Newsletter 2 - Out of Uniform

22 Sep 2014

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Christchurch earthquake

Newsletter 2, August 2014

Contents

1. Welcome to our new End Users
2. Progress update
3. PhD project - community resilience in the 2013 Forcett Bushfire
4..Communication and engagement
5. Upcoming events
6. Non-traditional volunteering research forum, October 30, Melbourne
7. Other matters / Things we would like from you
8. Feedback
9. Project contacts

1. Welcome to our new End Users

Since our last newsletter we have had a number of people join the project as End Users. Welcome:

Samantha Colwell, Fire & Rescue, New South Wales
Paul Davis - Emergency Management Victoria
Karen Roberts, Department of Fire & Emergency Services, Western Australia
Kristine Wendtman - New South Wales Rural Fire Service

2. Progress update

We have prepared the first draft of a report titled 'Citizen responses to emergencies and disasters: the role of informal volunteers'.

This report examines the role of informal volunteers in emergency and disaster management. It explores the ways ordinary citizens volunteer their time, knowledge, skills and resources to help others in times of crisis. First, volunteerism in emergencies and disasters is explored. Traditional definitions of volunteerism are examined and it is argued that less rigid, narrow definitions are needed to fully recognise and value citizen contributions to emergency and disaster management. Second, the role of informal volunteers in emergencies and disasters is explored. Research on convergence behaviour in disasters and the phenomenon of emergence is discussed, before examples of informal volunteerism are discussed. Third, the implications of informal volunteerism for emergency and disaster management are discussed. Culture and legal liability are identified as two main challenges for integrating informal volunteers into formal arrangements.

A second report on trends influencing volunteering is also in preparation.

The research team has introduced the project at a number of industry seminars and workshops recently including:

Australian Emergency Management Volunteer Forum (AEMVF) in May
AFAC Volunteer Management Technical Group in June
BNHCRC Hobart Research Briefing in August

3. PhD project

Fiona Jennings, a resident of Dunalley in Tasmania, has recently begun a PhD project as part of the non-traditional volunteering project titled ‘Community volunteering and disaster recovery; a case study of community resilience in the 2013 Forcett Bushfire, Tasmania’.

In the days following the 2013 Forcett bushfire in Tasmania, community members (non-traditional volunteers) spontaneously adopted roles and responsibilities of protecting, caring and helping those affected by the bushfire, utilising what local resources were available at the time to meet those needs

In an emergency local people are generally the first responders, and community participation and ownership is now recognised as a crucial aspect of disaster recovery, fostering community resilience and building community.

The study will examine community members’ experiences of non-traditional emergency volunteering and identify how volunteering contributes to building community resilience. The aim of this research is to contribute to policy and practice of building community resilience and supporting communities’ in future natural disasters.

4. Communication and engagement

Communication and End User engagement is always evolving in a research project, and it can always be improved! In response to End User feedback we would like to set up a simple strategy to ensure that we are all on the same page with respect to ongoing project communication and End User engagement.

Blythe will be following up with each of our End Users individually in the next few weeks to discuss their preferences for staying in touch with the project.

5. Upcoming events

Blythe and John are presented a paper based on the project at the 2014 AFAC and Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC conference in Wellington, NZ, in September
Josh will be is presenting a paper based on the project at the 2014 Royal Geographical Society Conference in London in August-September.
A 'Non-traditional volunteering research forum' in October (see below).

6. Non-traditional volunteering research forum, October 30 in Melbourne

As a part of our research communication and engagement, we plan to hold a research forum to bring researchers, End Users and others who are interested in the project together. The theme of the forum will be 'benefits, risks and challenges of engaging informal volunteers in emergency management'. It will involve a number of short presentations from researchers and End Users, and facilitated discussion on key topics (more details to come).

At this stage, we are hoping to hold the forum on Thursday October 30 in Melbourne, depending on people's availability. We will also look into ways for those who are unable to attend in person to tune in remotely.

7. Other matters / Things we would like from you

We are looking for two or three volunteers to read and provide initial feedback on the first draft of the Citizen responses to emergencies and disasters report before it is circulated to the wider group. Please contact Josh or Blythe if you would like to volunteer!

8. Feedback

In future newsletters we plan to showcase End User experiences with, and ideas about, non-traditional volunteering, as well as feedback/ideas on the project. If you have experiences, thoughts or organisational developments you would like to share, or project feedback, please let John, Josh or Blythe know at any time.

9. Project contacts

Finally, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, suggestions, feedback or concerns about any of the above items, or about any other aspects of the project: