Conference

11-12 June                  The Future is Now: Biodiversity, Climate and Us (NZ)

16-17 July                   Emergency Management Conference 2024

22-23 July                   2024 Disaster & Emergency Management Conference

3-6 September            AFAC24

October                       The Global Nature Positive Summit 2024

October                       Australasian Women in Emergencies Day

14-17 October             Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (PH)

1-2 December             International Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming (NZ)