Vol. 1 Issue 4. 2016

australian
emergency
services magazine
Summer 2016
PREPARE
BEFORE THE
SEASON
Be Bushfire
Ready
THE SCIENCE
BEHIND
FLOOD
FORECASTING
VOLUNTEERING
Good for the
community
and your
wellbeing

EDITORS NOTE
THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERING
Welcome to the Summer issue of
Australian Emergency Services
Magazine. This is the busiest time of
the year for our emergency services
who are in preparation for bushfire,
cyclone, storm and flood season. This
issue will deliver some important
information to help you get through
Summer 2016.
A season of celebrations, holidays
and family, this can also be a time
when our communities are forceed
to rally together to help each other
out and see each other through in
times of crisis. Our largest volunteer
emergency service organisation, the
SES, does an amazing job and we
thought it appropriate to highlight
what heroes of the community they
are and how volunteering is such an
incredible service that you can be a
part of.
Our State Emergency Services rely
on volunteers all year to commit to
the task of being on call when natural
disaster strikes. These community
heroes often play a lead role when we
are at our most vulnerable and can
often be the first on the scene.
However, there are countless other
volunteering opportunities across the
country for those of us that want to
get involved. In fact, there are over 6
million Australians who volunteer in
their communities every year across a
wide range of services.
Many people have very different
reasons for volunteering whether it
be to make friends, connect to people
in a new town, give something back
to the community or to learn a new
skill. Technology has now made it
even easier to be a volunteer and play
matchmaker between volunteer and
organization.
An initiative of Volunteering
Australia, the GoVolunteer App will
connect you to over 7000 volunteer
organisations across Australia with a
simple press of a button. With over
13 000 opportunities to volunteer
there is bound to be one that matches
your needs and interests. Simply type
in your location, the cause you are
interested in and the type of event
you would like to volunteer for.
Alternatively browse the endless
opportunities that exist.
The app is available through the App
Store or Google Play for Android
users. To find out more visit
govolunteer.com.au
Happy reading and have a safe
summer!
Emma Parker
Editor
GoVolunteer App is an initiative of
Volunteering Australia in partnership with
Volunteering WA, SEEK, Eduka and The
Boston Consulting Group.
1

Editor’s Note
CONTENTS
1
Latest Events
• AFAC16
• Emergency Services
Games
• Emergency Services
Blood Donation
Challenge
Emergency Kit Essentials
Anatomy of a Fire Danger
Day
Prepare Before the Season
Police and PTSD
Droughts and Flooding
Rains
Flood Deaths are
Avoidable
Remote Sensing Flood
Data
Why Giving is Good for the
Soul
Managing Stress after
Disaster
Social Media and
Emergency
3
4
5
6-7
8-9
10-13
14-15
16-17
19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-28
The Australian Emergency Services Magazine is a community educational
resource and does not promote itself as a charity or fund raising institution,
nor solicit on behalf of charities and is no way financially supported by
or associated with any government or similar institution. Distributions of
the publication is Quarterly and are circulated via a database of interested
parties, including business, subscribers, advertisers, volunteer emergency
organistations, and council library’s. A digital eMag is distributed to a
targeted database in each State & Territory. All information published in
the Australian Emergency Services Magazine is in good faith and whilst
every effort is made to ensure that the publication is free of error and
omission, no responsibility or liability will be accepted by Boothbook Pty
Ltd.
2
Published by Boothbook Media
ABN:72 605 987 031
PO Box 287, Elanora QLD 4220
Email: contact@boothbook.net.au

AFAC16
RESEARCH HEADLINES IN
BRISBANE
LATEST NEWS
The Hon. Bill Byrne, Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, opened the conference.
The attendance record was
broken at AFAC16 powered by
INTERSCHUTZ, with more than
2,500 emergency service managers,
volunteers, researchers and industry
representatives gathering in Brisbane
from 30 August to 2 September for
the annual Bushfire and Natural
Hazards CRC & AFAC conference.
The CRC’s Research Forum kicked
off the week, with 403 delegates
hearing about how the latest
Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC
research is finding new ways to
keep communities safe from natural
hazards. This was followed by a
further two days of talks from
emergency managers, industry
leaders and more research, and
argument by the largest trade
exhibition in the history of the
conference. 160 exhibitors from 14
countries showcased an extensive
range of equipment and services,
while the live demonstrations and
expo stage proved to be a highlight,
featuring a live demonstration of
a road crash rescue performed
by the Australasian Road Rescue
Organisation. The AFAC16
Knowledge Lounge showcased the
quality selection of research and
conference posters and provided
attendees an opportunity to meet
with some of the leading speakers.
Dr Richard Thornton, CEO of
Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC,
said the conference and Research
Forum highlighted the importance of
relationships between research and
the emergency services.
“To have the connectedness that
exists and continues to evolve
between researchers and emergency
management practitioners is
fantastic. These critical relationships
are increasingly important, and a
key aspect of what the Bushfire and
Natural Hazards CRC is about. These
partnerships are more important now
than ever as we continue to embed
research findings into practice,” he
said.
All research resources, including the
research proceedings, presentations,
posters and videos are available.
Papers from days two and three can
be accessed via the AFAC website.
AFAC16 is the largest emergency
services gathering in Australia and
New Zealand, and featured more
than 100 presentations and seven
professional development sessions
over four days.
Source:
Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC
3

QAS AND POLICE WARM UP FOR
EMERGENCY SERVICES GAMES
On Sunday July 24 the Sunshine Coast
Police and Ambulance soccer teams met
for a friendly rematch of the 2014 ‘Game
on for Len Elliott’ charity game.
Last month’s occasion was a much quieter
affair and was used as a trial match for
the Sunshine Coast Queensland Police
team who are going to be competing
in the 2016 Australasian Police and
Emergency Services Games.
The games will be held on the Sunshine
Coast from October 8 to October 15 with
police and emergency service employees
as well as volunteers competing in 50
sports across the Sunshine Coast.
Plans are well under way for the games
and as seen on Sunday the competition is
expected to be fierce. Some of Australia
and New Zealand’s fittest, fastest and
most skilled police and emergency
service workers will make their way to
the Sunshine Coast to compete, see the
sights and enjoy some of the lifestyle
benefits we enjoy every day.
Whilst the final score on Sunday did not
reflect how competitive the game was
for both sides it was a good warm-up in
preparation for October’s games.
Organiser of the Police Team, Senior
Sergeant Troy Pukallus, said he was
hopeful his team would be successful in
the upcoming games.
“Being a side made from local police
Both teams lined up before the game. Police in Maroon and QAS in Blue
talent, we would like to use our home soil
advantage to bring home a medal in these
games,” Senior Sergeant Pukallus said.
“Some of the players have competed in
the Queensland Police Team at previous
games in Victoria and New Zealand but
we are looking to provide some strong
representation for the Sunshine Coast
with a local team at our games.
“Ideally we would like our side and the
Queensland Police Team to finish with
Gold and Silver, in that order of course.
“We are fortunate enough to have some
strong local competition to help the side
prepare and challenge our local Fire and
Emergency Services representatives to get
on board and enter a team in the Games
in October.”
Local paramedic from Kawana and
organiser of the Queensland Ambulance
team, Damo Liddy, praised his team on
their effort.
“Juggling shiftwork and other
commitments, not all the team from 2014
could be here today but the boys fought
hard,” Mr Liddy said.
“The fair competition and comradery
that this type of activity promotes
amongst the emergency services certainly
helps us when we are called to a job
together, many times under what could
only be described as confronting or
difficult circumstances.
“After today’s game I think there are a few
of our guys looking to enter a team in
the games and would like to speak to any
other local emergency service workers
that might be looking to join a team.”
Mr Liddy provided the photographs for
this article.
Details for the Australasian Police and
Emergency Services Games can be found
here.
The final score for Sunday’s ‘friendly’ was
8 – 0 to the Police.
Special thanks to Sunshine Coast Stadium
for their use of the field on Sunday
and Sunshine Coast Council for their
sponsorship of the Police and Emergency
Services Games.
Written by Sergeant Rick Liddy
4
Defending strongly, QAS player attempting to protect the goals from Police corner kick
© State of Queensland (Queensland PoliceService)
2016

EMERGENCY
SERVICES
CHALLENGE
The Red25 Emergency Services
Blood Challenge has now wrapped
up for 2016, thank you to all of the
generous people who gave blood
during the challenge. In just three
short months, emergency service
personnel across the country gave a
total of 8,145 donations, saving up
to 24,400 lives!
The results show that a little healthy
competition goes a long way…
Planning is already underway for
2017 but the dates are yet to be confirmed.
Be sure to sign up to your organisation’s
Red25 group (if you aren’t
already a member) to make sure you
are included in the next challenge.
The challenge is over, but the need
remains…
Although it’s fun to have a short competition,
the need for blood is actually
year-round. As a Red25 member,
you can donate any time of the year
and your donation will count towards
your emergency service’s annual tally.
Not only that, but you’ll be part of
Red25’s overall goal of making 25 per
cent of all of Australia’s blood donations.
On behalf of all those who your donations
help, thank you. Every single
donation has changed lives.
Thank you for being a lifesaver!
Congratulations to the 2016 winners!
See where your Red25 group placed in your state.
For more information
Contact the Red25 team online
red25@redcrossblood.org.au or call
1300 886 524
HIGHEST DONATIONS
ACT AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE 149
NSW NSW POLICE FORCE 778
NT NT POLICE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES 28
QLD QLD POLICE SERVICE 517
SA SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE 577
TAS TASMANIA POLICE 130
VIC COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY 744
WA WA POLICE 249
HIGHEST DONATION FREQUENCY
(Average Donation per donor)
Actual
ACT ACT RURAL FIRE SERVICE 2.40
NSW ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS SERVICE 4.00
NT NT FIRE AND RESCUE 2.86
QLD ST JOHN AMBULANCE 2.50
SA AVIATION RESCUE FIRE FIGHTING 3.00
TAS TASMANIA POLICE 1.78
VIC COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY 1.74
WA NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2.50
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH
Actual
ACT AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE 45%
NSW ST JOHN AMBULANCE 40%
NT NT POLICE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE 75%
QLD QLD FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES 18%
SA SA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE 2%
TAS AMBULANCE TASMANIA 68%
VIC COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY 26%
Actual
WA ST JOHN AMBULANCE 197%
5

EMERGENCY KIT
ESSENTIALS
HAVING AN EMERGENCY KIT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO
PREPARE FOR, SURVIVE AND COPE WITH EMERGENCIES.
Know
All householders need to
know where your
Emergency Kit is kept.
On this page is a list of items which should be in your
kit at all times. There is also a list of extra items which
if you do not keep at all times you should add to your
kit during storm or cyclone season.
FOOD AND WATER
COMMUNICATIONS
Check
and update the contents
of your kit regularly, to
ensure everything is in
working order and has
not expired.
Discuss
your Emergency Kit
with all householders
and make sure everyone
knows what to do in an
emergency.
KNOW YOUR
EMERGENCY
CONTACTS
Range of non-perishable
MEDICAL AND
SANITATION
food items
Bottled water
First Aid Kit and manual
Essential medications,
prescriptions and dosage
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Soap/shampoo
Personal hygiene items
LIGHT
Flashlight/torch with
extra batteries
Battery powered lantern
Battery powered radio with
extra batteries
Traditional wired telephone
Prepaid wired telephone
Prepaid phone cards and
coins for phone calls
CLOTHING AND
FOOTWEAR
Warm jumper, waterproof
jacket, hat and gloves
for everyone
Closed-toed shoes or
boots for everyone
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
Whistle, utility knife,
duct/masking tape
6

Plastic garbage bags, ties
Safety glasses and sun glasses.
MISCELLANEOUS
Special items for infants
(nappies, formula etc)
Special items needed by
elderly or people with
special needs
Spare house and car keys
Pet food, water and
other animal needs
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Keep original or certified copies of
these documents in your Emergency
Kit.
Scan copies of them and save the
files on a USB memory stick or CD
to include in your kit. Keep all these
items in sealed plastic bags.
Insurance papers for your
house and contents, cars
and for valuable items
Inventory of valuable
household goods
Wills and life insurance documents
House deeds/mortgage documents
Birth and marriage certificates
Passports/visa details
Stocks and bonds
Medicare, pension cards,
immunisation records
Bank account and credit card details
A back-up copy of important
computer files
Household Emergency Plan with
emergency contact numbers
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DOWNLOAD AN
EMERGENCY PLAN FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD GO TO:
www.qld.gov.au/emergency/dealing-disasters/emergency-kit
7

ANATOMY OF A FIRE
DANGER DAY
By world standards, Australia has a low and very unreliable
rainfall, and droughts are a significant feature of the Australian
climate. Dry spells create a high fire risk, particularly
if the dry spell follows a period of good rain that has
encouraged lush growth.
Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, drought and
the amount of fuel can be combined into a fire danger
index.
Weather systems like the highs, lows and cold fronts that appear on weather maps control the temperature, humidity
and wind. Because Australia spans a large range of latitudes, from tropical to temperate, these weather systems
work differently in different regions of the country. Each part of Australia has its own special combination of weather
systems that produces severe bushfire conditions, but in all cases these conditions result from hot, dry winds
blowing from Australia’s central arid region.
In southern Australia, cold fronts are probably the most powerful influence on our fire weather. Cold fronts occur
at the junction of warm and cold air masses where the strong temperature contrast provides the energy source that
generates the frequently associated strong winds.
As a cold front passes, the wind direction will often swing about 90 degrees. Usually, the winds ahead of a cold front
are hot northwesterlies (Figure 2), while cooler southwesterlies follow the front (Figure 3), with significant effects
on the behaviour and structure of existing fires.
High Risk Weather Patterns - Southeast Australia
Summer and autumn are the most dangerous times of year
in southeast Australia. The highest temperatures occur
during these seasons and in most years the grass and forests
have dried out by mid-summer.
A typical dangerous fire situation occurs in southeastern
Australia when a vigorous cold front approaches a
slow-moving high in the Tasman Sea, causing very hot, dry,
northwesterly winds. Figure 4 shows the situation associated
with the Victorian Ash Wednesday fires of 16 February
1983. The passage of the cold front can cause the winds to
suddenly change direction, shifting fire direction abruptly.
Fires driven by a strong, steady wind are usually long and
narrow. When the wind changes with the passage of a cold
front, the long side of the fire can suddenly become the fire
front.
8
Figure 4: Historic Chart Analysis at 11am EDT on “Ash
Wednesday”, Wed 16th February 1983 showing areas with
extreme fire weather.

High Risk Weather Patterns - New South Wales
& Southern Queensland
The fire season for most of Australia’s east coast extends
from spring to mid-summer. The greatest danger occurs
after the dry winter/spring period, before the onset
of the rainy weather common in summer. The worst
conditions occur when deep low-pressure systems near
Tasmania bring strong, dry, westerly winds to the coast,
as occurred in the major New South Wales fires in
January 1994 (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Historic Chart Analysis at 11am EDT on 7 January 1994, showing areas
with extreme fire weather that resulted in serious bushfires in NSW and southern
Queensland
High Risk Weather Patterns - Western Australia & the
Northern Territory
The northern Australian fire season occurs during the
warm, dry and sunny winter and spring, when the grasses
are dead and the fuels have dried. In summer, a strong
high pressure system over South Australia can bring strong
southeast to northeast winds that increase the fire danger
in the southern parts of western Australia (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Historic Chart Analysis at 8am WST on 4 April 1978 showing
areas with extreme fire weather associated with the gales in the aftermath of
Tropical Cyclone Alby.
The Third Dimension - the vertical profile of a severe fire day
A layer of warm air sitting over a layer of cold air is called a temperature inversion. Inversions are common during the
night and early morning when cool night air collects close to the ground (Figure 7).
This arrangement of air is stable because cold air near the ground is heavy and tends to stay near the ground. The
warm air above the inversion is lighter and tends to stay above the inversion.
There are often strong winds in the warm air above inversions, but while the inversion lasts these winds cannot come
down to ground level (Figure 8).
As the sun heats the ground during the day, the inversion weakens and strong winds may begin to blow near the
ground. This is one reason why many bushfires burn more fiercely in the afternoon, as happened with the fires in
Hobart in 1967.
SouFigure 7 Figure 8
KNOW YOUR FIRE DANGER RATING
Beurau of Meteorology
Australia
9

PREPARE BEFORE THE SEASON
Getting ready for a bush fire is easier than you think. By taking 20 minutes
with your family to discuss what you’ll do during a fire, you could save their
lives, as well as your home. Many households find that having a discussion
over dinner works best as everybody is together and focussed. There are
simple things you can do around your home to prepare it for a bush fire, like
keeping the grass low and having a cleared area around your home. If there is
a fire in your area you will find its alert level on your local government website
or the ‘Fires Near Me’ app. You need to keep track of the alert level so you
know what you should do. In a bush fire, it’s important that you stay up to date
on conditions in your area.
ARE YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY AT
RISK?
WHAT WILL YOU
DO TO KEEP
SAFE?
QUESTIONS TO ASK
YOURSELF
When will we leave?
Where will we go?
How will we get there?
What will we take?
Who will we call to tell that we’re
leaving and that we have arrived
safely?
What is our backup plan?
Neighbourhood Safe Places are a
place of last resort, such as a sports
ground or local building that has
been specially identified for use
during a fire.
10
Contact your local area to find out
about neighbourhood safe places.
LEAVING EARLY OR PREPARING TO STAY?
One of the most important things to do before a bush fire is to decide what
you’ll do if one should start.
If you plan to leave for a safer place - where will you go and how will you get
there? Your safer place could be with friends and family, and may not be far
away. Know where you will go and never ‘wait and see’.
Decide to stay only if you are well prepared. Before you start, ask your
household:
• Is your home well prepared to make it as safe as possible during a fire?
• Are we putting anyone in our family at risk by staying?
For example children, the elderly, or people with asthma.
• Will we cope in an emergency situation? In a fire, it will be hot, smoky and
physically draining. Even trained firefighters can find it challenging.
If you’re not sure or aren’t prepared, you should leave early.

IF YOU DECIDE TO
STAY ASK THESE
QUESTIONS
Do we have all the equipment we
need?
When there is a fire, what is our
sign to start defending our home?
Do we know what to do
BEFORE, DURING and AFTER
a fire?
It’s not safe to stay with your property under some circumstances, like:
• If the fire danger rating is Catastrophic.
• There is an Extreme fire danger rating and your home is not specially designed
or constructed for bush fires.
• Your property is not well maintained.
• You or the people in your home aren’t mentally and physically fit and ready.
Under these circumstances, you should leave early.
Remember that bush and grass fires can move quickly and catch you off guard.
If you are caught in a fire, protect yourself from the heat.
The safest option is to leave early before the fire reaches you.
DECIDE TO STAY, BUT BE PREPARED
Defending your home from a bush fire can be challenging and you will need
the right equipment. Check off all the equipment you will need in a bush fire
emergency.
Remember, while firefighters and emergency services will do everything they
can to help you, there’s no guarantee that there will be a fire truck available
when you need it. If you decide to stay with your property, it’s your responsibility
to be prepared.
Do all members of our household
KNOW WHAT TO DO in all
situations?
What is our backup plan?
PREPARE YOUR BUSHFIRE
SURVIVAL PLAN
All state government websites
have downloadable copies of
bushfire survival plans. These
guides will give you checklists
and points of discussion to go
over with your household. It is
important that all members of
the house understand what is
in the survival plan and what
the back up plan is. This could
help save lives and your property
during this bushfire season.
Look up bushfire safety on your
state government website to find
out more.
EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT WE WILL NEED:
[ ] A hose, or hoses, that can reach all around the house
[ ] Water supply of at least 10,000L e.g. water tank, dam, pool
[ ] Petrol/diesel water pump and fuel in a safe, accessible place
[ ] Ladders to access inside the roof
[ ] Buckets and mops
[ ] Shovels and metal rakes
11

PREPARING YOUR
HOME
Block up areas where embers
can enter the house
Install metal fly screens on all
windows and vents
Install metal gutter guards
Position gas cylinders on side
of house and
away from trees and gardens
Direct any pressure valves
away from house
Move garden beds away from
house
Replace wood fences with
metal fences
Use stones instead of mulch
[ ] Wide-brimmed hat
[ ] Eye protection goggles
[ ] Moistened facemask or cloth
[ ] Loose, long sleeved cotton shirt
[ ] Gloves
[ ] Long cotton pants/jeans
[ ] Sturdy leather shoes or boots
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
DECIDE TO STAY, BUT BE PREPARED Cont.
ACTION CHECKLIST
Defending your home can be physically and mentally demanding. It’s important
that everyone knows exactly what to do if a fire happens.
OUTSIDE:
BEFORE (well before the fire has arrived)
Turn off gas mains and/or bottle
Move flammable items away from the house
Block drain pipes with socks full of sand and fill gutters with water. Don’t get
on the roof to hose it down
Move animals to a well-grazed or ploughed area away from the house and
wind
Patrol the house well before the fire arrives to put out embers and spot fires
As the fire approaches, wet the side of the house and garden that faces the fire
Move your firefighting equipment to a place where it won’t burn inside
INSIDE:
Close doors, windows and vents
Fill baths, sinks, buckets and bins with water
Confine pets to one room
Place ladder next to roof access hole so you can check for spot fires
Soak towels and rugs
and lay them across external doorways
Move furniture away from windows
DURING (as the fire is upon you)
If flames are on top of you or the heat become unbearable move inside until
the fire front has passed (usually 5-10 minutes)
Patrol the inside of the house, including roof space, looking for sparks and
embers
Shelter in a room on the opposite side of the house from the approaching fire
and ensure you have clear access to an exit
12


AFTER (immediately after the fire has passed)
Check the house both inside and out for fires, including roof cavity, under the
house, deck, stairs, windowsills etc
If possible, and safe to do so, check all your neighbours are OK
Contact relatives or friends to tell them you are safe
Patrol your home for several hours, looking for small fires and burning embers

PREPARE YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY
There are some simple things you can do around your home to prepare it for a
bush fire. You need to prepare well beforehand as leaving it to the last minute
is too late.
Here are five simple things you can do before and during the bush fire season.
1. TRIM
Trim overhanging trees and shrubs. This can stop the fire spreading to your
home.
2. MOW
Mow grass and remove the cuttings. Have a cleared area around your home.
3. REMOVE
Remove material that can burn around your home (e.g. Door mats, wood
piles, mulch, leaves, paint, outdoor furniture).
4. CLEAR
Clear and remove all the debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your
home. Burning embers can set your home on fire.
5. PREPARE
Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that will reach all around your home. Make
sure you’ve got a reliable source of water.
KNOW YOUR RISK
A bush or grass fire can happen at any time of the year but the risk is
higher during the warmer months, when bush, grass or scrub is drier.
You don’t have to live right near the bush to be at risk. Even if your
home is a few streets back, you may be at risk.
You can check for bush fire prone areas in your area on your local council
website. Look for your Bush Fire Prone Land Map.
PREPARE YOUR RURAL
PROPERTY
Remove overhanging branches
from power lines
Ensure that a fire tanker can
access your property
Clear fire breaks along paddock
boundaries
Store petrol, diesel and gas away
from home
Keep a well-maintained area
around the home and sheds
Place water pipes from dams
underground and install pump
to the house
Make sure hoses have spray
nozzles
Keep water tanks full and
connect them to pumps
A CLEARED AREA
AROUND YOUR HOME
CAN SLOW A FIRE
SPREADING AND GIVE
FIREFIGHTERS A SAFE
AREA TO WORK.
There are a number of things which can affect the way a fire burns,
including:
SLOPE – a fire travelling uphill will travel faster. In fact, for every 10 degrees
of slope, a fire can double its speed. As a fire speeds up, it becomes
more intense and more dangerous.
VEGETATION – smaller items such as twigs, branches and leaves are
known as ‘fine fuels’. These can burn very easily. Burning bark, twigs
and leaves can also be blown in the wind.
WEATHER – when it’s hot, dry and windy, fires can be more intense
and unpredictable. Strong winds can send a fire in different directions
and cause burning embers to be blown through the air.
State of New South Wales (NSW Rural Fire Service).
13

ONE IN FIVE POLICE
OFFICERS AT RISK OF PTSD
HOW WE NEED TO RESPOND
Policing is undoubtedly a stressful
occupation, with officers often facing
potentially traumatic situations. They
may be exposed to disaster, hostage
situations, sexual and physical
assaults, shootings, mutilations and
death, or face threats to their life.
As a result, police and emergency
services workers have elevated rates
of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), depression and suicidal
thoughts and actions.
The ABC’s Four Corners program
Insult to Injury highlighted
how police officers’ claims for
compensation and psychiatric
treatment for PTSD are being met
with scepticism, resistance and
lengthy delays.
Perceived stigma, failure to seek help
and policing organisations’ failures
to support help-seeking have created
a melting pot of despair for some
officers.
HOW COMMON IS PTSD?
PTSD rates are directly impacted by
“dose”, or number of exposures to
potentially traumatic events. Routine
and repeated exposure during police
work means the risk of PTSD in
Australian police is as high as 20%
– far beyond the 1-3% prevalence
expected in the general population.
PTSD is a serious mental health
condition that may develop following
14
potentially traumatic experiences.
Symptoms include hyperarousal
or hypervigilance, numbing or
depression, intrusions (typically
“flashbacks” or nightmares) and
avoidance or withdrawal.
In some professions, such as
policing, PTSD is characteristically
accompanied by rage and alcohol
abuse.
For any person on the road to
recovery from trauma exposure,
the key factors are stability and
safety. With timely treatment, PTSD
is a temporary and manageable
condition.
Adding insult to injury
ABC program Four Corners
examined cases in which insurance
companies impeded injured police
officers’ recovery by allegedly
prolonging the claims process with
unjustified delays and failing to act
on psychiatrist recommendations,
even when the claimant was clearly
suicidal.
Each individual interviewed reported
multiple exposures to suicides,
homicides, mutilation, dismembered
body parts, family homicides and
corpses of children and infants. The
ex-officers were visibly distressed,
even when recounting incidents from

more than a decade ago.
It can be difficult to discern where
the responsibility for mental health
sits. All parties involved in the
Four Corners case studies, from
the individuals to the policing
organisations and the insurance
companies, failed to seek or provide
adequate support and created
circumstances that made the problem
worse.
Research shows people who seek
compensation for PTSD are more
likely to have a poorer prognosis,
more severe symptoms and longer
recovery time than those who haven’t
sought compensation.
There are three plausible reasons for
this pattern:
People seeking compensation are
doing so because their psychological
injury is more severe
People seeking compensation
exaggerate or prolong their symptoms
(a practice known as malingering) to
maximise their payout
The claims process is prolonged,
triggers further stress and exacerbates
symptoms or otherwise hinders
recovery.
It is the job of insurance companies
to protect their own interests and to
detect those who fall into the second
category.
However, an ethical compensation
system must deliver timely and
warranted assessment and outcomes
for claims in a way that protects
those who are distressed and
psychologically unwell.
Changing attitudes to seeking help
We would like to think wider cultural
shifts within Australia have been
permeating our law-enforcement
agencies, with a move towards “are
you OK?” and away from “toughen
up, princess”. But that’s not the case.
Individuals officers’ attitudes can
prevent them from seeking help.
The common features of each case
highlighted by Four Corners were
an awareness there was a problem,
lack of support for treatment from
the organisation, but also a lack of
independent treatment seeking or
personal responsibility for health and
well-being.
Reducing stigma and removing
individual barriers to seeking
treatment is crucial for early
intervention, treatment and
ultimately recovery and health.
People who are proactive about
seeking timely treatment have far
better outcomes than those who hide
symptoms and self-medicate for years
or decades.
The first step towards reducing
barriers to seeking treatment and
instigating cultural change is a multilevel,
organisation-wide program
of education for law-enforcement
agencies.
This requires a supportive framework
in which officers are instructed,
from recruit school and throughout
their careers, about chronic stress,
mental health and how to be robust
officers. This should include PTSDprevention
strategies, as well as those
to normalise the practice of seeking
treatment.
Such programs have been trialled in
recruit schools at the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services
in Western Australia and the
Queensland Police Service, with
promising results.
Pretending “she’ll be right” and that
mental health issues do not exist in
policing has been the strategy for
decades. Clearly, it’s not working.
Open discussion of stress, resilience
and mental strength from day one
in a high-risk profession, as well as
struggles and avenues for support, is
a clear pathway to cultural change.
For crisis or suicide prevention
support, please call Lifeline on 13 11
14 or visit
Petra Skeffington Curtin University
Article on The Conversation
IF YOU OR ANYONE
ELSE YOU KNOW
IS SUFFERING
FROM PTSD OR
ANY OTHER
MENTAL ILLNESS
AS A RESULT OF
DEALING WITH
CRISIS IN THIER
LIVES CONTACT
LIFELINE FOR
SUPPORT.
15

DROUGHTS
AND FLOODING
RAINS:
IT TAKES THREE OCEANS TO EXPLAIN
AUSTRALIA’S WILD 21ST CENTURY WEATHER
Australia is a land of extremes, and
famously of “droughts and
flooding rains”. That’s been truer
than ever in the 21st century; since
1999 the country has see-sawed
from drought to deluge with
surprising speed.
There was the millennium drought,
which lasted more than a decade
and culminated in disasters such as
Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires
in 2009. Then, in 2011, Cyclone Yasi
struck Queensland and a large swathe
of Australia exploded under a green
carpet of grasses, shrubs and trees.
Filming of the movie Mad Max:
Fury Road was moved from outback
Australia to Namibia after the big
wet of 2010-11, because Australia’s
luxurious growth of wildflowers and
metre-high grasses didn’t quite match
the post-apocalyptic landscape the
movie’s producers had in mind. In
Alice Springs, the Henley-on-Todd
Regatta was almost cancelled in 2011
because there was water in the normally
dry river.
stored in vegetation, especially in arid
and semi-arid regions of the
southern hemisphere. The greening
of Australia in particular had a
globally significant impact.
Meteorologists have struggled to
explain these wild variations in
Australia’s weather. Dry years with
disappointing crops have been
linked to the Pacific Ocean’s El Niño
phase (part of a cycle called the El
Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)).
But despite its huge influence, not
even ENSO can fully account for
Australia’s extreme rainfall patterns.
Our research, published in Nature’s
Scientific Reports, offers an
explanation. We found that
conditions in the three oceans that
surround Australia – the Pacific,
Indian and Southern Oceans –
combine to amplify each other’s
influences on Australian weather.
Extraordinarily wet and dry years
occur when the ENSO phase is in
sync with two other cycles, called the
Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) and the
Southern Annular Mode (SAM).
The three have been synchronised
since 1999, which explains why
things have been so volatile this
century.
Weather engines
ENSO is the biggest driver of global
climate and associated rainfall
patterns – unsurprisingly, given
that the Pacific is the world’s biggest
ocean. The IOD is generated by a
gradient in sea-surface
Globally, the big wet on land caused
a 5 mm drop in sea levels as large
amounts of rain were deposited on
Australia, South America and Africa.
This coincided with an
unprecedented increase in carbon
16
Green plant growth across Australia, compiled via satellite
observations. Nature Scientific Reports

temperatures along the equator in
the Indian Ocean, while the SAM
represents a north-south oscillation
in Southern Ocean sea-surface
temperatures.
By comparing sea-surface
temperatures in the three oceans with
rainfall data and satellite images of
vegetation growth, we have shown for
the first time that abnormally large
fluctuations in rainfall across
Australia are due to the
synchronisation of these three ocean
cycles.
For instance, both La Niña and
negative IOD bring rain to Australia.
When they co-occur, one amplifies
the other. This is reinforced still
further by a negative SAM, which
helps to create the Continental Low,
The Todd River - June 2010
The Todd River - December 2010
which can interact with the monsoon
depression over a large area of the
continental interior.
When all of this happens together,
it results in extraordinarily heavy
rainfall over large parts of Australia,
transforming deserts into vast oases
teeming with life.
Withstanding the switch
When the rain arrived in 2010, it was
abrupt – coming straight after one of
the driest years this century. In 2009,
only 139 mm fell at the Bureau of
Meteorology’s Territory Grape Farm
station. The heart of the monsoon
depression had been pushed north of
Darwin, high pressure blocked rain
from central and western Australia,
and green plant growth was restricted
to a small strip of land from Tennant
Creek, in the Northern Territory, into
Queensland.
Too much or too little rain can each
be problematic. When both happen
in quick succession, it is hard to
profit fully from the wet or to remain
solvent through the dry. In natural
ecosystems, bushfires become more
likely as the plants swing between
exceptional growth and subsequent
drying and death, leaving behind
huge amounts of fuel. Farmers may
need to diversify their livestock
numbers and crop types to provide
extra resilience to the changing
conditions.
Understanding how Australia
responds to these extremes offers a
barometer for emergency services,
farmers and everyone else on the land
who will need to adapt to Australia’s
lean times as well as the times of
plenty.
Authors:
James Cleverly Research fellow in
environmental sciences, University of
Technology Sydney
Derek Eamus University of
Technology Sydney
Originally published on The
Conversation
17

Source: Queensland Government Flood Campaign
18

FLOOD DEATHS
ARE AVOIDABLE
STAY OUT OF THE WATER
The flooding rains that have
drenched eastern Australia have
tragically left several people dead
and several more missing in New
South Wales and Tasmania. This is
an all-too-common story – flooding
rains are a major cause of deaths
around the globe.
Since 1994, we have studied the
trends and causes of deaths due to
natural disasters. Recent research
into flood fatalities in Australia
from 1900 to 2015 is revealing some
important insights.
Our research suggests many of these
deaths are avoidable.
How people die in floods
Since 1900, 1,859 people in Australia
have died in floods. That’s more than
in bushfires and earthquakes, but
less than heatwaves, which remain
by far Australia’s most deadly
natural peril (excluding pandemic
diseases). Of these flood deaths, 178
have occurred since 2000.
The majority of deaths have been
male (79%), although the proportion
of females has increased since the
1960s. Children and adults younger
than 29 make up the majority.
Overall, most deaths have
occurred in New South Wales and
Queensland, although a greater
proportion of people die in the
Northern Territory compared to the
population. Most deaths happen in
relative isolation, in flood events
that claim either one or two lives.
Most people have died while
attempting to cross a bridge,
causeway, culvert or road, either
on foot or in a vehicle. While most
victims were capable of independent
action and aware of the flood, the
speed and depth of the water took
them by surprise.
Of those who were attempting to
reach a destination at the time of
death, the greatest number were on
their way home. Playing in flood
water is also a significant cause of
death, particularly for children and
young adults. More women and
children died in floods due to the
decisions of others – for example,
being a passenger in a vehicle.
Those on foot mostly perished
during the daytime, whereas those
in vehicles were more likely to die in
the evening when visibility is poorer.
The majority of fatalities happened
within the local area close to where
they lived.
Overall, flood deaths have been
declining since the early 1960s.
This is probably due to investments
in flood mitigation and warning
systems, and the work of emergency
service organisations such as the
State Emergency Services. Deaths
associated with motor vehicles,
however, are on the rise and those
associated with four-wheel-drive
vehicles have increased over the
past 15 years. The large majority of
drivers have been men.
Our research has shown that many
people simply ignore warnings and
road closure signs. In one case in
2015 in NSW, 84% of motorists were
observed driving past road closure
signs and entering flood waters.
Most were men driving four-wheeldrive
vehicles.
How can we prepare people?
Our unpublished survey has
revealed that Australian emergency
managers prefer improving roadside
warning signage at causeways, flood
warning systems and road design in
flood-prone areas.
However, it is clear that current practices
are failing and must be complemented
with a strategy to inspire behavioural
change in the community.
Education programs should be targeted
at young males at risk of entering
floodwater, and at females and children
to raise their awareness so that
they may be empowered to influence
motorist behaviour.
It is too easy to underestimate the
dangers associated with floods. Our
vehicles, even four-wheel-drives, do
not provide a safe means of crossing
flooded roadways. The public must
understand that flood waters need to
be respected, and be ready to work
with authorities to reduce risks posed
by flooding to our towns and cities
Authors: Katherine Haynes & Andrew
Gissing
Originally published on The
Conversation
19

REMOTE SENSING FLOOD DATA
IS FILLING THE GAPS
FLOODS ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE WORST NATURAL
DISASTERS IN AUSTRALIA, COSTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
DAMAGE EACH YEAR, AND DEVASTATING COMMUNITIES.
RESEARCH IS TESTING A NEW APPROACH TO FLOOD
FORECASTING USING SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH COULD
HELP COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR AND DEAL WITH FLOODS.
Predicting water depth and its
velocity is vital for timely and
accurate flood forecasting. The
Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
is undertaking research along the
Clarence River in northern New
South Wales using a hydrological
survey to improve flood forecasting
in the area. The research team has
built a three-dimensional map of the
river bed that can be maintained as
conditions change.
This has been done using a
HydroSurveyor, including an echo
sounder, Doppler velocity profiler
and GPS antenna. Associate Professor
Valentijn Pauwels leads the CRC
project, ‘Improving flood forecast
skill using remote-sensing data’. He
said the research offers significant
benefit for communities in the
Clarence Valley as it will be used to
calculate the capacity of the river
channel to deal with incoming flows.
‘With this information we can predict
water depth and velocity at any point
in the river valley. ‘The availability
of timely and accurate flood
forecasts allows for time-effective
warnings and the implementation of
evacuation plans. It also helps the set-
20
up of safe recovery and storage areas,’
he said.
This forecasting relies on the data to
predict the arrival time, water depth
and speed of a flood using two main
models, hydrologic and hydraulic.
Associate Professor Pauwels said the
models predict different aspects of a
flood that are then applied together.
‘The hydrologic model determines
the flow of water that is entering
a river network using rainfall and
catchment conditions, while the
hydraulic model predicts how that
water will travel downstream along
the river system,’ he said. Although
these models have come a long way
in terms of capabilities, they do
not yet provide all the answers. ‘It
is challenging to provide accurate
flood warnings because of errors or
uncertainties in the model structure
and the model parameters,’ said
Associate Professor Pauwels.
Combining satellite remote-sensing
data The research is looking at
how remotely-sensed data can be
assimilated operationally within
existing models to improve the
accuracy of flood forecasting.
Remote sensing involves using
satellite technology to capture
information about a particular area
from far afield. This means regions
that are dangerous or inaccessible
at ground level can have aerial data
collected and used to fill in the gaps
and assist with predictions.
Behind flood forecasting is a
complex science that is constantly
adapting to new technologies. The
current models rely on rainfall
stations to measure the amount of
rain on particular catchments. The
hydrologic model then calculates how
much of that rainfall will be absorbed
by the soil depending on current soil
moisture levels.6 Australian Institute
for Disaster Resilience The Bureau of
Meteorology Manager of Policy and
Strategy Unit, Soori Sooriyakumaran,
is one of the project’s lead end-users
and explains that there are particular
limitations with existing methods.
‘There are parts of Australia where
our rainfall station coverage is
quite sparse due to the area being
large and remote. Remotely-sensed
rainfall data helps us understand the
rainfall variability across such areas.
‘Remotely-sensed data also has its

problems. But even with those it can
add value to the input that goes into
the modelling,’ he said.
Remotely-sensed soil moisture
products have a great potential for
calibrating and updating hydrologic
models. The remote observations of
flood extent and water levels can be
used to correct and constrain, in real
time, the prediction of the flooded
area and depth generated by the
hydraulic model.
A challenge to the project lies in
combining the satellite data with data
collected on the ground in a way that
will minimise errors. ‘The spatial and
temporal resolutions with which the
on-ground and remotely-sensed data
are observed are different so there
are some challenges in bringing them
together,’ Mr Sooriyakumaran said.
To overcome this and to minimise
overall errors when combining the
data sets, error characteristics of
the data are analysed. The desired
goal is to get precise and robust
outcomes for flood forecasting and
flood warnings. ‘What we’re trying
to do with this research is to come
up with the best combination of
satellite and ground data so we can
have as accurate as possible input
and constraint information for the
modelling’, he said.
The application of remotelysensed
data can be compared to a
missing piece of the puzzle for flood
forecasting. This brings together
information from different sources
to form the bigger picture. Mr
Sooriyakumaran said this technology
will only improve over time. ‘Satellite
remote sensing is an expanding new
field and we are going to have better
and better data coming through in
the future with higher resolution and
higher frequency.
This is one of the technologies
that is going to keep improving
flood forecasting into the future.
‘This research will be beneficial to
emergency management as it supplies
a more comprehensive depiction of
conditions. ‘[The satellite data] could
give us better situational awareness
by showing areas under inundation.
‘To forecast future water levels we
need good information on what is
happening on the ground now, which
we can present to the emergency
services so they can plan their
emergency response better,’ he said.
The Clarence River has flooded areas
around Grafton, NSW, four times
since 2009, significantly affecting
many rural properties, such as this
one in February 2013. Flood research
in the Clarence Valley Clarence
Valley Council Local Emergency
Management Officer, Kieran
McAndrew, said the river is the heart
of the council area, which has been
affected significantly by flooding in
recent years. In 2009, 2011, 2012 and
2013 the river experienced serious
floods. ‘The Clarence is the largest
of all NSW coastal rivers in terms of
catchment area and river discharge,
which means flooding is part of
life for the community of around
50,000 people,’ he said. Australian
Journal of Emergency Management
• Volume 31, No. 3, July 2016 7 The
Monash University-based research
team comprises Associate Professor
Pauwels, Professor Jeffrey Walker,
Dr Stefania Grimaldi, Dr Yuan Li
and Ashley Wright. They believe
the research will have positive
impacts on warnings for floods and
contribute to lessening the potential
damage and costs to communities.
Associate Professor Pauwels said, ‘It’s
estimated that floods in Australia
cost an average $377 million per
year. ‘An improved flood forecasting
system will add to the emergency
management capability, thus reducing
the flood-related financial costs and
community distress’. Mr McAndrew
said the council wanted to support
the research in any way they could.
‘The Clarence Valley community
relies on warnings to prepare for
imminent flooding, so there is a
real benefit to be gained from the
research,’ he added. The next steps
in the project will be to bring all
the existing data together with the
new satellite information and put
it into operational use. ‘Up until
now we have focused on collecting
the data. From here we will start
improving the models,’ said Associate
Professor Pauwels. This process will
be made easier using the recentlyupgraded
platform for modelling,
Hydrological Forecasting System,
from the Bureau of Meteorology.
This platform uses a framework that
allows users to easily plug in new
models said Mr Sooriyakumaran.
However, Mr Sooriyakumaran
believes that the benefits of this
research will not be immediate. ‘We
are not expecting dramatic changes
to happen overnight. They will take
time. ‘But as technology advances
and this research is applied to an
operational setting, the true impact
will be realised. ‘The upgrade of our
flood forecasting modelling system
means we are able to bring research
learnings into operations much more
readily. This is a capability we did not
have before,’ he said.
Find out more about this research at
www.bnhcrc.com.au.
Author: Freya Jones
Original article in Autumn 2016 Fire Magazine
21

WHY GIVING IS
GOOD FOR THE SOUL
THE EVIDENCE IS STRONG:
HELPING OTHERS CAN ACTUALLY
BOOST YOUR OWN WELLBEING
You’re walking along the street
when a scientist approaches you
with a clipboard, an envelope, and a
benevolent smile. Curious, you open
the envelope: inside is either a $5 or
$20 note. The scientist asks you to
spend this money by 5pm. You can
purchase anything, but it must be for
yourself.
You leave, bemused, and the
scientist approaches another unwary
participant. This person is given the
same directions, except that this time,
they’re invited to spend the money on
someone else.
Which situation do you think would
make you the happiest: spending
money on yourself or on another?
Contrary to what most people think,
researchers at the University of
British Columbia found that people
were happier when they spent the
money on other. What’s more there
was no difference in happiness for the
people who had $5 to give and the
people who had $20 to give. The act
of giving, no matter how big or small,
22
makes us feel good.
The benefits of generosity occur
not only when giving money but
also other gifts. In a study done in
Canada and South Africa, people
were asked to purchase a “goody bag”
(filled with treats like chocolates)
either for themselves or for a child
in hospital whom they would never
meet. Those who bought the goody
bag for a sick child experienced
significantly more positive emotions
than people who bought the bag for
themselves suggesting that giving to
others is sweet treat in itself (minus
the calories!).
Perhaps you don’t have money or
a gift to give someone, but you can
always give your support to others
and, again, this circles back to be
good for you with the research
showing us that people who are
more likely to give social support
report reduced symptoms of stress
depression.
We should disclose here that we
have a vested interest in extolling the
benefits of philanthropy. Without
John Higgins’ gifts to Believe – the
Campaign for the University of
Melbourne, the Centre for Positive
Psychology would not exist.
But the evidence is strong: the act of
giving is a win-win and the findings
on this seem to be universal.
When 200,000 people across 136
different countries were surveyed
about the effects their charitable
actions had upon them, happiness
was an outcome in every continent.
There’s more good news to this
story. The gifts of giving are not
just psychological — they’re also
physiological. Giving gets under
your skin in the best possible way.
Researchers have found giving advice,
money, food, support or aid to others
is related to reduced blood pressure
and enhanced sleep.
Giving has also been linked to lower
rates of heart disease and it may
even help you live longer. In a recent
meta-analysis studying the effects of
volunteering in over 49,000 senior
citizens, volunteering was found to

educe mortality risk by 24 per cent,
even after adjusting for variables such
as physical health, age, and gender.
Student Appeal volunteers, who raise
money to help students in need as
part of Believe - the Campaign for
the University of Melbourne, are
typical of those who feel the benefits
of giving back. Picture: University of
Melbourne
But before you rush out to donate
or volunteer in the hope of boosting
your happiness, health and life-span,
you’ll need to stop to think about
your motivation. The paradox —
that we happen to think is rather
poetic — is that givers may only
get these benefits when they’re not
seeking them. A study found that
giving for self-related reasons did not
bring benefits: only when giving was
altruistic, driven from compassion
towards and connection with others,
were individuals more likely to live
longer.
Why would giving back be linked
to happiness and better health?
Psychology Professor Dacher Keltner
of UCLA Berkeley believes that
evolution shaped us to be altruistic.
According to his view, generosity and
compassion were primal motivations
that evolved in our species in order to
band us together.
Strength in numbers only works
when we give to others.
By sharing food, sharing tasks,
sharing shelters, sharing child
minding and sharing the task of
killing large prey, our ancestors
ensured the survival of our species.
Human nature is constantly shaped
by an intricate tension between
competition and collaboration, but
there’s no doubt that survival of the
fittest was supported by survival of
the kindest.
Researchers in social psychology and
positive psychology are continuing
to unravel the mechanisms between
giving and wellbeing. However, for
now, if a scientist comes over with an
envelope full of money and asks you
to spend it on yourself, you might
want to think about spending it on
someone else instead.
Authors
Hayley Jach Professor Lea Waters
“This article was first published on Pursuit.
Read the original article.”
23

Managing stress
after a disaster
After a disaster you’ll use a lot of emotional energy coping with your fears, frustrations and other feelings.
You may not realise how much energy you’re using, continue to work too hard and for too long, and put
aside your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Eventually, you will begin to feel the effects. This is when normal stress symptoms may begin to show and
can affect your mind, body, feelings and relationships.
NORMAL STRESS SYMPTOMS
PSYCHOLOGICAL
EMOTIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Trouble thinking clearly, planning or
making decisions
Low attention span or difficulty
concentrating or remembering details
Continually thinking about the
problem or other difficult times
Not speaking clearly, slurring words
or forgetting names.
PHYSICAL
Tension, stress or tightness in muscles
weakness, tiredness and a loss of
energy or enthusiasm
Headaches, trembling, sweating,
nausea, aches or pains
Lack of appetite or an increased
desire for stimulants, sugar, alcohol,
tobacco or coffee
Feeling tired but unable to sleep, or
having disturbed sleep, dreams or
nightmares.
Detached and don’t care about things
any more
Irritable, bad tempered, impatient or
restless
Overwhelmed and everything seems
too difficult
Tearful for no reason
Easily upset or oversensitive to what
others do and say
Insecure or wanting to stay in
familiar places
Feeling sad and hopeless as though
the emergency will never end
Very emotional and experiencing
reasonable waves of anger or worry.
Blame others for the stress
Tend to blow things out of proportion
Can’t feel happiness, enjoyment or
affection for loved ones
Changed relationships with those
close to you
No longer want to be with family or
friends or always need them around
Need to always talk about the
emergency
Feel others don’t understand or don’t
care.
These reactions are normal after a traumatic event. But if they
continue, it can turn into a stress cycle and eventually a lifestyle.
You need to break the cycle to overcome stress.
24

BREAK THE STRESS CYCLE
Step 1: Recognise you are stressed
People don’t often recognise they are stressed because they
are too focused on the problems. Listen to others who
may see you more clearly than you see yourself.
Step 2: Recognise your stress cycle
If stress has been ongoing, a pattern of stress may form.
This is called a stress cycle and may become a lifestyle.
Step 3: Decide to break your pattern of stress
Although there are lots of things about the stress in your
life that you cannot change, there may be some that you
can.
Step 4: Reduce stressful activities
Check your lifestyle and routines to see where you can
reduce the stress. Try to stop doing things that keep stress
high.
Step 5: Increase relaxation and positive activities
Build activities into your day that are rewarding and give
you a good feeling. Take time to enjoy yourself.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Doing things you enjoy can be the best cure for stress and there are many things you can do to break the stress cycle.
RELATIONSHIPS
ATTITUDES
PHYSICAL
Take regular exercise such as walking,
swimming, and cycling
Reduce your intake of alcohol,
tobacco and sugar
Eat regular, well balanced meals.
Keep regular contact with people you
enjoy being with
Ask for help when you need it
Make time to be with your family or
friends
Talk to people you trust about what is
happening and how you are feeling.
RELAXATION
Do regular relaxation exercises such
as deep breathing, listening to quiet
music, meditation
Consider massage or simple exercises
to help with physical tension
Rest regularly, even if it’s only for a
short time
Find something to make you laugh
Accept that it will take time to get out
of the stress cycle and keep trying
Take care to stay safe, as your
concentration and judgement may be
impaired
Try to be organised so you have some
time to yourself
GETTING HELP
If you feel unable to change or have
distressing symptoms, talk to your
general practitioner (GP), community
health centre or community mental
health service.
Some GPs have additional training
and expertise in mental health.
Search for a GP online or phone
beyondblue on 1300 224 636.
Phone a telephone counselling
service to talk about your feelings and
get information and advice.
Smart Service Queensland
25

APPS TO HELP
YOU IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNOLOGY IS FOREVER CHANGING AND IN MOST CASES TRYING
TO IMPROVE OUR ACCESS TO INFORMATION. WE HAVE PUT
TOGETHER THE TOP APPS IN AUSTRALIA THAT ARE FOCUSED ON
KEEPING YOU SAFE AND INFORMED DURING THIS COMING SUMMER.
Fires Near Me App - Developed by the NSW Rural Fire Service it will
provide information about bushfires from participating fire agencies across
Australia. The app finds your location using a map and will give relevant information
around you. It also allows you to choose a location. The app also
provides information on total fire bans.
The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency
services and their Government and industry partners.
The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a Triple Zero
(000) caller provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency
services
Emergency AUS App - delivers warning and incident information issued
by official agencies across Australia. Providing you with real-time access to
official warnings, incident reports and public Sensory Observations to aid
in better decision making during emergencies and disasters. By bringing
together emergency information from over 25 emergency service agencies
and accessing observations submitted by the public
Triple Zero Kids Challenge App - Start playing and learn about what happens
when you call Triple 000. The online game is designed for children of
kindergarten and primary school age and consists of a number of safety scenarios.
The game is available in seven languages including English, Arabic,
Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Hindi and Dinka.
26

AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Social media platforms such as
Facebook and Twitter are now widely
recognised as playing an increasingly
important role in the dissemination
of information during crisis events.
They are used by emergency
management organisations as well
as by the public to share information
and advice. However, the official
use of social media for crisis
communication within emergency
management organisations is still
relatively new and ad hoc, rather
than being systematically embedded
within or effectively coordinated
across agencies.
QUT’s Digital Research Centre
and Emergency and Disaster
Management centre produced
a report in 2015 making
recommendation to create a more
effective and coordinated approach to
utilise social media,involving stronger
networking between social media
staff within emergency management
organisations.
The Key Recommendations
These four main recommendations
are designed to improve knowledgesharing
across Australian emergency
management organisations about the
effective uses of social media in crisis
communication.
These consist of:
1. The development of a national
framework for the use of social media
in crisis communication
2. the creation of a national network
of social media units
3. the establishment of a central
coordinating office to oversee the
network
4. the formation of a Federal
government task force lobbying for
further policy initiatives in this space.
A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK
A framework for the use of social
media in crisis communication
will define fundamental strategy,
guidelines, standards, principles
and practices for using social media
in emergencies and disasters. The
national framework is offered as a
launching point for organisations
seeking to adopt best practices for
social media use in crises. It utilises a
self- assessment checklist, rather than
a performance appraisal model, to
ensure quality in service provision to
the community.
A NATIONAL NETWORK
A national network of Australian
emergency management
organisations’ social media
practitioners will enable direct
engagement between the frontline
social media staff in these
organisations. Two types of support
are proposed here as the first phase of
activities by this network:
a) offering standardised professional
development and training options
b) establishing a shared web space for
the network.
A CENTRAL COORDINATING OFFICE
A central office within the
Australia-New Zealand Emergency
Management Committee (ANZEMC)
will oversee the creation and
management of the suggested
national network. The office will
provide advocacy for increased
social media use by emergency
management organisations, operate a
resource centre for social media units
in these and related organisations,
27

EMERGENCY
CONTACTS
For Police, Fire &
Ambulance across
Australia dial 000
SES
132500
and document best practice in social
media-based crisis communication.
A SOCIAL MEDIA TASK FORCE
A federal government social media
task force, focusing initially on policy
initiatives designed to enhance and
regulate the use of social media in
crisis communication, will encourage
and facilitate the development of
innovative and effective approaches to
the use of social media by emergency
management organisations.
Social media have been crucial tools
in recent disasters from the 2011
Queensland floods, Christchurch
earthquakes (Bruns & Burgess,
2014), and Japanese earthquake and
tsunami (Acar & Muraki, 2011) to
the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings
(Holman, Garfin, & Silver, 2014)
and 2015 Nepalese earthquake
(Noubel, 2015). They have been
used by emergency management
organisations as well as by the general
public to share information and
advice about the current situation
on the ground (Brengarth & Mujkic,
2015), and content mined from
social media platforms is now
being incorporated into the overall
event picture by some emergency
management organisations (Meier,
2015).
Most Australian emergency
management organisations now
have Facebook pages and Twitter
accounts, but for many, their use
28
remains tentative and experimental.
Experiences and insights into the
effective use of social media for crisis
communication are yet to be shared
systematically across emergency
management organisations. Such
systematic sharing could facilitate
better service responses by
maximising social media effectiveness
in similar situations. Similarly,
tools and techniques for sourcing
situationally relevant information
from public social media streams
have been developed in-house
or bought in by some emergency
management organisations (Disaster
Management and Social Media,
2011), but the expertise developed
through their use is locally limited
and unevenly distributed.
A national approach to staying
connected during crisis is certainly
something that is being developed as
more organisations join together to
share important information into the
wider community.
Originally Published by
2015 QUT Digital Media Research
Centre
PoliceLink
131444
Crimestoppers
1800 333 000
13HEALTH
1343 2584
Health Direct Australia
1800 022 222
International Incident
Emergency Helpline
1300 555 135
Victorian Country Fire
Authority
1800 240 667
Bureau of Meteorology
1300 659 213
FOR LOCAL NUMBERS
OR INFORMATION
PLEASE REFER TO
YOUR STATE OR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
VOLUNTEERS
The Australian Institute for Disaster
Resilience (AIDR) is administering a new $1
million Australian Government scholarship
fund to boost education development
opportunities for emergency management
volunteers.
The scholarships will be made available to
Australian citizens or permanent residents
who are volunteers in an emergency
management agency for accredited
emergency management vocational or
higher education.
More than half of the scholarships will be
reserved for specific groups of volunteers:
• those who live in a regional or rural area
• female volunteers
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
volunteers.
These scholarships will equip emergency
management volunteers to best prepare and
respond to a range of disasters and build
national resilience.
For more information about the scholarships
and the application process visit:
www.aidr.org.au
Australian institute for Disaster Relief