Emergency services focus on research

The scientific and research progress made in the ten years since Black Saturday, the mental health of emergency services personnel and diversity & inclusion research are key areas highlighted in the latest edition of Fire Australia.

The first issue of the 2019 is now available, with the edition also covering the Fire Protection Industry Awards gala and climate change & emergency management.

Fire behaviour, human behaviour and building and planning issues were key issues identifed by research undertaken in the immediate aftermarth of Black Saturday. The cover article of the edition recaps these Bushfire CRC research findings, with the themes identifed in 2009 still points of interest and concern for fire agencies today. Much has been learnt about preparedness, warnings and mitigation, but there is still more to do.

Research findings into the mental health and wellbeing of police and emergency service staff and volunteers are also covered. The research, a collaboration between Beyond Blue and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, was released in November 2018 and provides a detailed and accurate picture of mental health issues across Australia. The results have established national baseline measures of wellbeing, mental health conditions and suicide risk among police and emergency services personnel. They also provide evidence about the issues affecting their health, and the best ways to provide support.

Understanding the diversity of people that fire and emergency personnel serve - and being inclusive of their needs - is changing the way some agencies are thinking about their operational requirements. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC researchers are working to better integrate Australia’s diverse population and how diversity can be better managed and measured in agencies to help address this gap. The aim is to help create an inclusive workplace culture that will enhance decision making and strategic thinking.

The edition also recaps the public forum held on 13 October last year for the International Day for Disaster Reduction. Held in Adelaide, the forum explored disaster risk reduction in relation to economic loss. Read more here.

Fire Australia is a joint publication of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC and the Fire Protection Association Australia. Find this and previous editions of Fire Australia at www.bnhcrc.com.au/news/fire-australia.