Introduction:The Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) covers an area of 350 square miles in Eastern... more Introduction:The Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) covers an area of 350 square miles in Eastern Australia. It is one of 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia. The purpose of PHNs is to improve access to primary healthcare particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes. During disasters these vulnerable groups may be even more disadvantaged. As part of SNHN's role in enhancing the wellbeing, resilience, and preparedness of communities and primary healthcare providers during disasters, SNHN is focusing on recovery and resilience initiatives that build on local strengths, while addressing challenges.Method:The aim of this community engagement research was to determine the impact of recent extreme weather events on the community, and identify strategies to improve wellbeing, resilience and preparedness. The research was approached through a co-design process to explore assets, strengths and vulnerabilities within vulnerable community members during disasters, and ...
Arguably, all disasters are complex events, as they constitute a complex interaction between the ... more Arguably, all disasters are complex events, as they constitute a complex interaction between the society and the hazard that creates a risk to that society. Some events, however, are worthy of special consideration due to their multifaceted or interdependent elements. These events are presented here to highlight and explore their complexity in more detail. The aim of this chapter is to address those events in which there is a complex interplay of causative factors and impacts. On completion of this chapter you should be able to: • Describe the particular characteristics of pandemics, and complex humanitarian emergencies. • Demonstrate an extensive understanding of the complex interaction of risks that characterise major events. • Identify the particular management strategies required to ensure these events are effectively managed throughout the PPRR cycle
The Australian journal of emergency management, 2015
This research describes the preparedness and the actual, or anticipated, evacuation behaviours of... more This research describes the preparedness and the actual, or anticipated, evacuation behaviours of a sample of 352 pet owners in Australian who experienced a range of natural disasters or emergencies. Three quarters experienced a bushfire or flood (42 per cent and 33 per cent respectively) and around a third (34 per cent) evacuated their homes. Of those who evacuated, 29 per cent did so in less than one hour and 58 per cent returned within two days. Over two-thirds (69 per cent) stayed with family or friends when they evacuated. Many people evacuated with multiple combinations of pets. The majority of those who evacuated kept some of their pets with them (81 per cent) and 15 per cent left some pets behind; either enclosed in the home, released to escape, or unable to find/catch. Around the time of evacuation 42 per cent sought some form of immediate assistance, help or advice, with evacuation of their pets. Most turned to neighbours and friends (30 per cent), social media (9 per cent...
The Managing Animals in Disasters project (MAiD) is seeking to identify and build best practice a... more The Managing Animals in Disasters project (MAiD) is seeking to identify and build best practice approaches to animal welfare emergency management to enable engagement with animal owners and other stakeholders in disasters/emergencies. THE PROJECT Issues: Consideration of animals can impact on people's decision making and behaviour during natural disasters causing potential issues for public and responder safety. Goal: The MAiD project goal is to improve outcomes for public safety and the resilience of responders, animal owners, those with animal-related businesses, and their communities. Outputs: Project activities will lead to the development of evidence-informed support tools to assist operational response, communication and professional development. These could include training resources, guidelines, or engagement materials. PROJECT STAGES The project comprises four stages. 1. Scoping and exploration: to identify priorities and needs suitable for development of support tools/...
Introduction:Disasters are part of the Australian landscape. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, and dro... more Introduction:Disasters are part of the Australian landscape. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, and drought reoccurring consistently across the continent. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and general practitioners (GPs) are scattered across Australia and are inevitably involved when disasters strike their local communities. Limited guidance exists to guide their systematic involvement within the broader disaster response system. In October 2013, large bushfires swept through the NSW Blue Mountains. The response was unusual in its inclusion of NSW general practice networks within the response system, most crucially the local (now) Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN).Methods:The lessons learned by GPs and NBMPHN during the fires highlighted the need for GP preparedness to improve recovery outcomes. This led to the development of a living discussion document “Emergency management: the role of the GP,” created with input from the various GP groups. More recently, a PHN emergen...
Introduction:The Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) covers an area of 350 square miles in Eastern... more Introduction:The Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) covers an area of 350 square miles in Eastern Australia. It is one of 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia. The purpose of PHNs is to improve access to primary healthcare particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes. During disasters these vulnerable groups may be even more disadvantaged. As part of SNHN's role in enhancing the wellbeing, resilience, and preparedness of communities and primary healthcare providers during disasters, SNHN is focusing on recovery and resilience initiatives that build on local strengths, while addressing challenges.Method:The aim of this community engagement research was to determine the impact of recent extreme weather events on the community, and identify strategies to improve wellbeing, resilience and preparedness. The research was approached through a co-design process to explore assets, strengths and vulnerabilities within vulnerable community members during disasters, and ...
Arguably, all disasters are complex events, as they constitute a complex interaction between the ... more Arguably, all disasters are complex events, as they constitute a complex interaction between the society and the hazard that creates a risk to that society. Some events, however, are worthy of special consideration due to their multifaceted or interdependent elements. These events are presented here to highlight and explore their complexity in more detail. The aim of this chapter is to address those events in which there is a complex interplay of causative factors and impacts. On completion of this chapter you should be able to: • Describe the particular characteristics of pandemics, and complex humanitarian emergencies. • Demonstrate an extensive understanding of the complex interaction of risks that characterise major events. • Identify the particular management strategies required to ensure these events are effectively managed throughout the PPRR cycle
The Australian journal of emergency management, 2015
This research describes the preparedness and the actual, or anticipated, evacuation behaviours of... more This research describes the preparedness and the actual, or anticipated, evacuation behaviours of a sample of 352 pet owners in Australian who experienced a range of natural disasters or emergencies. Three quarters experienced a bushfire or flood (42 per cent and 33 per cent respectively) and around a third (34 per cent) evacuated their homes. Of those who evacuated, 29 per cent did so in less than one hour and 58 per cent returned within two days. Over two-thirds (69 per cent) stayed with family or friends when they evacuated. Many people evacuated with multiple combinations of pets. The majority of those who evacuated kept some of their pets with them (81 per cent) and 15 per cent left some pets behind; either enclosed in the home, released to escape, or unable to find/catch. Around the time of evacuation 42 per cent sought some form of immediate assistance, help or advice, with evacuation of their pets. Most turned to neighbours and friends (30 per cent), social media (9 per cent...
The Managing Animals in Disasters project (MAiD) is seeking to identify and build best practice a... more The Managing Animals in Disasters project (MAiD) is seeking to identify and build best practice approaches to animal welfare emergency management to enable engagement with animal owners and other stakeholders in disasters/emergencies. THE PROJECT Issues: Consideration of animals can impact on people's decision making and behaviour during natural disasters causing potential issues for public and responder safety. Goal: The MAiD project goal is to improve outcomes for public safety and the resilience of responders, animal owners, those with animal-related businesses, and their communities. Outputs: Project activities will lead to the development of evidence-informed support tools to assist operational response, communication and professional development. These could include training resources, guidelines, or engagement materials. PROJECT STAGES The project comprises four stages. 1. Scoping and exploration: to identify priorities and needs suitable for development of support tools/...
Introduction:Disasters are part of the Australian landscape. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, and dro... more Introduction:Disasters are part of the Australian landscape. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, and drought reoccurring consistently across the continent. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and general practitioners (GPs) are scattered across Australia and are inevitably involved when disasters strike their local communities. Limited guidance exists to guide their systematic involvement within the broader disaster response system. In October 2013, large bushfires swept through the NSW Blue Mountains. The response was unusual in its inclusion of NSW general practice networks within the response system, most crucially the local (now) Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN).Methods:The lessons learned by GPs and NBMPHN during the fires highlighted the need for GP preparedness to improve recovery outcomes. This led to the development of a living discussion document “Emergency management: the role of the GP,” created with input from the various GP groups. More recently, a PHN emergen...
Uploads
Papers by Penny Burns