Queensland community safety awards focus on technology

A DVD and games package that teaches kids what to do in a flood, bushfire or cyclone has taken top honours at the 2008 Queensland Safer Communities Awards today.

Featuring real-life stories from children directly affected by natural disasters, the programme briefs youth on what to do in the event of an emergency.

Staff from Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) interviewed dozens of young disaster survivors for their educational packages.

Presenting EMQ and LGAQ with the State Government Award, Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts said using up-to-date technology is a far more effective way of getting the message across to young people about how to stay safe in an emergency.

“It can be difficult to capture the minds and imaginations of young people today but through the use of modern technology which they are familiar with, the DVD and computer games deliver vital safety education to children in a fun and interactive way,” Mr Roberts said.

The Red Alert – Disaster stories from young people across Queensland DVD _ created as part of the Disaster Education Resources for Young People and Children Project _ targets children in the 12-18 year age group.

“The researchers on this project found that people in this age group respond well to familiarity,” Mr Roberts said.

“By creating material full of stories told first hand from young disaster survivors, this resource has been well received amongst youth in the community.”

EMQ and LGAQ staff also created a computer game Get Ready Kidnas!, an interactive and educational resource which recognises the roles young children can play in raising disaster awareness and preparedness in their household.

The package of games, quizzes, and activities for children aged seven to 11 is available on the EMQ web-site and CD Rom.

Minister Roberts said creating community-wide strategies to deal with threats and natural disasters helps to keep Queenslanders safe.

“As Minister for Emergency Services in Queensland, I am aware of the challenges faced by our professional and volunteer emergency service personnel and the need for a whole-of-community approach to safety,” he said.

“In a modern world, using developing technologies can assist in getting the message out there about the importance of being prepared to deal with emergencies – especially to younger generations who often communicate through the use of computers.

“It’s just one of the ways we can enhance emergency management across the state.”

The Queensland Safer Communities Awards, sponsored by EMQ Australia, recognise best practice and innovation across the state’s emergency management sector, as well as business, government and community organisations.

The awards, held at Emergency Services headquarters at Kedron, cover all aspects of emergency management including risk assessment, research, education and training, information and knowledge management, prevention, preparation, response and recovery.

Presenting the awards today, Mr Roberts said the standard of the 17 entries in this year’s awards was especially high.

“We have had a record number of entries from across local and state government, as well as not-for-profit and educational institutions this year.

“These awards are about building safer communities through partnerships between organisations, individuals and government,” he said.

Five Queensland award-winners become finalists and will be judged in the national awards, which will be presented in Canberra at the Australian Safer Communities Awards Ceremony held in November.

Three entries in the Cross-Jurisdictional/National Significance category will also be judged for the National Awards.

The Queensland award winners are:

In the State Government category the winner was:

Emergency Management Queensland, Department of Emergency Services and Local Government Association of Queensland with ‘Disaster Education Resources for Young People and Children Project’.

In the Local Government category the joint winners were:

Burdekin Shire Council with the ‘Burdekin Shire's Disaster Management CD’.

South East Queensland Disaster Management Advisory Group – ‘Regional Standard Operating Procedures for Event Coordination Centres’.

In the Education, Training and Research Category:

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland – with the “Under the Limit” Drink Driving Prevention and Rehabilitation Program.

In the Not-for-Profit category the winner was:

Red Cross (Lead), Department of Communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Partnership Unit, Yumadi HACC, Mackay Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service for their ‘Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander Disaster Recovery Model’.

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Contact: Emergency Services Media - 3247 8186
Jessica Lawrence - (Minister's office) - 3247 8992