President’s Update

Welcome to the October 2019 edition of the AWE newsletter.

It’s been a busy month with the AWE GoFundMe crowd funding campaign and the AWE member survey both underway.

As at 30th October the AWE GoFundMe fundraising campaign has raised more $3150. A huge thank you to each and every person who generously donated to the campaign! These much needed funds will help support AWE and deliver a range of member benefits including more events, a mentoring program and an updated website.

Forgot to donate? There’s still time so if you haven’t done so already you can donate here.

The AWE member survey gives you the opportunity to tell us what would like from AWE, how we can best support you, as well as your experience with the AWE Network so far. This will help us to continue developing AWE in the right direction. Your feedback is what drives AWE’s strength and success. Thanks to those members who have completed the survey – it is greatly appreciated!

Forgot to complete the survey? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you the link.

National AWE Committee update: Steph Carr from DELWP has decided to step down from the committee to better manage her competing responsibilities and interests, including her family. A huge thank you to Steph Carr who has contributed enormously to AWE and has done much of the groundwork for the AWE mentoring program. Dr Margaret Moreton will be joining the Committee as a candidate from the 2018 election. Margaret brings with her a wealth of experience and insights. Welcome Margaret!

AWE Crowd Funding Campaign – October 2019

We are overwhelmed with the support the AWE Network has received during the October GoFundMe Crowdfunder. Here are some of the AWEsome comments left from our AWEsome supporters:

• I donated because I support AWE and hope to see this grow.
• I have been a member since the beginning and think this is a great community!
• Women are very active during and after disasters. They care and support their communities and deserve recognition and support for their selfless actions in preparing, enduring and rebuilding families and communities that are impacted by these events.
• I believe this network is needed to make the world a better place! Improving the diversity of thought by promoting, supporting and amplifying the voice of our mana wahine (women) working in this field. Kia kaha wahine ma!
• We can smash this target ladies! Go AWE :)
• This is such an important organisation. They have already given support to me and I want to repay that in a small way.
• The work of the network is so important to the future of the emergency management sector. Many thanks to all involved and who continue to support this initiative.
• I love being a member of the AWE Network and I have met so many amazing women through it. And there is still so much more we can do.
• I really want our network to succeed – connecting and supporting us

The link is still open so please help us reach our goal and enhance the network for everyone! https://www.gofundme.com/f/australasian-women-in-emergencies-awe-network

In the News

Congratulations to AWE Member Nicola Palfrey ACT who is a successful recipient of a Churchill Fellowship – To understand how to make exposure to trauma and adversity in childhood a public health issue – USA, UK

AWE President Bridget Tehan recently with Victoria’s Gender and Equality Commissioner Ro Allen, following the Commissioner’s funny and insightful Diversity and Inclusion keynote address at the Victorian Community Transport Association’s 2019 Conference. The Commissioner’s address highlighted why inclusion and equality are such important issues for not only women but for LGBTQI+ people and communities, Aboriginal people and communities, people with a disability and other diverse community members.  AWE values and welcomes diversity, and is co​mmitted to principles of respect, equality and social justice, and we will continue to work toward strengthening inclusion in AWE and in the emergency management and disaster resilience sector.

Bridget with Victoria’s Gender and Equality Commissioner Ro Allen

In October WA Chapter Co-lead and Red Cross State Manager for Emergency Services Erin Fuery received an Australian Red Cross Service Award.

AWE Secretary, Kath Cooney and AWE Vice President, Amanda Lamont attended the Victorian Rural Women’s Network Country Cuppas 2019 morning tea at Parliament House to celebrate International Day of Rural Women. 600 women attended 30 Country Cuppas events cross Victoria to connect and celebrate the contribution women make to Victorian communities and the economy and recognise the significant role that women play in rural communities.

“In unison we can do so much more”.

We heard that women earn 49% of rural income in Australia. The morning tea at Parliament House was attended by young farmers, community and business leaders, Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Jaclyn Symes and Minister for Women, the Hon. Gabrielle Williams.
The Parliament House event was hosted by Jessica Purbrick-Herbst, Empowered Women Convenor of the Victorian Rural Women’s Network Reference Group.

AWE NSW member Michelle Villeneuve gave a talk for OT week on Re-Thinking person-centred care and the tools we use. For more information https://lnkd.in/gebRz84

AWE Vice President Amanda Lamont was invited to speak at the CORE Wimmera Leading Change – Gender and Disaster lunch in Horsham, Vic, hosted by Women’s Health Grampians. It was a very well attended event with people coming from all sectors, roles and regions. Amanda shared the story of AWE and why women around Australia, New Zealand and from further afield had seen the network as something so desperately needed, and how they saw opportunities to celebrate, advance and develop their career, volunteer role or other role in emergencies and disasters. Having the opportunity to review the 2018 AWE member survey results reminded Amanda of just how passionate and supportive of AWE people have been and the responsibility to continue to develop the network into something meaningful and helpful. Amanda said this was the first time she had shared some of her personal stories reflecting the role and experience of women in disasters and thanks those who encouraged her to continue to tell her story.

Job Opportunities

• SA Government are recruiting a Senior Project Officer (emergency management) to help implement South Australia’s first Disaster Resilience Strategy. Varied and dynamic work and of course a great team! Initially short term with possible extension.

• Australian Red Cross is currently recruiting Emergency Services volunteer leaders across Vic.

7NEWS Young Achiever Awards VIC

The Young Achiever Awards aim to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people in Victoria up to and including 29 years of age.

Nominations are now open in the following categories:
·         Saward Dawson Community Service and Social Impact Award
·         The Victorian Government Group Achievement in the Community Award
·         First National Real Estate Leadership Award
·         Budget Car and Truck Rentals Online Achievement Award
·         Kangan Institute Inspirational TAFE Student Award
·         The Bridge Create Change Award
·         IKON Services Environmental Sustainability Award
·         Luminary Tech Visionary Award
·         Generation Us Small Business Achiever Award

If you would like to recognise an AWE member or other colleague or friend, provide their contact details here and the organisers will get in contact with them, and have them complete the questions online. Visit the website to find out more.

Nominations close Friday 13th December 2019

AWE Events

Meet up program

Don’t forget to reach out to the committee at [email protected] if you would like to be matched with a fellow AWE Network member for a virtual or face-to-face catchup.
1. Send your name, email and phone number to [email protected]
2. We will match you up with another AWE Network member and connect you via email.
3. Get in touch with your new friend to organise a face-to-face, phone or video chat. We will even provide a set of questions to help guide your conversation!

For bonus points, send us a snap (or screenshot!) of your catch up or tag us on social media and we’ll share it on our social media channels so we can all put faces to names.

• Twitter – @network_awe
• Facebook – @AWENetwork
• Instagram – @awe-network
• LinkedIn – @awe_network

New South Wales

New Zealand

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gaa96nf

Victoria

Find out more and purchase your ticket here

Other Events

Community Workshop on Emergencies for the Deaf Community – Springwood, NSW  2^nd November

Regional NSW Disaster Risk Reduction Symposium. How can emergency services, community service organisations, local government, and businesses work together for a stronger, safer NSW? Dubbo  7^th – 8^th November

This year the NSW Disaster Risk Reduction Symposium explores how private, public, and community sectors can further utilise available resources and expertise across sectors – and work together to reduce the impacts of disasters.

Broadside – Two Days of an Unapologetically Feminist Agenda – The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne  9th – 10th November

https://broadside.wheelercentre.com/?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20191007WheelerWeekly&utm_content=version_A&promo=3015

2019 Mindful Futures Conference – Addressing the Big Issues from a Different Perspective – Melbourne  14^th – 15^th November

Engaging with environmental discomfort: how mindfulness, empathy and compassion practices can support individuals and organisations.

The impacts of climate and other environmental change will hinge critically on the quality of public dialogue and decisions right now. Emotions of disengagement, confusion, powerlessness, anxiety, sorrow, defensiveness and anger play a powerful role in our personal and societal conversations. Practices in mindfulness, empathy and compassion can help, providing practical ways to engage constructively with contested viewpoints, stark realities, difficult emotions, ethical dilemmas and the imperative to act.

At the 2019 Mindful Futures Network conference you will hear from leaders experienced in building these skills and capacities in their professional practice, organisational operations and societal leadership:

• Mark Crosweller: Compassion: The essential premise of public policy and crisis response
• Dr Bronwyn Gresham: Compassion and Climate: Building future resilience
• Jennifer Nadel, Co-Founder, Compassion in Politics, UK

Registrations at: https://events.humanitix.com.au/2019-mindful-futures-network-conference (discounts for 2 or more from the same organisation)

Disaster Management Conference – Melbourne  21^st – 22^nd November 2019

AWE members have been offered a discount to attend the Disaster Management Conference in Melbourne in 2019. The conference is targeted at owners of critical infrastructure in the utilities, infrastructure and government sectors, with emphasis on providing delegates with the information and tools to ensure they can prepare for, survive, and then thrive in the face of disaster. Read more about the event here https://disaster-management.com.au/. For your discount code, please email [email protected].

Women in Leadership Summit – Melbourne  5^th – 6^th December 2019

The Women Leaders Institute provides a platform for inspiration, empowerment, and a safe place to connect and grow and the Women in Leadership Summit, brings together a community of like-minded women and men who are championing the advancement of women in leadership.

If you are interested in attending, please see the link below.
http://melbourne.womenleadersummit.com/?utm_campaign=WLS%201219%20MEL%20Lead%20Gen%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=96EBE84687D0067423C63653B163501C&elq=3343400ef86542e48f7826b796e000ea&elqaid=2222&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=642

AWE Chapter Updates

New South Wales

Congratulations for reaching 158 subscribed NSW based AWE members, we have come so far since this time last year, so thank you to all of you for spreading the word of this wonderful association. Catherine Strods

At the AWE stand at the NSW Disaster Risk Reduction Symposium Program in Wagga Wagga 22-23 October we met with existing members and joined up some new members.

AWE Drinks Function – October 19th – our DLO and deaf community members joined us for a fun filled evening. An amazing night with our AWE deaf community including the hard working SES deaf liaison officers (DLO’s). Please get in touch with Catherine Strods if you know anyone in other states that are part of this wonderful community. These amazing women and men have contributed so much to NSW AWE. Such a fantastic night with amazing people. Thank you so much Leilani for getting such a wonderful group together!

South Australia

Greetings from Abigail and Anastasia, South Australian AWE Chapter Leads

This year has been exceptionally busy for us all, but we wanted to take the time to introduce ourselves as Chapter Leads for South Australia.

With weather events throughout winter, we have all been heads down, bum up and are now looking towards what could be a long, hot summer.

Before the Christmas and Fire Season come upon us, we thought it would be a good idea to get together, mingle, meet and greet and generally shoot the breeze.

Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming event, we’ll email you with all the details.  If there is anything you would like to do (or any free venues you know) please let us know. You can contact us at [email protected]

Our progress so far wouldn’t have been possible without you being part of our AWEsome network.

Hope to see you at an event soon.

Abigail and Anastasia

Victoria

Fifteen AWE members and soon to be members met over dinner and gin in Horsham, Victoria on 24th October. Thanks to Mandi Stewart for organising a great night where we met new people and shared stories and ideas. I look forward to the next time. And we signed up some great new members. The dinner was held in conjunction with the Women’s Health Grampians CoRE Leading Change Lunch – Gender & Disaster Management at which AWE member Amanda Lamont, and new AWE member, Di Thomson, Vic Police were guest speakers.

Some AWE members the following day attended the ‘Lessons in Disaster’ training package explores how girls and boys are raised to take on different roles in society and how this creates different risks for men and women during and after disasters.

Western Australia

AWE Vice President, Amanda Lamont recently in Perth on family business took the opportunity to catch up with Peta Turner AWE Committee member, Erin Fuery AWE WA Chapter Lead and Melissa Pexton AWE Advisory Group Member. Unfortunately AWE WA Chapter Lead Charmaine Dalton couldn’t join us. WE discussed our work, and the AWE network and thought of ways we could help each other, sharing knowledge and connecting each other with information.

Member Survey – Closing Soon!!!!!!

The AWE member survey is closing soon. We were overwhelmed with responses to our survey in 2018 and would love to hear from you all again. It really has helped us understand your needs and work towards developing a network that brings us together and builds on our strengths, connections, experience and knowledge.

Through last year’s survey, members said they wanted networking opportunities, events, mentoring and advice and information. As a result, the AWE Network and Chapter Leads have been hard at work providing a range of networking opportunities and events across the country. The AWE newsletter and social media posts have been tailored to share information from across the sector, promote events of interest, and provide advice and information. Also, the national AWE committee has also been busy scoping out a mentoring program (watch this space!).

The survey is anonymous and should take around 5-10 minutes to complete.

Complete the member survey here.

Social Media Update

In case you missed it on social media this month:

Female military trained by UNESCO in protecting cultural property

Australian Volunteers for International Development are recruiting now and there are some great roles in emergency and disaster resilience.

Australasian Women in Emergencies Network members featured in this video from AFAC19 – it demonstrates just how far reaching and important are the roles women play in emergencies and disasters.

The first all-female spacewalk is scheduled for this week

Australian Red Cross is currently recruiting Emergency Services volunteer leaders across Vic.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service first all female hazard reduction burn

Risky business: Why diversity and inclusion matter

Grassroots women won’t be left behind in reducing disaster risks
Research shows that women’s local and experiential knowledge on disasters, climate and conflict is undervalued and rarely incorporated in policy and planning at national and global levels. This research also found that, despite this, women are intrinsically using their community networks to develop approaches for community resilience that consider the intersection of climate change, disasters, conflict and long-term sustainable development.

Risk Frontiers and Macquarie University through the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre are undertaking research to gain a better understanding of how Community Service Organisations (CSOs) and Not For Profits (NFPs) may be involved in working with communities before, during and after disasters.

The state of Queensland is the first in Australia to reach its target of 50% women on government boards by 2020 – quotas in action!

Bernadette Cinders joins Fire and Rescue NSW’s long-running mascot, Bernie Cinders, in representing FRNSW to the public.

The 2nd edition of Ruth McGowan’s book 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 – 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 heads to the printer to be published.

Women’s Leadership Program taking place in November. Gain the skills, confidence and network to be a change-maker in your organisation or community. Explore leadership through a gender lens and learn what it means to be a female leader in today’s world. 

ACF is looking for grassroots leaders, emerging campaigners and community organisers keen to develop skills, get hands-on experience and act for our forests, rivers, people and wildlife.

There are no words to describe how humiliating, condescending and confidence shattering this type of female “leadership training” is and yet it happens in some of the world’s most “respectable” firms.

Disaster Management 2019 is here! Expand your network and learn from Australia’s top minds in disaster management.

The Glad Shout – After a catastrophic storm destroys Melbourne, Isobel flees to higher ground with her husband and young daughter. Food and supplies run low, panic sets in and still no help arrives. To protect her daughter, Isobel must take drastic action.

QRA CEO Brendan Moon has shared some insights with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in their recent blog about the importance of risk-informed reconstruction and development.

Plan International has released the results of a new survey looking at Australian girls’ and young women’s attitudes to empowerment, leadership, role models, girl activists leading change and girls tackling major social and global issues.

Climate change and disaster risk reduction in Australia
The Understanding Disaster Risk Reduction forums, being hosted by AIDR and EMA throughout October, are drawing a clear link between climate change and disaster risk reduction, with warnings of unprecedented risks and events.

Newsletter contributions

The AWE Newsletter is published monthly on the last Friday of the month. Submissions are due on the 2nd last Friday of the month. For queries or to change your subscription, or to let us know what you would like to see in the newsletter email us at [email protected].

About AWE

The Australasian Women in Emergencies (AWE) Network promotes, supports and develops the contributions of women in emergency management and disaster resilience to help build stronger individuals, communities and organisations.

Visit our website to find out more and join.

Our mailing address is: [email protected]

To become an AWE member, please click here.

AWE badges are available from our shop.