Animals play an important role in many peoples lives. This handbook is guided by research evidence that shows that the integration of animals into emergency management planning and arrangements is critical to human health and safety, as well as to the welfare of animals, the economy, biodiversity and ecosystem health.
This handbook presents principles and strategic guidance on planning for animals. It outlines recommended minimum practice for the inclusion and integration of animals at all stages of the emergency management cycle. In this webinar showcase the audience will hear from four experts with a range of expertise in animal emergency management research, animal rescue and incident management, the veterinary sector, and zoos and wildlife rehabilitation.
Guest Speakers:
Dr Mel Taylor
Honorary Associate Professor, Macquarie University
Senior Knowledge Exchange Officer, NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Mel is an Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University and currently works as a Knowledge Exchange Officer in NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. During her years in academia, her research involved studying people and their behaviour in the context of risk. In recent years she has worked mostly in the areas of natural hazard emergencies and disasters, with a focus on animal emergency management.
Mel worked with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience to scope the national handbook on planning for animals and, later, assisted with some of the drafting of the handbook. Mel is a long-standing advocate of ‘One Health’ and ‘One Welfare’ and has worked on a number of multidisciplinary research projects with animal custodians, the broader community, veterinarians, ecologists, and government policy makers.
David King
Senior Operator, NSW State Emergency Service Hawkesbury Unit
David King is a rescue operator in the NSW State Emergency Service (NSWSES) Hawkesbury Unit, Vice-chair of the Animal Emergency Incident Management Network (ANZ) and on the steering committee for the newly formed International Community of Practice (InCOP) for Incidents involving animals.
David has been rescuing domestic animals, like horses and cattle, from creeks, dams, floats, buildings and bogs for nearly forty years and through his experiences has developed a number of multi-agency learning resources on rescuing small and large domestic animals.
David is actively training rescue and non-rescue agencies throughout NSW in all aspects of domestic animal rescue and relocation. He has now trained over 1,000 emergency services workers.
David believes in the importance of planning and preparing for incidents involving animals and is an active member of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Animal Ready Community working group empowering residents to ensure their animals safety.
Erica Honey
Consultant, Erica Honey Consulting
Erica Honey is a consultant and speaker on animal emergency management, leadership, culture, & strategy. Erica has worked in the veterinary industry for over 25 years, as the Emergency & Critical Care nursing supervisor at WA’s Teaching Veterinary School, an emergency & critical care veterinary nurse, & has also volunteered in community veterinary work & disasters. She has also volunteered with the SES for 14 years.
Erica’s research has assessed animal emergency planning globally to create WA’s State Animal Welfare Emergency Support Plan & address veterinary disaster management in Australia. She has masters degrees in; Emergency Management, Human Resources, & Business Administration. Plus qualifications in veterinary nursing, biomedical science, & policy development.
Her knowledge & experience in the veterinary & emergency services, enable her to work with a One Health-One Welfare perspective, increasing resilience & industry sustainability.
Fiona Ryan
Senior Manager Wildlife Welfare Programs, Zoos Victoria
Fiona leads Zoos Victoria’s programs aimed to improve the welfare of free ranging wildlife, with a focus on preparedness for wildlife emergency response during disasters. Fiona is a professional zoo and wildlife veterinary nurse, with more than 20 years’ experience in the field and post graduate studies in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law, and One Health.
Her experience with wildlife has extended internationally working for NGOs in China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, undertaking the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals impacted by the illegal trade in wildlife. Fiona draws on her expertise in the veterinary assessment, care and rehabilitation of wildlife and broad experience in responding to a range of scenarios impacting wildlife to inform her work. Fiona’s aim is to work with stakeholders to generate a resilient shift using evidence-based decision making, for improved welfare outcomes for free ranging wildlife in Australia.
John Richardson (Moderator)
Interim Executive Director, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
John has qualifications in Geography, Nursing and Environmental Science. He has worked in disaster management since 1997, in a range of roles including the State Recovery Manager for Victoria in the early 2000s, and more recently the National Resilience Adviser for the Australia Red Cross. He also is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Melbourne. He has a keen interest and eye for patterns and connections in disasters, both at a practice and a policy level. He has strong interests in bereavement in the public realm and how music represents the disaster experience.