Two new additions to the AIDR Handbook Collection
AIDR is pleased to announce the publication of two new handbooks: Community Engagement for Disaster Resilience and Emergency Planning.
Community Engagement for Disaster Resilience
The new Community Engagement for Disaster Resilience handbook presents community engagement as a critical component of emergency management and action to reduce disaster risk and strengthen resilience. Disaster resilience cannot be developed for, or on behalf of, communities but relies on the sharing of information, understanding, decision-making, responsibility and resourcing within and between communities and partners.
AIDR hosted a Handbook Showcase webinar on 26 August to launch the handbook as part of the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference presents Knowledge Week. Dr Margaret Moreton of Leva Consulting, Alana Pedler, Australian Red Cross, and Peter Middleton, Tasmania Fire Service unpacked the national principles and guidance presented in the handbook.
Emergency Planning
The new Emergency Planning handbook presents emergency planning as an important factor in the development of Australia’s disaster resilience capability. Effective emergency planning contributes to reducing the likelihood and consequence of emergencies for individuals, communities, entities, and the environment and can have positive economic benefits.
The new handbook reflects changes in the field of disaster risk reduction, emergency management and more broadly in society since the publication of the previous Emergency Planning Manual (2004).
The handbook provides nationally agreed principles for good practice in emergency planning and draws on and complements current practices. It introduces the strategic context and importance of emergency planning, the emergency planning process, the potential elements of an emergency plan, the actions needed to implement the plan, and monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, the handbook introduces the application of a project management approach to the development of an emergency plan and recognises the need to plan for uncertainty. The approach in the handbook can be applied to developing emergency plans for all hazards and may cover all the phases of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
AIDR will host a Handbook Showcase webinar for the new Emergency Planning handbook in October to align with National Safe Work Month. Stay tuned for the webinar announcement.