AWE Newsletter – November 2021

With no vaccine yet available for those under 12, many children remain vulnerable to COVID infection, and cases are likely to grow in coming weeks. The responsibility of caring for children still largely rests with women, and women make up the vast majority of the early childhood and education sectors which will see increasing cases and the need for management. The health sector, also predominantly women, will also face pressure. Women, including those in the emergency management sector who have been working tirelessly for more than 18 months, risk burnout as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

So while we’re enjoying our freedoms let’s remember to be good to ourselves, the women we work with and the women we know, many of whom will continue to be disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks in the weeks and months ahead.

AWE members and others celebrated right across Australia and New Zealand with a range of virtual and in-person catch ups, morning and afternoon teas, a lunchtime forum, and a fun trivia night focusing on women in emergencies. It was great to see our members, friends and supporters come together to recognise and celebrate the role of women in emergencies and we loved seeing our yellow badges and yellow clothing being worn so proudly.

Our social media accounts were flooded with messages of support from a range of emergency management organisations right throughout the day and into the next. Here’s just some of what they had to say:

During the lunchtime forum, AWE ACT Chapter Lead Zoe D’Arcy led us through a Miro board activity to explore the ‘roses, thorns and buds’, or successes, challenges and opportunities, for women in the emergency management sector. The insights are being collated and will be reported back for members in the next newsletter.

Sincere thanks to all those who helped us organise the day, including the Victorian Emergency Management Inclusion and Diversity (VEMID) Leadership Group and so many fabulous AWE members.

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 November Conversation

Disasters and Climate Change – what does it mean for us?

The AWE Network has always been a strong advocate for committed, meaningful action on climate change, particularly in light of the unequal impacts global warming has on women and girls, and vulnerable populations, and also given the evidence that climate change is causing more frequent, extreme and catastrophic disasters, right now. This is directly impacting all of us who work and volunteer in, and are impacted by emergencies and disasters. So, all of us!

Join AWE Vice President, Amanda Lamont in this online conversation about what next after Glasgow and the COP26 proceedings, and discuss ways in which the AWE Network might support action and add its members’ voices to the growing movement to reduce our individual, national and global contribution to climate change. Amanda has just completed Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership training and can share the latest material and information from Al Gore and the Climate Reality Project in relation to the climate crisis and solutions.

18 November 12.30 – 1.30pm (AEDT)

Book now

---

AWE December Social Networking Event – Save the Date

10 December 5 – 6.30pm AEDT

More details here

---

 Watch the October AWE Conversation with Snez Pezzin here

Watch the September AWE Conversation with Anjum Rahman here

Don’t forget you can watch all our past Conversations. Check our webpage for more details. 

For anyone wishing to know more about the mentoring program, or anyone needing support with finding a mentor or mentee, please reach out to the Mentoring Program Coordinator – Lisa Marie Jackson at [email protected]. We have recently been putting AWE members in contact with other members to discuss the potential for establishing a mentoring relationship, and we’ve been been providing members with one-off advice regarding a particular question or area.

AWE ACT

Canberra lockdown drinks
Despite being in lockdown, AWE ACT members joined together on online to celebrate Australasian Women in Emergencies Day. It was lovely to chat with Chris, Ashleigh and Bron, and it was great to have Amanda and Kath join us from Melbourne!
 
AWE ACT virtual breakfasts – coming soon
After a very successful AWE ACT online breakfast in September, we are planning to host more on a regular basis. No commuting, no need to find a carpark, no need to hand over extortionate amounts of money for toast. Just log on and catch up with other AWE members. Details will be emailed to members soon!
AWE ACT Chapter Lead Zoe

AWE NSW

AWE NSW members catching up on Australasian Women in Emergencies Day

AWE NSW Chaper Lead Nicole

AWE QLD

AWE QLD Coffee and Networking
We invite all AWE members and friends to our next coffee and networking catch up in Townsville!
When              16 November 2021
Time               10:00 – 11:00 am
Where             C Bar, on the Strand
Details             AWE QLD Coffee and Networking
RSVP              [email protected] no later than 12 November

Resilience In Practice Symposium
A huge congratulations to AWE member Cheryl Desha from Griffith University for directing an incredible Resilience Symposium this month.  Read what Cheryl has to say about the Symposium:

What happens when a Scientist, Ecologist, Statistician and an Engineer with a new building, team up with an Artist and a community of water management professionals to run Immersive Training on the long term impacts and consequences of Disaster Management Decisions? … Intentional, orchestrated creative chaos, with a high-probability of many ‘a-hah!’ moments, and great visuals!

Many thanks to the following lead agencies and industry collaborators for your patience and commitment to making it happen: Queensland Reconstruction Authority, National Recovery and Resilience Agency, Suncorp Group, IGEM, Australian Red Cross, QLD Police, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy Queensland, Local Government Association of Queensland and International WaterCentre.

Get Ready QLD Week Activities
During October we celebrated Get Ready QLD Week and many AWE members were involved in activities to support their communities to prepare for the upcoming season. Below are some pictures of our event in the Western Suburbs of Brisbane where other AWE allies were also in attendance! A huge thanks to my RFS Brigade at Brookfield for getting involved!

 

Live in QLD? Thinking of a career move? Check these out:

• Disaster Management Officer Job in Sunshine Coast – SEEK
• Disaster Management Coordinator Job in Somerset & Lockyer – SEEK
• Senior Project Officer (AO6) Community Resilience and Risk Mitigation
• Senior Program Officer (AO6) Volunteer Capability and Sustainability
• Senior Recovery – QRA
• Senior Program Officer (AO6) Sustainable Development
• Senior Operational Capability Officer SES
• Partner – Emergency Management (COVID) Job in Brisbane – SEEK
• SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICER Job in Northern QLD – SEEK
• Fire and Emergency Management Officer Job in Mackay & Coalfields – SEEK
• Fire and Emergency Management Coordinator – QLD Job in Brisbane – SEEK
• Emergency Services Supervisor Job in Cairns & Far North – SEEK

AWE QLD Chapter Leads Alicia and Jaimee

AWE NZ

Kia ora koutou NZ AWE whānau. 
We’ve been thinking of our AWE NZ friends who’ve been doing time in lockdown for the benefit of us all. Sending you our thanks and support. Feel free to reach out to us and to others in the AWE network anytime.

On the events front, we’ve had a couple of great speakers lined up for in-person events in this last quarter of the year, which we have postponed to 2022 so there’s plenty to look forward to next year.

Online breakfast catch up!
In the meantime, we hope you’ll join us for a virtual get together over breakfast from 8 – 8.30am Tuesday 23 November. Bring your toast/muesli/coffee and let’s catch up and make new connections! Details can be found here.
Noho ora mai
AWE NZ Chapter Leads Jolie and Elizabeth

Emergency services leadership scholarships for women: Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) supports emerging, middle, and senior women leaders across all sectors and industries. Partial scholarships of $1000-$5000 per person are available for women in Emergency Services Sector Chain. To encourage more women to step into leadership roles across the Emergency Services Sector, WLA is offering scholarships for three leadership development courses. Applications close 30 November.

How the emergency service sector can create a better brighter future after COVID: ESF’s Insight Conversation on 17 November features Andrew Wear, author of Recovery: How we can create a better, brighter future after a crisis, John Richardson, National Resilience Adviser for Australian Red Cross and Carmel Flynn, Acting CEO of Bushfire Recovery Victoria. Find out more here.

Interview with new Director of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership. Carol Schwartz AO speaks with Professor Michelle Ryan, the inaugural Director of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership in this Women’s Leadership Institute Australia interview. Watch now

New resource for families of veterans or emergency services first responders: A new evidence-based guide has been published to help military and first responder families support their loved ones struggling with mental health. The guide will be helpful in providing broad advice to family members on how and when to seek help.

Pandemic trauma conference: Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia’s short virtual conference Pandemic. Trauma takes place on November 10. While COVID-19 continues to threaten medical, research and public-health authorities, the mental health cost remains uncertain. Hear from speakers international speakers Patty Stewart McCord (Canada) and Angela Lewis (UK).

Nature journaling: Emergency evacuations and nature journaling aren’t two concepts that sit together naturally, but this is exactly what fire communicator and educator Miriam Morrill has managed to do. Miriam’s creative work aims to help communities observe and immerse themselves in the landscape to learn more about fire, and was showcased at a conference held by the International Association of Wildland Fire earlier this year.

ACT
Emergency Exercise Officers, Government and Defence

NSW
Manager Change Management Office, State Emergency Service
Policy Officer, Department of Communities and Justice

QLD
Project Officer – Recovery, Australian Red Cross
Media and Public Relations Manager, Government & Defence

SA
Emergency Management Grants Program Administrator, SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission

TAS
Principal Policy Analyst – Security and Emergency Management, Department of Education
Coordinator, Community Development, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

VIC
Head of Communications Emergency Management, Department of Health
Community Safety Officer, Country Fire Authority

WA
Intensive Care Paramedic/Critical Care Nurse, Royal Flying Doctor Service
Emergency Services Officer – Community Resilience & Recovery Great Southern, Australian Red Cross

NZ
Advisor / Senior Advisor, Operational Readiness, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Research Advisor, Earthquake Commission

March 2022         Lessons Management Forum – AFAC/AIDR

March 2022         Resilient Australia Awards – NRRA/AIDR (applications open)

July 2022             Disaster & Emergency Management Conference – ANZDMC

August 2022        AFAC22 – AFAC/Deutsche Messe/IFE/AIDR