Excellence in CRC research nationally recognised

Research conducted by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC has recently been acknowledged in the 2020 Annual Emergency Media and Public Affairs (EMPA) Awards for Excellence in Emergency Communication.  

Addressing conflicting cues during natural hazards

The Excellence in Research award was won by CRC research on how emergency services agencies can minimise the effect of conflicting cues on the instigation of protective action. Led by Dr Paula Dootson and her team at Queensland University of Technology, the research provides clear evidence of conflicting cues in practice, collates first-hand interview responses from Australian emergency services representatives, and explores the types of strategies that might help mitigate the negative effects of conflicting cues.  

This research provides evidence that public information and warnings is as much a frontline job as the operational responders, and offers strategies for emergency services agencies to help minimise the negative social, physical and economic consequences of conflicting cues that impact community decision making during a natural hazard.

Dr Paula Dootson and her team at QUT, A/Prof Dominque Greer, Prof Vivienne Tippett and Dr Sophie Miller, were especially thrilled with the win after their research was highly commended at last year’s EMPA awards.

"I am incredibly grateful to our amazing end-users from emergency services agencies across Australia who gave their time to share their wealth of experiences, which could collectively help one another during future natural hazard emergencies," said Dr Dootson.

To find out more about this research, read Hazard Note 72. For a quick summary, view the video submission to EMPA above.

Being an SES volunteer

Highly commended by EMPA was research on the motivations, experiences and emotions of State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers. Led by Dr Darja Kragt from the University of Western Australia, this research provides insights and data nationally to help develop new recruitment and retention strategies for SES volunteers.  

Based on the findings of this research, strategies to improve volunteer recruitment and retention rates are recommended to include a focus on managing the expectations of volunteers. The research team, comprising of Dr Aleksandra Luksyte (University of Western Australia), A/Prof Patrick Dunlop, Dr Djurre Holtrop, Prof Marylène Gagné (Curtin University) and Hawa  Muhammad Farid (University of Western Australia), have collaborated closely with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia, who have already used the findings of the study to inform their volunteer recruitment

Find out more about the research in Hazard Note 65. For a quick summary, view the video submission to EMPA below.