Volume 2, May 2008

Contents

FOREWORD

Historical snapshot

Communique:
The first meeting of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management since the election of the Rudd Government.

A new approach to community flood education
Neil Dufty argues that community flood education programs be broadened from ‘awareness’ and ‘preparedness’ to building community resilience.

Litigation for failure to warn of natural hazards and community resilience
Michael Eburn discusses liability in relation to hazard warnings in the Australian context and examines whether ‘blaming, naming and claiming’ poses a threat to community resilience.

Paramedics’ perceptions of risk and willingness to work during disasters
Smith, Morgans, Qureshi, Archer, and Burkle Jr., report on a study investigating the factors motivating paramedics’ willingness to work during disasters.

An interdisciplinary analytical study on the risk preparedness of Bam and its cultural landscape, a world heritage property in danger in Iran
Alireza Fallahi reports on a study investigating the extent to which opportunities presented by the Bam Earthquake in Iran 2003 contributed to the City’s current resilience.

Differentiated adjustment to the 1991 Mt Pinatubo resettlement program among lowland ethnic groups of the Philippines
Jean-Christophe Gaillard presents the results of a study on the adjustment of two ethnic groups to the post-disaster resettlement program after the 1991 Mt Pinatubo volcano eruption in the Philippines.

Role of building codes and construction standards in windstorm disaster mitigation
David Henderson and John Ginger from James Cook University, examine the role of Australia’s building code and construction standards in a number of windstorm disaster mitigation situations.

Legal risks of volunteer firefighters – how real are they?
Elsie Loh examines Australian legislation arguing that perception regarding firefighters’ protection from liability may not be reality.

Future challenges for volunteer based emergency services
Deb Parkin explores the challenges facing Australia’s emergency management volunteer sector and their implications for Emergency Service leaders.

Community based disaster preparedness: Need for a standardized training module
Ajinder Walia examines the issues and challenges in some international examples of community-based disaster management calling for a standardized global training module.

Book Review

Book Launch

Interesting websites

2008 Australian Safer Communities Awards

Australian Disasters Conference 2009

Volume 1, February 2008

Contents

FOREWORD

Historical snapshot

In Profile: The Hon. Robert McClelland MP
Bringing a diverse range of experience to his new role as Federal Attorney-General

Managing tsunami risk in coastal communities: identifying predictors of preparedness
Douglas Paton, Bruce F. Houghton, Chris E. Gregg, Duane A. Gill, Liesel A. Ritchie,
David McIvor, Penny Larin, Steven Meinhold, J. Horan and David M. Johnston

How people responded to the April 2007 tsunami warning in Cairns and Townsville
David King, Centre for Disaster Studies, James Cook University reports on some
remarkable responses to warnings in Far North Queensland

Policy development and design for fire and emergency management
John Handmer, Centre for Risk and Community Safety, RMIT University & Stephen Dovers, Fenner School for Environment and Society, ANU

Glimpses of ‘community’ through the lens of a small fire event
Helen Goodman and John Gawen analyse a community’s reaction to the shire of Boldrewood fire

Fire, families and decisions
Using the Wangary fire in South Australia (10-11 January 2005) as a case study, Mae Proudley explores what factors influence decision making within families when they are threatened by bushfire

Are house fires changing?
Chris Lewis questions whether domestic house fires are becoming faster and more ferocious

Weighing up the risks – the decision to purchase housing on a flood plain
Vogt, Willis & Vince interviewed residents in Launceston to determine their flood preparedness.

REPORTS

Australasian libraries in the emergency sector – information catalysts
Troy Watson, Library Manager Emergency Management Australia

Identifying nationally recognised emergency management Skills Sets
Andy Smith

Book Review

Community Bushfire Safety
John Handmer & Katharine Haynes (Eds.)
February 2008
CSIRO PUBLISHING 9780643094260

Interesting website (inside back cover)

Australian Disasters Conference 2009