This national conference will explore innovative community responses to Australia's ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters and need for effective disaster risk management and emergency services.

The emphasis is on community-based innovation, self-help and leadership, with the aim of identifying and strengthening effective grassroots community responses to the ravages of fire, flood, drought and wind.

The conference will identify cases around the country where social innovation and self-help are being implemented in creative ways to generate effective responses to these risks.

The conference will bring together community innovators and leaders, service practitioners, researchers, policy makers, social entrepreneurs and workers in community agencies who are interested in furthering social innovation and community self-help in these areas.

Areas for discussion:

- case studies of innovative community responses to the ravages of fire, flood, drought and wind;
- case studies and analyses of historical responses by Australians to these risks;
- international experiences and case studies;
- analyses of insurance-based approaches to various risks;
- assessments of policy responses to natural disaster risk, emergency supports, and the costs of reconstruction;
- case studies and assessments of community capacities for self-help;
- analyses of system failure in risk management and emergency services;
- proposals for system re-design;
- institutional impediments to innovation and strategies for change.

 With Speakers:

Jodie Thorneycroft Kinglake Ranges Community Dining VIC
Heather Downer Drought Reform Pilot WA
Suzanne Vallance Lincoln University Christchurch NZ
Robby Soetanto Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council UK
Cr Pat Lynch Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre Qld
Daniel Healy Black Saturday Innovation and Recovery VIC
Yvonne Palmer Age Concern Canterbury NZ
Kate Lawrence Fire in Mind Castlemaine VIC
Jennifer Donovan Inclusive Design and Empowerment VIC
Ruth Turpin Murray Plains Self-Help SA
Jade Lillie Contact Inc QLD
Lyn Gunter Ex-Mayor Murrindindi Shire Council VIC
Kerry Thomas interPART SA
Larry Challis Whittlesea Bushfire Community Recovery Committee VIC
Eileen Bredtner Brisbane Communities at Work QLD
Tracey Wolsley Bendigo Fire Recovery Centre VIC
Kathryn Gow Qld University of Technology QLD
Margaret Abbey Murrindindi Shire Council VIC
Daryl Taylor Kinglake Tiers for Fears VIC
and others
 

Expressions of interest in presenting a paper or workshop or display should be forwarded to:

Vern Hughes
Conference Convenor
[email protected]
Tel: 0425 722 890

Register Here    

Further information