The October 2018 edition of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management is now available. Informed by CRC research and knowledge, this edition focuses on how the community and emergency services can better protect the homeless population during a disaster and includes many research papers from the annual Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum, and the inaugural Australian Disaster Resilience Conference.
Preparation for year-long severe weather conditions is key, writes Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Communications Director David Bruce. The article analyses the extent of climate change and how changing demographics are changing the way that emergency services prepare and respond to natural hazards. This was recently highlighted when the CRC launched the annual Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook. The Outlook shows that below average rainfall and dry conditions will see this upcoming bushfire season starting earlier and lasting longer.
A range of research papers on CRC projects have also featured in the Journal.
Volunteers are central to the flexibility and adaptability of emergency services, but their motivations and intentions to stay and work with one organisation are often misunderstood. CRC research on sustainable volunteering by Dr Darja Kragt, Dr Patrick Dunlop, Prof Marylène Gagné, Dr Djurre Holtrop and Dr Aleksandra Luksyte from the University of Western Australia discusses the changing environment of emergency volunteering. The paper analyses data from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA , after recent statistics highlighted the annual turnover rates of volunteers. The paper surveyed 539 volunteers the about their experiences and what motivates them to remain with the organisation.
A case study on a CRC research into community animal preparedness measures during emergencies by Dr Mel Taylor, Dr Megan McCarthy (Macquarie University) and Jenny Bigelow (Blue ARC) also features in the Journal. The paper follows a survey in the Blue Mountains, where residents reported on the actions that they take for their pets as they prepare and respond to an emergency. 292 residents took part in the survey where they were asked about animal transportation, behaviour and warnings. The study found that there needs to be more inclusion about the types of animals and the diversity of situations that communities may be involved in.
Physical preparedness is important in emergency preparation and response, but there is little attention to the psychological aspects that people may deal with in the aftermath of an emergency. Dr Danielle Every (CQUniversity) contends in her paper that psychological and emotional preparedness can reduce the impacts of high stress during the response phase of an emergency.