Bushfire response: Women in Emergencies Network call for urgent action on climate change and how we manage disasters
Tuesday 17th December 2019
The Australasian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE) supports calls from emergency leaders for urgent action on climate change and how we manage disasters.
The bushfires that have been burning across Australia for months have tested communities to their limits.
“We see how these catastrophic bushfire events are putting unprecedented strain on organisations, communities and families. Women play important roles in disasters, from planning, mitigation and preparation to response, relief and recovery. The experiences of communities affected by previous disasters tells us that recovering from these will take decades,” says Bridget Tehan, President of AWE.
AWE’s 1200 members are a growing body of women working within emergency management organisations and in non-traditional emergency roles.
Communities impacted by disasters such as bushfires face devastating and long-term consequences, including significant personal, social, health, economic, environmental and infrastructure costs.
“What creates preparedness and resilience is also what creates healthy communities; being informed and highly connected. Women have a very powerful role to play in this,” says Amanda Lamont, AWE’s Vice President.
AWE members are well connected and experienced in supporting communities and organisations in disasters such as the destructive fires spreading through NSW, Queensland, WA and Victoria.
“Our members will be supporting communities not just in responding to climate emergencies but importantly through the long and complex recovery from these disasters,” she says.
