More than 125 languages have been added to Bundaberg Regional Council’s Disaster Dashboard, to make critical information more accessible for non-English speaking residents, visitors, and seasonal workers.
This is the first fire and storm season since the language feature was added earlier in the year.
Users can select their preferred language from a drop-down menu at the top right corner of the Disaster Dashboard.
Council also has a Harvest Worker Guide available in nine languages to provide essential information to seasonal workers in the Region.
Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) chair Mayor Jack Dempsey said the addition of the language feature was an important improvement to the Disaster Dashboard.
“Our region is incredibly diverse with many languages spoken and it is essential that all residents, seasonal workers and tourists have ready access to the information they need in times of disaster and emergency,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“The new language feature is a significant step towards ensuring our entire community is prepared and informed during these events.”
In a further aid to working tourists in the region, the Queensland Police Service has developed bag tags with visa information, Policelink contacts and key safety messages around road safety and drink driving.
One bag tag features QR codes linking to Bundaberg and North Burnett Councils’ Disaster Dashboards to help the workers to reach the Disaster Dashboard in case of a disaster occurring.
Bundaberg Crime Manager Sergeant Meg Owens said the tags were designed specifically to be portable and attach to keys or a backpack.
“The messages can be taken with them no matter where they travel in Australia,” Sergeant Owens said.
“Police Officers and our new Pacific Islander Police Liaison Officer are out and about handing out the tags and providing the educational messages around each of the tag messages.”
The Disaster Dashboard provides the community with essential information during severe weather events and links to other emergency service information sources including Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
Residents have the choice to “opt in” to receive disaster and emergency-related alerts through the Council messaging system.
To register for alerts and view current warnings, visit the Disaster Dashboard here.
