1. In an emergency what’s your plan ?
Frances Ford
Coordinator Resilient Communities

2. Background & Objectives
Project commenced 2014
Funding received RDV (Regional Development Victoria)
Increased overall community resilience, by delivering a risk communication strategy tailored to suit target audience
Coordinate a tailored public education program delivery, in collaborative partnership with VicSES, CFA & Australian Red Cross
Reduce inefficiency of current & future public education programs, by achieving cost efficiency in risk communication strategies
Funding received $68,400 RDV
Project value (final) $122,235 ($53,835 in-kind)
Currently across LM region each emergency services manages their own education & marketing around messages to community ~ similar message
Following an all hazards approach~ agencies are able to share cost of education, increase community confidence & understanding with messaging & maximise use of consistent messaging.
Objectives (simple)
Multi-hazard
Simplify messages – what you can do for yourself/family
Work collaboratively
Consistent messaging- working with all agencies
Joint budget bids??
Evaluation & sharing of learnings

3. Context
Bendigo: ‘city in a forest’

4. Context
Impact of Black Saturday fires - suburban Bendigo as well as farming areas
Serious floods in 2011
Bendigo expected to grow from 110,000 to 200,000 by 2050
Rapidly growing population on rural urban interface
Growth in CALD communities such as Karen community (from 7 refugees to community of in the decade from 2007)

5. Phase 1 – Building Stronger Communities in the face of disasters, Forum

6. Key principles
Best defence in any disaster is an informed public (FEMA 2008)
Importance of community as active partners not as passive recipients
Need to find ways to engage with vulnerable groups
Building relationships with and through key networks

7. Phase 2: Working group re-established
Focus on developing an “All Hazards”, community education tool
Five themes developed
- Knowledge
- Have a Plan
- Connectedness
- Safety & Wellbeing
- Information
Brief hiatus after resignation of project officer then project recommenced 2015
Working Group:
VicSES, CFA, Victoria Police, Red Cross, DHHS, CoGB,
Five themes developed- each agency asked to come up with 5 key messages they wanted to get across to the community around preparedness & resilience
Consultation with various community groups also used in developing the plan

8. Key Message: In an emergency, what’s your plan?
Magnetic Flip charts – distributed to all CoGB households
TV and radio commercials
Social Media
Newspaper & newsletter info
Website

9. Creating characters – identifying with emergency plan message
An animated character, ‘Wal’, was created to link all aspects of the project
- TV, Flip chart, website
Local spokesperson included (TV)

10. TV commercials Combination of animation & live talking to camera
Representatives from CFA, SES, Vic Police
Inclusion of Auslan interpreter

11. TV commercials

12. Magnetic Flip Chart Distributed to individual CoGB households
Area to personalise information e.g.:
- Emergency contacts
- Grab kits
- Evacuating with a pet (plan)
- Fire ban district
- Where to gain info
Support for individuals to
read, fill out & understand

13. Roll out Commercials ran for 3 week period Flip chart distribution
Community group education & sharing resource
Community education- targeting vulnerable community members
Website information & links
Flip charts- distributed via GB magazine
Vulnerable members – schools, seniors groups, CALD communities, disability services, Neighbourhood house – support
- Developing school programs in literacy blocks- peer teaching with high school & primary

14. Further developments Auslan specific video clips
Development of Easy English version of ‘in an emergency what’s your plan’ in partnership with Scope
Translation of the Easy English document into Karen language and promotion through the Karen community (with help of a Karen student on placement with City of Greater Bendigo)
Stronger links with LCMS through the Cultural Diversity and Inclusion plan

15. Challenges
Resourcing and sustainability – how to embed this work long-term?
Measuring impact
Statewide silos in communication budgets
- role of Emergency Management Joint Public Information Committee (EMJPIC) in addressing this ?

16. Next steps / current focus
People with disabilities and their families – including need for personal emergency planning for those eligible for support through NDIS
Implications of NDIS changes for Vulnerable People in Emergencies policy ?

17. Next steps /current focus
Community resilience and climate change
Heat health project (in partnership with several other councils and Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance)
Climate change impact (especially on vulnerable people ) and adaptation strategies
Links to Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing plan and Community Sector Climate resilience project (Bendigo cluster)

18. Resources and links
(includes flip chart, video clips and Easy English guide)
care/community-safety/Heatwave-how-to-stay-safe
Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance – scroll down for heatwave management thermometer, heat health video and heatwave management plan template