Bundaberg NDIS Provider Carinbundi has won two categories in the 2024 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards for its Emergency and Disaster Readiness Training Program.
The initiative has been recognised by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority – Get Ready Queensland Team, as the State’s top Mental Health and Wellbeing category disaster resilience project for 2024.
Carinbundi also received the Resilient Australia Photography award.
These entries will now progress to the National Resilient Australia Awards in Canberra later this year.
Carinbundi Community Relations Manager Tina Marshall said people living with a disability could be among the most vulnerable in our community when an emergency or disaster strikes, being twice as likely to be injured or be socially isolated.
Ms Marshall said while there were many resources to help reduce the risk of danger before, during and after an emergency or disaster, the capability of people living with disabilities to fully utilise these resources was varied.
“Whilst every Carinbundi client has their own Person-Centred Emergency and Disaster Plan, which considers their own individual needs and capabilities, we identified a need for more hands-on approach to supporting people to develop their own confidence and capability to act and to feel safe should there be an emergency or disaster,” she said.
“So we took the Person Centred Emergency Preparedness work lead by Associate Professor Michelle Villeneuve and the University of Sydney Centre for Disability Research and Policy to the next level, by supporting our clients to develop their own individual readiness plans and fostering community connections with our local emergency and disaster agencies, like the Council, SES, police, fire and ambulance services.”
Specifically targeted to the needs of adults with disabilities, the program is delivered through a series of four to five workshops that talk about emergencies and disasters and promote positive connections with local emergency and disaster response agencies, in a fun and safe environment.
Ms Marshall said weekly sessions included talks and hands on presentations by disaster and emergency service professionals, with topics including how to be safe in a storm, who to call in an emergency and what to take and where to go if you need to evacuate.
It is also an important way for clients to expand their circle of trust and increase confidence in dealing with first responders.
“Highlights for our clients include personal interactions with first responders and their appliances and equipment,” she said.
“Clients also enjoyed receiving their own Emergency Kit, supplied by Bundaberg Regional Council, which included a light, battery powered radio and emergency response information.
“The program has become an integral part of Carinbundi’s Community Access and Inclusion Day Services Program, and every client who has taken part in one or more of the programs has expressed genuine interest and enthusiasm and some level of confidence their own emergency and disaster management awareness.”
Carinbundi client Amber completed the program in 2023, participating very enthusiastically each week, preparing questions she would ask of the presenters and leading conversations with her peers in between workshops.
Amber has a level of anxiety and fear associated with storms, and earlier this year, after completing the program and receiving her emergency kit, experienced a storm at home.
The following week she wrote a note to her Program Manager about her experience.
Ms Marshall said the Carinbundi Program was an opportunity for clients to build their own confidence and capacity – and equally as importantly, it’s an opportunity bring awareness to our emergency response agencies about the individual needs people with disabilities may have in a disaster.
“We’re very proud that our Program had been recognised in this way in Queensland and look forward to showcasing it on the national stage as Queensland’s nominees at the Resilient Australia Awards later this year,” she said.
