Building community resilience after the Noosa bushfires
Poster
Paper/Presentation Title | Building community resilience after the Noosa bushfires |
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Presentation Type | Poster |
Authors | Anderson, Carina, Terry, Victoria, Burton, Lucinda and Rockloff, Susan |
Number of Pages | 1 |
Year | 2023 |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Web Address (URL) of Conference Proceedings | https://www.aidr.org.au/resources/adrc-2023-program/ |
Conference/Event | Australian Disaster Resilience Conference 2023 |
Event Details | Australian Disaster Resilience Conference 2023 Delivery Online Event Date 23 to end of 24 Aug 2023 Event Location Brisbane Event Venue Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre |
Abstract | The 2019 Noosa bushfires had a significant impact on the Noosa Shire community. Approximately eight thousand people were displaced after being forced to evacuate from their homes. Many residents were unable to return home for extended periods due to dangerous conditions and power outages, so sheltered in emergency evacuation centres. This project, funded by the Australian Government Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, aims to build resilience and foster recovery in bushfire affected communities within Noosa Shire, and to inform the creation of physically and psychologically safer experiences for future bushfire evacuees. Our project is being undertaken by University of Southern Queensland in partnership with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc., Noosa Council and Noosa Environmental Education Hub. The project has four components: 1) installation of battery systems on two evacuation centres (to ensure sustained power to the evacuation centres during times of environmental crisis, 2) analysis of evacuees’ experiences of staying at evacuation centres, 3) workshops to educate the community about battery systems, and 4) deliver a curriculum aligned high school education program (to teach students about battery systems and how such installations will benefit the community). The first battery system has been installed at one of the evacuation centres, with the other system due to be installed in late February 2023. Data collection has commenced and preliminary findings from participant interviews have revealed a lack of disaster preparedness for evacuation. Participants forced to stay in evacuation centres reported a void in information about damage, specifically concerning homes. Overall, there was a strong sense of “being cared for” as the community rallied behind to support the evacuees. Community workshops and high school education programs are under development and on track for completion by the end of 2023. This project demonstrates collaboration with the community following disaster events. |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420599. Nursing not elsewhere classified |
420603. Health promotion | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Zero Emissions Noosa, Australia | |
Central Queensland University |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z0177/building-community-resilience-after-the-noosa-bushfires
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