News and Media items in 2005
FUNDING BOOST FOR COMMUNITIES AND EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS UNDER ‘WORKING TOGETHER’ INITIATIVE
Local communities and emergency services volunteers have received a $14 million boost in the inaugural funding round of the Australian Government’s Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced more than 400 successful projects across Australia will receive grants designed to develop self-reliance at both the community and local government levels.
Mr Ruddock said the funding was allocated under two new programmes administered by Emergency Management Australia (EMA) – fulfilling a Coalition election commitment in 2004.
Some 500,000 people in Australia volunteer their services in some emergency management capacity, and 350,000 of those are directly involved in emergency first response, principally through the various rural fire services and State Emergency Services.
Attorney-General The Hon Philip Ruddock MP. Media Release 231/2005
Mercury 05 reinforces Australia’s preparedness for terror threat
Media Release October 20, 2005
Bushfire Awareness Campaign Launched
Media release October 15, 2005
Supporting Local Government to manage emergencies
August 22nd 2005
The Australian Government has made a further commitment to strengthening national security at a grass roots level with the announcement of an initiative to assess the emergency management roles and responsibilities of local government. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today approved a grant of $473,000 for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to undertake a range of activities designed to provide city and shire councils with assistance in preparing their communities to cope with a range of hazards, including the threat of terrorism.
“Engaging local communities in emergency risk management and increasing their involvement and awareness is critical in improving national preparedness for emergencies and disasters of any kind,” Mr Ruddock said. “This funding will enable the ALGA to conduct a stock take of current activities to identify best practice in disaster mitigation and land use planning, protection of critical infrastructure, involvement in response and recovery, and emergency consequence management associated with community facilities.”
Media Release 151/2005 Working Together to Manage Emergencies
Media Contact:
Scott Kelleher, (AGD) 02 6277 7300 Alastair Wilson (EMA) 0408 606 462
Tsunami resource materials for schools
The EMA Schools Education EMA Schools Education website has information for principals, teachers and students about disaster and emergency preparedness, response and recovery, including information about tsunamis.
Lessons Learnt from September 11
Key Lessons to be learnt from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, and from the Bali Bombings, are detailed in a report released by the Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, entitled Mapping the Way Forward for large-scale urban disaster management in Australia.
The outcomes report has been compiled by Emergency Management Australia after a series of workshops were held around the country early last year.
Some 2000 emergency management people participated in discussions in the context of a significant urban disaster occuring in Australia.
Copies of the report will be made available to emergency services managers and is available here : Lessons Learnt . A hard copy of the report can be obtained by emailing ema@ema.gov.au
Natural disaster mitigation, relief and management arrangements in
The report, "Natural Disasters in
"This framework will bring consistency and cooperation to the way we deal with natural disasters," Mr Matthews said. "The implementation of these recommendations will see a significant shift in Commonwealth-State natural disaster management arrangements: from reaction and response to more emphasis on preparedness and mitigation. Natural disasters are traumatic, and cost Australian communities hundreds of millions of dollars each year. However, more can be done to prepare for such events and to mitigate their impact. This report provides a practical and strategic approach for all spheres of government and the community to work in partnership to protect against, and assist in recovery from, the impacts of natural disasters."
Implementation of the report's recommendations will be overseen by the Australian Emergency Management Committee (AEMC). The AEMC is coordinated by Emergency Management Australia.
The COAG report, Natural Disasters in
Media contacts:
Wendy Smith: (Department of Transport and Regional Services) (02) 6274 7304 / 0427 195 911
Alastair Wilson: (Emergency Management