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

AWE Newsletter – February 2022

Welcome to 2022!

It’s proving to be another busy start to year for the emergency management sector, with a range of significant floods, storms, bushfires, monsoons, volcanic eruptions and other events taking place across Australasia, all while we continue to work within the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the busy start to 2022 we hope that members were able to enjoy a well-deserved break, and managed to see Ash Barty’s tiumphantly win the Australian Open grand slam!

Picture courtesy of the ABC

Our Pacific neighbour Tonga is reeling from the devastating effects of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano eruption and subsequent tsunami. Shifting the Power Coalition is a women-led regional alliance focused on strengthening the collective power, influence and leadership of diverse Pacific women to respond to disasters and climate change and ActionAid Australia is preparing to respond to the disaster in Tonga through the Coalition.

If you’d like to support the Tongan relief and recovery efforts, donations can be made to any of the following organisations:

You can directly support women in Tonga by donating to the Women and Children’s Crisis Centre Tonga.

AWE News

What’s happening in 2022
AWE will continue to provide members with a range of benefits including our monthly newsletter, events and forums, mentoring opportunities, special interest groups and more. Contact us if you’d like to get involved, volunteer your time or would like to know more about AWE and what we do.

Keep an eye on the newsletter, our webpage, LinkedIn and Facebook for details.

NEW discussion series!
AWE is excited to announce its new initiative – the AWE Open Discussion Series. We heard from you that you are keen to connect with other members, talk openly about a range of issues and topics, and support one another. The new Open Discussion series will allow you to participate in open discussions with other members to explore insights, experiences and ideas on a whole range of topics. There’ll be no speakers, no presentations, just you and other AWEsome women getting together to talk, share and network.

We’re kicking off with an AWE Open Discussion on children and young people in emergencies and disasters on Wednesday 16 February. Book now.

International Women’s Day 2022
International Women’s Day – 8 March – is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. AWE President Bridget Tehan will be speaking at a National Recovery and Resilience Agency IWD breakfast, and AWE Committee Member Amanda Lamont will be speaking at the UNWomen IWD breakfast in Melbourne and at ESF’s IWD event.

AWE is hosting a range of events to celebrate IWD – see our Events section below!

AWE Inspiring!

Australia Day 2022 Honours List

The Australia Day 2022 Honours List recognised the outstanding service and contributions of 1040 Australians. This year marks the highest ever percentage (47 per cent) of women who received an award in the General Division of the Order of Australia. A large number of women in the emergency management and related sectors were awarded honours. AWE members who received an award in 2022 include:

Debbie Williams, Commander Tasmanian Police Australian Police Medal
Fiona Dunstan, Manager, BOM Australian Fire Service Medal
Dr Faye Bendrups, Controller, Vic SES Medal of the Order of Australia

Debbie Williams, APM Fiona Dunstan, AFSM Dr Faye Bendrups, OAM
Congratulations to these AWEsome members and all women recipients!

Anne Pickles

We also extend our congratulations to AWE member Anne Pickles who was elected President of Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) in December 2021. We look forward to building on a great relationship with WAFA with Anne at the helm!

AWE Events

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 for forthcoming events.If you’ve got a great idea for an event, know someone who would be a great speaker, or just want to get involved, email us!

AWE Open Discussion

Children and young people in emergencies and disasters

Want to connect, talk openly, and support one another?

The AWE Open Discussions provide a forum for members to explore insights, experiences and ideas on a range of topics. No speakers, no presentations, just AWEsome women getting together to learn, share and network. This month’s Open Discussion will explore on children and young people
in emergencies and disasters.

Wednesday 16 February 12pm AEDT

Book now.

International Women’s Day Events

This year’s IWD theme is Changing Climates: Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow – a theme that recognises the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are working to change the climate of gender equality and build a sustainable future.

AWE is hosting a wide range of face-to-face and online events to celebrate
International Women’s Day 2022. See below for details.

AWE International Women’s Day Panel Forum

Leave no-one behind

How gender diverse EM will help save us (all) from a Zombie Apocalypse

How will we survive and thrive come the Zombie Apocalypse?

Join us on International Women’s Day for an entertaining evening with senior leaders from the sector, as they take a light hearted (but deadly serious) look at why gender diversity is critically important in the emergency management sector.

Tuesday 8 March 7 – 9pm AEDT

Click here for more details and to book

Canberra IWD Breakfast

Come along for a face-to-face breakfast to celebrate International Women’s Day

Enjoy coffee and a chat and meet other people in the network

8am Thursday 10 March

Capital Eatery

68 Northbourne Ave, Canberra

RSVP [email protected] by Tuesday 8 March

Melbourne IWD Breakfast

Join other AWE members for an informal breakfast in the CBD to celebrate
International Women’s Day

8.30 – 9.30am Tuesday 8 March

Cafe Ecco

8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne

RSVP [email protected] by Friday 4 March

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR INBOX FOR MORE AWE IWD EVENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED!

ESF International Women’s Day 2022 Break the Bias

Monday 7 March

ESF’s all-day IWD 2022 Break the Bias e vent incudes a range of terrific speakers from within and outside the sector who will inspire and lead discussion with women and men representing Victoria’s 14 emergency service and management organisations.

Speakers include:
Paula Robinson, Managing Director of the Positive Psychology Institute
Dr Niki Vincent, Victoria’s Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner

ESF has generously provided AWE with six FREE tickets for members
who would like to attend this event!

Please submit your expression of interest to AWE at [email protected] by 18 February.

UN Women Australia International Women’s Day Events

Check out the range of in-person and online IWD fundraising events hosted by UN Women Australia here.

Missed an AWE Conversation last year? You can watch all our past Conversations –
check our webpage for more details.

AWE Mentoring

Welcome to our latest AWEsome mentoring program members Angel Benham and Gianna Verdini Fensom!

If you’d like to find out more about the mentoring program please visit AWE’s mentoring webpage or reach out to Lisa Marie Jackson at [email protected]

AWE Chapter Updates

AWE NSW
Thank you to those members who have responded about availability for a virtual catchup. I am keen to hear from other members about days and times that suit them so we can get a chance to network. In the meantime come along to our first virtual catch-up for 2022!

AWE online breakfast and catch-up
7.45-9.00am Friday 11 February
Breakfast and a chat
Join here

Join in when you are free, even if it just for a quick Hi! and a cuppa before work starts. Please invite along any of your colleagues or friends who you think might be interested in joining the network, so we can get the word out there about the amazing things happening in AWE. Copy and paste the details above into your calendar.

When the dust settles a little more in the COVID department I would like to arrange some in-person catchups, and after feedback from some members, I’m going to see if we can host a catchup in a couple of different locations and join up virtually on the day for a little while. We’ll see if my technical skills can extend that far!

I would like to encourage members to share their stories, ideas, research, job opportunities, achievements, and the latest news in their respective fields, so please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me 0408659947 so I can collate and share.

Looking forward to catching up with you soon!

Kylie – AWE NSW Chapter Lead

AWE QLD
Hi Queensland members!

Join us for an AWE coffee and a catch up in Townsville
From 5pm Tuesday 22 February
Otto’s Market
Warrina Shopping Centre, Townsville
RSVP Alicia

Hope to see you there!

Alicia – AWE QLD Chapter Co-Lead

AWE VIC
Join other AWE members who live or work in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne for breakfast.

AWE breakfast
8am Wednesday 23 February
Hutch & Co,
251 Main St Lilydale

Please email Amanda Lamont at [email protected] if you are planning to attend. It would be great to see you there!

Australasian Women in Emergencies for Climate Action

We have received some great interest in this special interest group to support climate action. It’s not too late to add your name to our growing list of all members who are keen to support this group. Please email Amanda Lamont at [email protected] if you are keen to join the group, or would like further information.

Our first meeting will be held at 12pm on Monday 21 February online. This meeting we will confirm the objectives of the group and start listing some activities and program opportunities. We hope to see you there!

News, resources and opportunities

AJEM gender justice edition: The January 2022 issue of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management is now online. This edition of the journal looks at the important issue of gender justice in disasters. As Professor Emerita Raewyn Connell writes, ‘before an event, someone’s gender is likely to shape their vulnerability and exposure’. This has implications for women, men and LGBTIQA+ people.

Organisational equity and inclusion specialists: To help you or your organisation take effective action, the Australian Gender Equity Council has created a directory of diversity and inclusion specialists that can help you get started and achieve your goals. The Gender Equality & Inclusion Consulting Directory connects you with local and international experts who can help you become leaders in your field.

Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls: Christine Clarke CSC, who has held senior roles within the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy, was recently appointed Australia’s next Ambassador for Women and Girls. In this role she will work to ensure that gender equality, and empowerment of women and girls, is a central focus of Australia’s diplomatic, development, and regional security efforts.

Call for Abstracts: Make sure you get your abstracts in on time! Fire & Climate 2022 Conference abstracts close 14 February; AFAC22 abstracts close 14 February; Disaster & Emergency Management Conference abstracts close 18 March.

Profiles of women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction in Asia and the Pacific: A new book, How can I make this better?, seeks to recognise and celebrate just a few of the many amazing women leading disaster risk reduction efforts across Asia and the Pacific, in the hope that these profiles will inspire other women doing the same.

Women’s Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction: examples from the Arab States: This new publication documents, collects, and shares gender-responsive disaster risk reduction and lessons learned from across the Arab States region, and covers disaster reduction initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of disasters on women.

DRR and gender Action Brief: This UNDRR Action Brief, Gender and disaster risk reduction and response in the context of COVID-19: The Asia-Pacific Region, explores genbder indequalities as well as identifies key barriers to delivering disaster preparedness and response in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tackling stereotypes in the media: UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and Women’s Empowerment, last year launched the Australian chapter of the Unstereotype Alliance, part of a global coalition to tackle harmful stereotypes in advertising and media content.

Job Opportunities

ACT
Research Project Manager – CSIRO Land & Water

NSW
Director, Safety and Emergency Management – St Vincent de Paul Society
Coordinator Fire Safety Services – Ku-ring-gai Council

QLD
Emergency Management Coordinator – Mackay Regional Council
Senior Program Officer – Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

SA
Regional Business Services Officer – SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission
Emergency Response and Safety Trainer – Fire & Safety Australia

TAS
Asset and Emergency Management Coordinator – Department of State Growth
Manager Emergency Response – Department of Health

VIC
Executive Director Emergency Management Technology – EMV
Deputy Commissioner Capability – EMV

WA

Community Emergency Service Manager – Shire of Carnarvon
Media and Communications Assistant – Department of Fire and Emergency Services

NZ
Emergency Management Officer – Buller District – West Coast Regional Council
City Safety Advisor – Wellington City Council

Other Events

7 March Resilient Australia Awards – NRRA/AIDR (applications open)

8 March International Women’s Day

22-23 March Lessons Management Forum – AFAC/AIDR

23-28 May Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction – UNDRR

6-10 June Fire & Climate 2022 Conference – IAWF

5-6 July Emergency Management Conference 2022 – ESF

25-26 July Disaster & Emergency Management Conference – ANZDMC

23-26 August AFAC22 – AFAC/Deutsche Messe/IFE/AIDR

10 October Australasian Women in Emergencies Day

Newsletter contributions

The AWE Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed to almost 1600 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]

To become an AWE member, please click here.
AWE badges are available from our shop.

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