Emergency Ready Now: Recent Episodes
Central Coast Council
What do we do after the fires, the floods the pandemic and how do we learn and prepare for next time. We believe stories are one of the most powerful learning and evolutionary tools we have. We’ve listened to peoples stories about disaster recovery, community resilience and mental well being.
From firefighters to clinical psychologists, small business owners to communities who have experienced loss and communities that have survived together.
These are conversations about what has happened, what may happen and how we can prepare for the future.
Central Coast Councils podcast Emergency Ready Now is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the NSW State Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The views expressed are the opinions of the individuals interviewed. Please be aware these topics may be sensitive, particularly if you have personally been affected by bushfires. If you need to talk to someone, you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Ep 12. What DO we do after the Fires, the floods, the pandemic? What lessons did we learn about being Emergency Ready Now? Join us for the series final where we explore the Gems in the stories we have shared on Emergency Ready Now.
Are YOU Emergency READY NOW?
In many way we function better as a collective than we do as individuals. In this episode we are looking at community resilience groups. Why are they so important? and how do we form them in our own communities.
We chat to Fiona Sewell from Recovery Ready Communities Inc and Community Led Ready2Go disaster resilience program and and Stephen Hinks from Killy Cares on the NSW Central Coast
Both have seen a need and cultivated change. How to community resilient groups make stronger more connected communities?
Michelle and Chris are local RFS (rural fire service) members from the Central Coast. Both have dedicated many years to volunteerism to the RFS and the legacy lives on in their children.
In this episode we explore the mental wellbeing of our front line volunteers during and after events like the Black Summer Fires. Michelle and Chris remind us about the strong connection to community that inspires them to protect not only houses, but whole communities that surround them.
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
https://emergency.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/get-ready/bush-fire
Anne became entrenched in resilience and recovery after the Black Saturday bush fires in King Lake in 2009. Anne, who has received and OAM for her outstanding work in disaster recovery, joins us to give us some insight into how communities can proactively plan for recovery before a crisis occurs.
Every person has a part of them that wants to reach out and help people in our community. We are joined by three very special guests who have put community building into action in the wake of disaster! Jo Hilder, Bej and Mel Gould raise the big questions. How do i become involved in times of crisis. How do we connect with people in our neighborhoods long after a crisis has subsided!
Today we delve into what it means to be connected and not only work on our own mental health, but that of the young people in our lives as well. In this episode we speak to Dr John Irvine, one of Australia’s most heard, seen and read childhood psychologists. We discuss how events like natural disaster can impact on child mental health and building a neighbourhood that enables children to flourish. https://www.worrywoos.com/
https://emergency.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/get-ready/overview
Natural disasters and unusual events like the COVID-19 pandemic create stress and disruption for families.
In this episode we are joined by Dr Andrea Baldwin.
Andrea Baldwin is a Service Development Leader at the Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, where she co-ordinates the Centre’s work in the natural disaster space under the banner of Birdie’s Tree. A child and adolescent Psychologist by background, Andrea holds PhDs in Psychology and Creative Writing and a Masters in Drama. Andrea has co-authored the Birdie storybook series with Speech Pathologist Andrea Murray, and contributes both mental health and creative expertise to the ongoing development of the Birdie’s Tree resources.
Talking to your kids in an emergency.
https://www.redcross.org.au/CMSPages/GetAmazonFile.aspx?path=~\australianredcross\files\63\63036b9a-98fd-4cf0-910f-197ef64293a7.pdf&hash=6c6bd2de62ea8836467f468acedf9564c4c7ffe93548ad598397fa1aa1d2ae19
Birdies Tree Books. https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/natural-disaster-recovery/
https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/mental-health-services/qcpimh/natural-disaster-resources/storybooks/
What happens when you have to turn your plans into action? What about the aftermath and the impact on relationships. In this episode we are joined by Adam Holland who knows first hand about the impact of putting survival plans into action and then we hear from Nick Tebby, from Relationships Australia, who talks about relationships, connection and mental health when moving on from natural disaster. How do we build communities you want to be part of?
This week we hear from Hal Butterfield.
We explore his story of the devastating fires of the NSW South Coast and losing his home in Mogo, Hal's story brings the ideas from the previous episode with Dr Rob Gordon to life in the most powerful way. He reflects on his own process of recovery over the first 12 months after the fires and his experiences of significant loss.
https://emergency.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/get-ready/overview
Emergency Ready Now. Stories of disaster, preparedness, resilience on the Central Coast and Beyond
Ep 3. In this episode of Emergency Ready Now, we hear from Expert Clinical Psychologist Dr Rob Gordon. Rob helps us understand the importance of preparing for a ‘marathon’ recovery rather than a sprint.
Dr Rob Gordon is a clinical psychologist and as a consultant for the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria (DHS), The Department of Education, Training and Bushfire Recovery Victoria and Red Cross Emergency Services, he has worked with people and communities after traumatic events for over 30 years.
https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/looking-after-yourself
Ep 2. In this episode, we talk to Christine, Jeff and Robyn who spent many weeks living through the threat of bush fire. We learn about the importance of being prepared and how preparedness has an impact of the resilience of a community.
Dr Christine Wade runs a private practice as a GP on Mangrove Mountain and owns a cattle farm with her partner Jeff, who is a third generation farmer in the area.
Robyn is an active community member in the Spencer area of the Central Coast. She is an advocate for the community and champion of disaster resilience and recovery for her region.
In this episode we venture into the perspectives of communities that can become isolated in natural disaster situations.
Central Coast Council Disaster Dashboard https://emergency.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/dashboard/overview
Creative Recovery https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/working-disaster-impacted-communities
Ep 1. Leanne & Neil’s story sets the scene with a totally unexpected disaster.
It raises questions for all of us that are at the heart of this podcast.
What do we do when the unexpected occurs?
How do we process it after?
What will we do differently in the future?
Leanne and Neil's story is one that could happen to any of us and it high lights the importance of being prepared.
Viki Campbell, Superintendent Central Coast Rural Fire Service and Emergency Management expert, talks through preparedness from an experts perspective and her thoughts on being part of community.
Viki has served with emergency response organisations for the past 30 years through the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW Ambulance. She is currently the Manager of the Central Coast Rural Fire District where she is responsible for the overall coordination of RFS firefighting capability and bush fire risk Management. Viki has extensive operational experience in firefighting including field operations, Incident Management and air attack coordination. Among other appointments, Viki was the appointed Incident Controller for the 2019/20 bushfire emergency on the Central Coast.
https://emergency.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/get-ready/overview
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/