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Research on cultural burning, recovering after a disaster and resilience from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC has won Emergency Media and Public Affairs 2022 Awards for Excellence in Emergency Communication.
Presented at the EMPA annual conference in Sydney on 12 May, CRC research won both the research and recovery categories, as well as receiving high commendations in the research and media categories.
Research category
Winner: Cultural burning in southern Australia – booklet and posters, by Dr Jessica Weir (Western Sydney University), Dean Freeman (ACT Parks and Conservation Service), Bhiamie Williamson (Australian National University) and Natural Hazards Research Australia.
The Cultural burning in southern Australia illustrated booklet and poster series amplify Indigenous people’s perspectives on cultural burning by sharing six personal stories of what burning means. The stories showcased in the series are accompanied by stunning illustrations that show the diversity of cultural burning as a cultural practice and the common elements shared across Australia. The booklet and posters were published by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC in September 2021, with Dean Freeman (ACT Parks and Conservation Service) and Bhiamie Williamson (Australian National University) providing cultural oversight in bringing the collection together, as led by Dr Jessica Weir (Western Sydney University) with support from Dr Yasmin Tambiah (WSU). The Aboriginal artwork featured is by Wiradjuri artist Lani Balzan, and the story illustrations are by Nicole Burton from Petroglyph Studios. The six Indigenous contributors who share their stories are Minung/Gnudju kayang (wise woman) Carol Pettersen of the Noongar Nation, Gilgar Gunditj Elder Eileen Alberts of the Gunditjmara Nation, Palawa man Jason Andrew Smith, Ngunnawal murringe (man) Adrian Brown, Bundjalung and Wonnarua woman Vanessa Cavanagh and Kaytej Elder Wayne ampetyane Davis.
Dr Weir (right) was on hand to accept the award from EMPA Chair Dr Barb Ryan on behalf of the team.
Highly commended: The Australian Disaster Resilience Index, by A/Prof Melissa Parsons, A/Prof Ian Reeve, Dr James McGregor, Dr Graham Marshall, Dr Richard Stayner, Dr Judith McNeill, Dr Peter Hastings, Dr Sonya Glavac and Dr Phil Morley, University of New England; Johan Boshoff, Kassandra Hunt, Julie Fookes, Virginia Cristiani, Dion Gallagher, Brad Scott and Michael Kovacs, Computation, Analytics, Software and Infomatics UNE; and Natural Hazards Research Australia
The Australian Natural Disaster Resilience Index project was a six-year partnership between the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the University of New England, led by A/Prof Melissa Parsons (UNE). Key to this research was the development of the Australian Disaster Resilience Index – an interactive web-based index, accessible at adri.bnhcrc.com.au. The Index allows users to explore disaster resilience in different parts of Australia, and is an interactive representation of the current state of disaster resilience in Australian communities. It is the first time there has been a nationally standardised snapshot of the inherent capacity for disaster resilience in Australian communities. This research shows that communities have different capacity for disaster resilience given the many social, economic and institutional factors that play a role. Geography strongly influences disaster resilience in Australia, and different aspects of disaster resilience can be a strength or a barrier in different places. This cross-community mosaic of resilience, as seen in the Index, can be used to identify strengths and form alliances between places with similar profiles and develop targeted improvements. The Index was launched by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and UNE in July 2020 and is being actively used by emergency management and local government departments to build resilience in Australian communities.
Severe weather meant that UNE were unable to attend the award ceremony, with Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Dr Richard Thornton accepting the commendation on behalf of the research team.
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Recovery category
Winner: Recovery Capitals by Prof Lisa Gibbs, Phoebe Quinn, Alana Pirrone, University of Melbourne; Dr Denise Blake, Emily Campbell, Prof David Johnston, Massey University; John Richardson, Andrew Coghlan, Australian Red Cross; and Natural Hazards Research Australia.
Producing practical guides to strengthen recovery for any type of emergency, large or small, the Recovery Capitals project was a cross-Tasman collaboration between the University of Melbourne, the Australian Red Cross, Massey University and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, alongside many key emergency management, government and recovery organisations across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The Recovery Capitals resources, which come in both Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand versions, support wellbeing after disasters with evidence-based resources for people and organisations engaged in recovery, with significant focus on the strengths of Indigenous communities during recovery. The resources at accessible, engaging and evidence-based, offering guidance on how to apply key recovery principles in practice. Find them all at recoverycapitals.org.au/
Shona Whitton from the Australia Red Cross accepted the award on behalf of the research team.
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Media category
Highly commended: After the Disaster podcast by the Australian Red Cross, University of Melbourne and the ABC.
While no winner was awarded in the category, EMPA highly commended the After the Disaster podcast. The podcast was a 16 episode series as a collaboration between the Australian Red Cross, the University of Melbourne and the ABC, with additional funding support from Bushfire Recovery Victoria and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. The podcast provides clear, simple, evidence informed information about a range of issues that people are commonly faced with when recovering from a disaster. Topics range from managing insurance, supporting disaster affected children, what to expect over the long-term and the possibility of post traumatic growth. Each episode is discreet, meaning that people who are feeling overwhelmed, time poor or are need information on a specific topic can dip in and out as needed. The podcast is hosted by Dr Kate Brady, who uses a plain language, empathetic approach, speaking directly to the listener. Kate interviews people who have lived through disasters and subject matter experts. Guests include Scott Pape (the Barefoot Investor), Leigh Sales, Prof Lisa Gibbs, Prof Richard Bryant, Prof Lou Harms, Dr Rob Gordon, Bhiamie Williamson and people who have experienced fires, floods, earthquakes and monsoons. You can access all the episodes of After the Disaster on the ABC website, ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Shona Whitton from the Australia Red Cross accepted the award on behalf of the research team.
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