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| Emergency Management News |
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| March 2021 |
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We're keen to hear more from our Members so that we can showcase initiatives, learnings and case studies to further support the sector in their activities before, during and after an emergency. We encourage you to get in touch via email, and share what you are doing to create and support resilient communities throughout WA.
WALGA acknowledges the many traditional owners of the land on which we work throughout Western Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
In this issue...
Resources, upcoming events and contact:
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| Resource Support for City of Swan Recovery Activities |
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| The City of Swan is seeking expressions of interest from Local Government officers interested in working at Swan for a short term period to assist during the recovery from the Wooroloo bushfires. |
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The City of Swan is seeking a Donations Management Support Officer to temporarily provide support to the City as a consequence of the recent Wooroloo Bushfires. The role would be in accordance with a resource sharing arrangement between Swan and your Local Government employer.
The Officer that will fulfil this role will primarily be engaged to create and populate the database and subsequently match pledges with requests, in negotiation and consultation with the City’s appointed Local Recovery Officer and community partner agencies, in a confidential manner.
The required skills set includes extensive experience with Microsoft Excel, and in communications, time management and emergency management recovery strategies.
The full position description is available here. |
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| For more information, please contact Matthew Hunter, Place Manager at the City of Swan at matthew.hunt@swan.wa.gov.au or on 9207 8573. |
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| Emergency Management Network |
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| WALGA has launched an online network (Google Group) for Local Government staff who work in Emergency Management. |
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In late 2019, we consulted members about ways WALGA could support the sector in Emergency Management and an online network was identified as an useful tool.
The purpose of the Network is to assist WALGA to share information and resources with, and obtain feedback from, the sector; enable the sharing of peer to peer advice and learnings between Local Governments; explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration between Local Governments; and coordinating of meetings and events. |
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| If you are interested in joining the online network please send an email advising your name, position and email address to the Resilient Communities team here. |
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| Local Government Animal Welfare in Emergencies Webinar |
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| WALGA and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will be hosting a webinar on Local Plans for Animal Welfare in Emergencies. |
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This webinar will focus on the role of Local Governments in safeguarding animal welfare during an emergency as well as activation of the State Support Plan on Animal Welfare in Emergencies. The webinar will provide an overview of the development and activation of a Local Plan for Animal Welfare in Emergencies (LPAWE), including an overview of animal welfare during the recent Wooroloo bushfires. An additional case study will be presented, drawing attention to the activation of a Local Government LPAWE. More details on the case studies and presenters to come.
Date: Monday, 12 April
Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm |
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| For more information, please contact WALGA's Resilient Communities team or to register visit the WALGA website. |
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| COVID-19 Vaccinations for Volunteers |
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| The WA Department of Health has advised DFES staff and volunteers can register online via this registration link to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. |
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 Personnel can register to receive their vaccination at the clinic set up at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and some regional clinics. This includes Bush Fire Brigades.
WA Health will continue to open additional vaccination clinics in Perth Metropolitan and regional locations over the coming weeks.
For more information, view the DFES circular.
Stay up to date on COVID-19 updates on the WA.gov.au website |
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| Information on the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out can be found here. |
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| Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) |
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| DFES and WALGA are working to improve telecommunications availability and reliability by leveraging off Commonwealth, State and private enterprise resourcing and funds and directing them at priority issue resolution and improvement. |
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 Under the Commonwealth’s $37.1 million STAND Program, Western Australia has been allocated 370 NBN satellite-connection devices to install at evacuation centres, and community facilities. During an emergency, these devices will provide internet and phone access even if the Telstra or Optus services have failed. 20 services have already been established throughout the State as part of a successful pilot program in some of our highest priority bushfire risk and cyclone-prone towns.
Applications are now being sought for the next round of STAND for the provision of NBN fixed satellite services to facilities such as community evacuation centres, community halls or Local Government offices. DFES distributed the applications forms to Local Government CEOs and Asset Managers. For more information on applying, please email stand@dfes.gov.au. |
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| For more information on the program, please visit the DFES website here. |
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| State Emergency Management Capability Webinar Recording Available |
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| On Tuesday, 16 March, WALGA hosted a webinar presented by Peta Turner, Program Leader, DFES State Capability Team, on the State Emergency Management Committee's State Emergency Management Capability Framework and the associated capability survey. |
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Discussion included how the survey and framework have evolved and what they mean for emergency management, specifically for Local Governments. The 2021 capability survey is scheduled for release to Local Governments CEOs during the week of 12 April.
The webinar covered some of the practicalities of completing the survey, including the new tools that have been developed. Peta also discussed the individual organisation capability summary reports that are being rolled out to Local Governments, including how to interpret the findings and how they can be used to identify areas of improvement in emergency capability. |
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| The presentation slides are available for viewing here and the webinar recording is here. |
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| Local Government Environmental Health Initiative |
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| The City of Greater Geraldton sent resources to Carnarvon as it recovers from one its worst flood in the past 50 years. |
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Two City of Greater Geraldton Environmental Health Officers travelled to Carnarvon to lend a hand with inspections of food premises, contaminated water as well as inundated waste water systems. Carnarvon received more rain in 24 hours than it did for the whole of last year, wreaking havoc with local farms and plantations, roads, businesses and infrastructure.
Damage to State Government assets is estimated to be at $8.5 million, but the final cost is likely to be much higher. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said Carnarvon was doing it tough and the City wanted to pitch in with recovery efforts where it could.
For more stories about environmental health initiatives, subscribe to the Department of Health Environmental Health E-News here. Read the original Geraldton Guardian article here. |
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| If you have a story you want to have shared in WALGA's Emergency Management Newsletter, please send it to the Resilient Communities team. |
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| Noongar Season Change - Djeran |
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Djeran is the Noongar season of adulthood and takes place roughly between April and May.
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A key indicator of the change of season is the cool nights that once again bring a dewy presence for us to discover in the early mornings.
Djeran is a time of red flowers especially from the Red flowering gum ( Corimbia ficifolia, pictured right), as well as the smaller and more petite flowers of the Summer Flame  ( Beaufortia aestiva). As you travel around the Perth area, you may also notice the red 'rust' and seed cones forming on the male and female Sheoaks ( Allocasuarina fraseriana). Banksias start to display their flowers, ensuring that there are nectar food sources for the many small mammals and birds that rely upon them.
As the season progresses, the nights will become cooler and damper along with some cool and rainy days which also means that traditionally mia mias (houses or shelters) were now repaired and updated to make sure they were waterproofed and facing in the right direction in readiness for the deep wintery months to come. |
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| For more information, visit the Bureau of Meteorology's Indigenous Weather Knowledge website. |
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| Community Trauma Toolkit |
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| Emerging Minds has launched the Community Trauma Toolkit, which is a suite of resources to help support adults and children before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event. |
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The toolkit is based on the understanding that natural disasters and other traumatic events can significantly impact infants and children. It will help you to understand some of the impacts of disasters and how to help reduce them. It also recognises the central role children can play in preparedness and recovery. The toolkit will equip you to:
- prepare children and their families both practically and psychologically for a disaster
- interact and support children and their families as they re-establish a sense of safety immediately after an event
- interact with children during the event in a way that may enhance their resilience and recovery
- support children and their families in the ongoing recovery process
- understand the importance of self-care during and after a traumatic event; and
- identify emotional and behavioural difficulties in children that may indicate more ongoing, specialised support is required
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| You can access the Community Trauma Toolkit on the Emerging Minds website here. |
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| Koolinup Emergency Services Centre Update |
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| DFES has provided an update on the Koolinup Emergency Services Centre. |
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The multi-purpose facility in Collie is to improve emergency management capability of Collie and surrounding communities and create long term and sustainable employment and economic development.
Some updates on the facility include;
- Brickwork for workshop offices is now complete and structural steel has been erected for the Administration/Incident Control Centre (ICC) building.
- Land title is in the closing stages of being finalised.
- Track assessment of the Collie Motorplex has been completed in preparation for the first Emergency Driving Training (EDT) pilot course, to be conducted next week. Pilot courses are focussing on upskilling existing instructors to start building the EDT instructor cadre and to test the course format and activities.
- Western Power Sub Station is now complete.
The next steps in the project include finalising furnishings and landscaping, business role recruitment, progress procurement of ICT infrastructure items and continue establishing facility service contracts with local Collie providers.
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| For more information on the happenings at the Centre refer to the March update here. |
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| DFES Mitigation Activity Fund Grants Program 2021/22 Round 1 – Now Open |
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| The Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ Mitigation Activity Fund Grants Program for 2021/22 Round 1 is now open. |
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Eligible Local Governments have been sent an email with details of the grants program and have until 12:00pm on Thursday, 6 May 2021 to submit their application. Successful applicants will be notified in July 2021.
The Western Australian government established the Mitigation Activity Fund to provide on-ground bushfire treatment activities for extreme, very high or high bushfire risks. All Local Governments who have an Office of Bushfire Risk Management endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plan are eligible to apply.
Since the inception of the Mitigation Activity Fund Grants, 43 Local Governments have received over $23 million in mitigation funding to undertake over 3000 treatment activities.
A second round of funding is expected to be open in late August 2021. |
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| If you think your Local Government is eligible to apply and did not receive an email or you would like to learn more, talk to your Bushfire Risk Management Officer or email MAFGP@dfes.wa.gov.au. |
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| Resilient Australia Awards 2021 |
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| Now in its 22nd year, the Resilient Australia Awards celebrate initiatives that build community resilience to disasters and emergencies, as well as images that capture resilience in action. |
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The awards provide an opportunity to highlight the hard work of individuals, organisations, councils and schools in our communities who show initiative in helping to create a more resilient Australia. The Resilient Australia Awards is a two-tiered program. Jurisdictional winners from each state and territory will be considered for national awards.
This year AIDR is pleased to introduce the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, to honour the importance of projects that value and enhance the wellbeing of communities before, during and after disaster.
The Local Government Award is open to all Local Governments and Local Government Associations. |
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| For more information, or to nominate a project or submit an application, please go to the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience website here. |
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| Family Violence in Recovery Recording Available |
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| The Family Violence In Recovery Webinar, hosted by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, is now available to watch online. |
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Join experts from the Gender and Disaster (GAD) Pod, Debra Parkinson and Steve O'Malley, as they unpack the 'hidden disaster' of family violence that continues to effect communities long after they experience a disaster. The webinar is intended to build viewers understanding of what research says about people's experiences of violence after disasters and how gender dynamics come into play in emergencies.
Content warning: this webinar recording discusses gender-based violence, which may be distressing for some viewers. If this raises any issues for you, you can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. |
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| The recording is available on the AIDR website along with other event recordings. |
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| VCOSS Bushfire Recovery Project Consultation Report |
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| The Victorian Council of Social Service has released a report on the bushfires of the Black Summer of 2019-20. |
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| The report outlines key insights from the community sector into the impact of the bushfire and the recovery process, and also recommendations for the VCOSS Bushfire Recovery Project as follows;
- A regional evaluation of the recovery process across the community and health sector
- A collaborative place-based emergency management system
- A centralised portal for community service organisations in emergency and natural disaster recovery
- Capacity building and sustainability measures for vital local community service organisations
- Supporting place-based recovery and resilience-building initiatives
- Better understanding the experience of remote communities in a disaster and evaluating service needs and responses
Community service organisations see first-hand the impacts of natural disasters on our most vulnerable people. There is increasing recognition of the crucial role they play before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Australia’s National Strategy for Disaster Resilience states that non-government and community service organisations are at the forefront of strengthening disaster resilience.
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| The Consultation Report can be accessed here. |
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| Member Representation |
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Month of March
- AQFx Communication Planning Group
- Interagency Bushfire Operation Committee
- Local Government Grant Scheme Working Group
- Local Government Emergency Management Advisory Group
- SEMC Lessons Management Reference Group
- State Exercise Coordination Team
- State Bushfire Advisory Council - 1st Quarterly Meeting
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| WALGA |
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: info@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au |
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| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014 |
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