Helping communities become disaster resilient
Professor Frank Archer
As floods again test communities in northern Victoria, a group of disaster management experts will meet in Melbourne this week to review lessons learned from recent reviews into disaster response.
The Monash Disaster Resilience Forum 'Learning Lessons from Recent Disaster Reviews' will bring together researchers, emergency management professionals, community members and transportation planners to discuss responses to recent flood and fire disasters in Victoria.
Neil Comrie, who led a review of the warnings and response to the Victorian floods of 2010/11 will be a keynote speaker.
Dr Frank Archer is the co-ordinator of the Monash Disaster Resilience Initiative (MDRI), which is hosting the forum.
"Natural disasters will always have an impact on our communities. The MDRI reviews these events as a contribution to identifying best practices and developing strategies for helping our communities to become more disaster resilient,” Dr Archer said.
The Forum, to be held on Thursday, aims to develop strategies to help communities ravaged by disasters to recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. Dr Archer said that the reviews also helped ensure efficient use of community resources.
“We are pleased to have Neil Comrie, and Mary Barry, CEO of Victoria’s SES address our Disaster Resilience Forum. These, and other speakers, bring a wealth of knowledge about helping our communities become more resilient in times of natural disasters,” Dr Archer said.
Following the forum, the MDRI will disseminate knowledge to emergency managers, policy makers, community leaders and a diverse group of emergency service providers.
"By applying our research to solve practical, real-world problems, we can make a difference and in some way, help our disaster affected communities regroup and rebuild,” Dr Archer said.
'Learning Lessons from Recent Disaster Reviews' will be held at Rydges on Swanston Hotel, 701 Swanston Street, Carlton, 9am - 5 pm, Thursday 15 March.