President’s Update

Australia recently celebrated National Volunteer Week with a host of events around the country, and New Zealand’s National Volunteer Week is taking place from 16-22 June.

AWE acknowledges the enormous contribution that our member volunteers make not only to disaster resilience and emergency management, but to the arts, education, sports, environment, health, aged care, disability, community welfare, the private sector and other vital programs. Volunteering helps build strong and resilient communities by encouraging economic participation, mitigating isolation and loneliness, and increasing social inclusion, community participation and cohesion. And research shows that volunteering makes people happier and healthier.

A big thank you to AWE Vice-President Amanda Lamont who spread the AWE message in Geneva at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction!

We hope to see you at one of our AWE networking events soon! See a full list of events below.

In the News

AWE Reaches 1,000 Members

In May we reached our 1,000 member milestone. It happened to coincide with a meeting of the AWE Committee and AWE Advisory group so we were able to celebrate together. Thank you to our over 1,000 members for joining us and supporting us. We look forward to hearing from you all and supporting you to realise our AWE Network goals and possibilities.

Enhancing Disaster Risk Management: Championing Change in Nepal and the Broader Indo-Pacific Region

AWE Queensland Chapter co-lead Alessia Anibaldi, Humanitarian Specialist and Manager at UQ International Development participated in a panel discussion on Enhancing Disaster Risk Management: Championing Change in Nepal and the Broader Indo-Pacific Region as part of the Centre for Policy Futures and The University of Queensland (UQ) International Development. The Panel engaged in a fruitful discussion on approaches to DRM in Nepal, Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, its importance in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a stronger focus on diversity, inclusion and accountability to people affected by disasters as key to building true resilience.

WAFA and AWE Join Forces at the Tasmania Fire and Emergency Services State Conference

Thanks to Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) for their generous invitation to join them on their stand at the Tasmania Fire & Emergency Services State Conference in Launceston. Thanks Catherine Jolly for you hard work and assistance. It was great to work together and we were able to sign up many new Tasmanian members. Welcome to our new members from Tasmania

United Nations Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction – Geneva, Switzerland

  
AWE Vice-President Amanda Lamont attended the UNDRR Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva in May in her role as Director, Engagement & Projects at the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience. She joined the Australian delegation which included delegates from Emergency Management Australia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Red Cross, Geoscience Australia, Bureau of Meteorology, Latrobe & Kentish Councils (Tas), Queensland Fire & Emergency Services and Torrens Resilience Institute.

The theme for the GPDRR was The Resilience Dividend: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Societies. Participants attended from 182 countries. Half of the panellists were women and 40% 0f participants were women. More than 120 persons with disabilities were in attendance.

The Global Platform provided a forum for UN members, including Australia, which have signed the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, to report against progress against the seven priorities outlined in the Sendai Framework, which includes development of national disaster risk reduction strategies.

Director General Emergency Management Australia, Rob Cameron, presented Australia’s Official Statement which included Australia’s publishing of data on the Sendai Monitor for 2015-18, noting more Australians are being impacted by more frequent and more intense natural hazards across Australia,including unparalleled heatwaves in scale and duration, unprecedented bushfires, severe flooding and destructive tropical cyclones.

Mr Cameron also reported on Australia’s new National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, co-designed across government, private sector and the community to reflect our collective national approach to understand and reduce disaster risk and setting out the need to proactively reduce risk now and into the future. He also reported on Australia’s investment in greater preparedness capabilities, for example the National Fire Danger Rating System.

The Global Platform and sideline events covered a huge range of topics including availability and analysis of data, capacity, at risk and marginalised people, women, youth, media, trans boundary risks, local and national DRR strategies, infrastructure, health, displacement, financing, private sector, climate change, fragile states, build back better, early warning systems and cooperation.

You can find more information about the Global Platform here including many resources. The Co-Chairs’ summary is particularly helpful.

You can also read reflections from the event from Leesa Carson, Geoscience Australia, also part of the Australian delegation, here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-platform-disaster-risk-reduction-geneva-13-17-may-leesa-carson?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D&licu=urn%3Ali%3Acontrol%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity-article_description

Please contact Amanda directly if you would like further information.

Investing in Resilience: Emergency Management in High Natural Risk Environments

AWE Advisory Group member Renae Hanvin was invited to be a guest on the “Investing in Resilience: Emergency Management in High Natural Risk Environments” webinar in May. It was part of the Business Continuity Awareness Week initiatives out of London, chaired by Gianna Detoni from the Women in Resilience Network. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6531399589378031616/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

Survey – Diversity in humanitarian leadership – how diverse and inclusive are we?

The Humanitarian Advisory Group invite you to participate in the first phase of their research into Diverse and Inclusive Humanitarian Leadership as part of the Humanitarian Horizons Research program. The State of Diversity Survey is designed to capture information about the current diversity and inclusiveness of  humanitarian leadership globally. The short survey takes  5 minutes to complete. Everyone in the sector can contribute, and the more participants, the more impact this research can have. Please complete the survey and share with your network! Click here to complete the State of our Diversity survey.

AFR’s 100 Women of Influence

The call for nominations for AFR’s 100 Women of Influence is open. The Awards encompass ten categories, with the aim of identifying a diverse group of women championing change in business and society and promoting Australian women who have dedicated their time and energy to help and encourage other women in their industry, and who are fighting for change every day.

“These are women who confront unfairness and don’t take no for an answer; who identify what needs to be done then roll up their sleeves to do it, and who use their skills and ability to help change the status quo to a more equal, more diverse, and vibrant society.”

Entries close 5^th July.  It would be great to see some of our AWEsome AWE members nominated. If you know someone, nominate them, so we can promote and profile the important contribution women make in building disaster resilience across Australia. https://www.afrwomenofinfluence.com.au/

AWE Events

ACT

The Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference is taking place in Canberra 17th-19th  June. The conference is looking to bring together a diverse range of voices to explore how a scenario of severe and cascading hazards would impact our systems if played out in the context of today. All AWE members attending this event are invited to get together – please send an email to [email protected] or ACT Chapter Lead, Leah Bach [email protected] so we can confirm arrangements.

NSW

The AWE University of Newcastle meeting has been postponed due to the low numbers, and will be rescheduled to a time that suits AWE members and the CIFAL members. A revised date will be provided once confirmed.

AWE NSW Schedule of Events for 2019

NZ

The New Zealand chapter is hosting a breakfast in Wellington on 7th June to brainstorm ideas for how AWE can build membership and best serve women in emergencies in New Zealand. We are always keen for ideas and suggestions – don’t be shy getting in touch!  Arohanui, Elizabeth and Jolie

QLD

All AWE members attending the Australia & New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference on the Gold Coast (we understand that there are a lot of you) are invited to connect and network at the networking function on Wednesday 12^th June at the venue, RACV Royal Pines Resort. Don’t forget to wear your yellow badges so you can find each other, and if you don’t have one, be on the lookout for others. Contact Qld AWE Chapter Leads Alicia Palmer ([email protected]) and Alex Anibaldi ([email protected]), or Sioux Campbell ([email protected]) for more information.
A networking event will be held at Brewsky Bar, Caxton St, Brisbane on Monday 24^th June from 6.00pm – 8.00pm with the theme Multiplying dividends: sharing lessons on resilience building. The theme is proposed as a means to share the diverse expertise of AWE members, and leverage members’ wealth of knowledge from experiences at a local, national and international level. Please let AWE QLD Chapter Co-Lead Alessia Anibaldi know if you wish to attend for booking purposes and if you have a related topic or project of interest you would like to discuss or present on. Non-members are more than welcome to attend, including male representatives. Drinks and food are at own expense.

VIC

AWE will be organising a networking event at the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference and  AFAC and BNHCRC Conference in Melbourne on 28^th-29^th  August.

Accommodation in Melbourne!!! – A fabulous suggestion has been made to see if any AWE members are interested in sharing accommodation in Melbourne while attending these conferences. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

AWE Chapter Updates

VIC

A great AWE Network Victoria Chapter networking event was held in Melbourne in conjunction with the Victorian Emergency Management Conference. Thanks to all those who attended and especially to our brave and honest guest speaker, Carol Matthews, who shared her story and insights, and had us enthralled from start to end. Carol was the lead litigant in the Black Saturday Bushfires class action and she shared her reflections on “why sometimes you need to be a pain in the bum”.

Thanks also to Siusan MacKenzie, CEO, Emergency Services Foundation and also on the AWE Network Advisory Group, for hosting us.

AWE Committee Update

The AWE Committee and AWE Advisory Group recently attended a strategic planning session to reflect on the journey that AWE has taken to date and to discuss what the future looks like for our 1000+ members. As a group we revisited our vision and purpose, members’ expectations, and discussed priorities for the next 1-2 years. We’ll be updating members soon with the outcomes from the planning session, and we can confidently state that the future is looking AWEsome for AWE!

Members of the AWE Committee and Victorian Chapter Lead Angela Draper recently met with Nuria Prat from the Pau Costa Foundation in Spain. The Pau Costa Foundation was established to undertake research and provide knowledge, tools, and techniques for forest fire management across Europe. The Pau Costa Foundation is commencing a project exploring gender and emergencies in Europe and Nuria was keen to learn more about AWE, the roles that women play in emergencies and disaster resilience in Australia. Nuria was also very keen for AWE to expand into Europe – perhaps we’ll see a further name change sometime in the future.

For Sale

Tickets for Sale – “Come From Away” in Melbourne in July

This West End show and has had great reviews. It tells the story of some of the planes diverted from NYC on 9/11 and sent to a town in Canada. The show is based on the friendship and resilience demonstrated by the community while people were stranded. Theatre review: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/theater/come-from-away-review.htmlEnquiries to Margaret Moreton: 0416 283 195 [email protected]

Social Media

In case you missed it on social media this month:

Women in the Pacific work together to build a more resilient world https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WWuJqpsk2o&feature=youtu.be

Australian Red Cross legends rocking it at the Emergency Services Foundation Conference with their yellow AWE badges! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6539634751735771136/

Women in International Affairs looking for contributors to give a voice to women’s’ experiences of the international affairs sector https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6528587905479249920/

Presenting the world first Beyond Blue National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, ‘Answering the Call’, at the 2019 Emergency Management Conference https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6539056283012726784/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3BtPBIIB8sTg%2BVPxAtLlceAQ%3D%3D

Women’s Weather Watch – Through Women I Tok Tok Tugeta (WITTT), women are leading change in the face of these disasters. If women are prepared for the next disaster, they’ll be able to take charge during an emergency and help protect their children, communities and livelihoods.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6539370520385814528/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3BO0lyQnbHR2GDvpM9LnDUYQ%3D%3D

Women’s Chainsaw program in Mt Macedon https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6539343068557119488/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

Inspiring Change Women’s Conference 2019 – Passion people Purpose – Sydney https://www.facebook.com/events/parkroyal-parramatta/inspiring-change-womens-conference-2019-passion-purpose-people/2190012164644615/

Rising to the Climate Change Challenge – Climate Week in Queensland 2019
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rising-to-the-climate-change-challenge-an-adaptive-emergency-management-sector-is-engaged-with-the-tickets-62033299268?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=esli&utm-source=li&utm-term=listing

What ‘Game of Thrones’ Teaches Us About Urban Resilience https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6536608937419038721/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

First Responders Health Symposium – June 18, Albury, NSW https://www.facebook.com/events/commercial-club-albury/first-responders-mental-health-symposium/338408237013432/

Cards for Calamity Testimonial from Women in Chainsaws Course https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6537074744276197376/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

Having more women humanitarian leaders will help transform the humanitarian system. From better meeting the needs of girls, to making cash for work programs accessible for women. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6537529487976955904/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

Women of the Waves http://mpnews.com.au/2019/05/07/western-ports-women-of-the-waves/

The number of full-time female firefighters across metropolitan Adelaide has increased 35% since announcing a diversity push 3 ½ years ago
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6534229778541670400/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

Rob Gordon shares his theory on disaster community social processes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91oZAEmjqgo

AWE Advisory Group member Siusan McKenzie with Collingwood and Hawthorn at the MCG barracking for Victoria’s Emergency Services Foundation in relation to mental health and well-being.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6531723229944479744/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_groups_entity%3B%2FJfMBp51QNuc%2FKpvghoeUg%3D%3D

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