Disasters: Know Your Role - Launch

What is it? Disasters: Know Your Role is a fun, interactive, online learning resource that uses everyday language to introduce Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA) and help people understand what happens when Queensland takes action before, during and after a disaster.

Why is it important? Natural disasters are confusing and scary enough without knowing where to go, what to do, or what’s happening around you. It’s really important for people to understand how government and non-government organisations work together when disasters happen and the role you play so we can all be prepared and equipped with the information and skills to look after ourselves and our loved ones.

This is exactly what the QDMA does – but it’s a technical, operational document aimed at the people directly involved in disaster response. Volunteering Qld has been spending up to a whole day of our Disaster Resilience Workshops getting into the nitty-gritty of the Arrangements for our participants. What have we learnt from this? That there’s a real need for a useful, everyday-language version for all Queenslanders that distills the content of the QDMA into what we really need to know.

Who’s involved in the project? Creating a resource that > takes a complex, operational document designed for emergency management practitioners > transforms it into information all Queenslanders need to know > explains it in everyday language in an interactive way…is seriously tricky business!

In a great example of government/community partnership Volunteering Qld worked closely with the Local Government Association of Queensland, Queensland Department of Communities and Emergency Management Queensland and other stakeholders across the state to make sure that the original document is accurately represented and that Disasters: Know Your Role is relevant to all Queenslanders.

Where to from here? Once you’ve participated in the first module of Disasters: Know Your Role, you may find yourself saying:“That was awesome! But what can I do from here?!”

Well, now you can share the love with those around you: family, friends, neighbours, coworkers and your local community.

• Take our Disaster Readiness Index and see how prepared you and your household are
• If you’re a member of a community group, sports association or church group you could organise a screening of Disasters: Know Your Role
• Email your friends and family a link to Disasters: Know Your Role and encourage them to have a look
• Talk to your neighbours about Disasters: Know Your Role and what you can do together to make your community a safer place to live