The Disaster Resilience Australia New Zealand Schools Education Network (DRANZSEN) inaugural Teachers Forum will provide an opportunity for teachers and educators to learn how Disaster Resilience Education (DRE) is currently being implemented in schools and community education settings through real world examples.
Presentations from leading educational resource companies will provide practical resources that teachers and educators can use in their classrooms.
The inaugural 2021 Teachers & Community Educators Forum will explore:
- Educational resources from leading Australian providers
- Practical examples of DRE from teachers & community educators
- Live Q&A sessions with presenters
Speakers
 |
Janine Meadley An accomplished educator, Janine uses all her professional energy to campaign for a better future. At Cool Australia, Janine has created education packages focused on disaster resilience, racism, health and wellbeing and e-safety. In previous roles she's helped aspiring school leaders step into their power and create innovative change. When she’s not creating cutting-edge education materials, Janine enjoys dancing, board games, meditation, yoga, spoken word, reading dystopian novels and dreams of becoming a published author and digital nomad. |
 |
Sharleen Keleher Sharleen Keleher is a PhD candidate and academic at CQUniversity Australia. Her PhD research has focused on how early childhood educators can support infants and young children’s processing of the emotional impacts of disruptive events. Sharleen is currently working with the Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health revising the Birdie’s Tree early childhood curriculum. |
 |
Elissa Jans Elissa commenced working for CFA in February this year as part of the Community Engagement team that drives and oversees a range of initiatives with the aim of leading and supporting engagement for safer communities. Her role is to coordinate and support the delivery of the team’s business plan and provide project management support to several new and ongoing projects. Elissa has been an active volunteer member with the Olinda Fire Brigade since 2009 and is an active fire fighter with a passion for community education and engagement. Her last twelve years have been focused around helping her community to become planned and prepared for fire in the role of Brigade Community Safety Coordinator. |
 |
Wendy Bode The far expanses of North Queensland and the challenge created by distance is not an obstacle as Wendy delivers STEM enrichment opportunities to students through the Global Tropics Future Project. Students learn together in a blended model of virtual and face-to-face experiences. The Qld Virtual STEM Academy (NQ) is one component of the GTF project where students connect virtually and collaboratively explore their STEM interest and passion with others from different schools and STEM professionals beyond their local community. |
 |
Breeha Sinnamon The Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland is hosted by Rockhampton State High School, located in the middle of the Central Queensland region; a region known for exposure to fires, floods, droughts, and cyclones. The QVSA at CQ endeavours to connect students from across the region in an attempt to solve these problems, whilst also focusing on the post-disaster response. |
Who should attend?
- Classroom teachers and community education practitioners interested in developing content knowledge and awareness of resources and networks.
- Individuals working in school or community leadership positions interested in programs to reduce risk and build resilience in their local communities
- Teaching associations, state and federal government education department representatives, and other affiliated organisations
Disaster Resilience Education
Disaster Resilience Education (DRE) promotes a vision of young Australians who are empowered to participate as active members in skilled and resilient communities, working to reduce the risk of disaster. DRE equips young Australians with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take protective action before, during, and after an emergency or disaster.
AIDR and Education for Young People Program
The Education for Young People Program fosters the development of disaster resilience education as a vital component in children and young people’s learning. The program provides strategic support to the education sector and youth-focused organisations, developing knowledge, skills, and opportunities for young people to participate in community safety initiatives before, during and after an emergency or disaster.
The Disaster Resilience Australia New Zealand Schools Education Network (DRANZSEN) seeks to:
- communicate a shared understanding of DRE connected to international frameworks and relevant to an Australian context
- build the capacity of teachers and other educators to deliver effective and sustainable DRE to young people, informed by contemporary research and aligned with the Australian Curriculum
- facilitate networking and collaboration between stakeholders in the design and delivery of new DRE initiatives.
- provide a platform for youth perspectives, experiences and solutions related to disaster risk reduction and resilience.