Tasmanian 2015 Resilient Australia Awards

The Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments are committed to a whole-of-government approach to disaster management.

One of the key objectives of this valuable partnership is to encourage communities throughout the nation to be more resilient to disaster incidents and be better prepared to manage the effect of emergency situations.

We know from past natural disasters in Tasmania that our communities pull together and look after each other in times of crisis or need. That is what community resilience is all about.

Additionally, our emergency service organisations, including the State Emergency Service, Tasmania Police and Tasmania Fire Service, do an excellent job in protecting lives and property and helping communities build resilience.

In fact, all government agencies, local councils and private sector organisations play a vital and valuable role in enhancing community safety.

The Resilient Australia Awards recognise and encourage these activities and have done so for the past 16 years.

These annual awards cover all aspects of building disaster resilience including: risk assessment, research, education and training, information and knowledge management and prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The Tasmanian 2015 Resilient Australia Awards were judged by an independent panel of our senior representatives from the State Emergency Service, Tasmanian Fire Service, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Local Government association of Tasmania and the not-for-profit sector.

The Tasmanian winners for 2015 are:

Resilient Australian Government category (joint winners):
• The Launceston City Council’s “Pet Pal’’ project which assists communities to plan, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies by ensuring their pets are safe. (Bev Allen to receive the trophy and certificate)
• And, the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s “Risk based land use planning’’ project which strengthens community resilience by the clear mapping and articulation of hazard vulnerability, risk tolerance and the level of intervention (planning a building controls) to manage public and private risk. (Luke Roberts to accept the award on behalf of DPaC)
The Resilient Australia Community Award:
• The winner is the Tasmanian Visitor Information Network for its “Emergency Preparedness’’ project which works collaboratively with the SES and the TFS in educating and informing visitors about emergencies in Tasmania using both electronic and printed material including non-English speaking backgrounds. (Iris Goetzki will accept the award on behalf of TVIN).
The Resilient Australia People’s Choice Photographic Award:
• The winner is Lauren Clements for her photograph Built To Last which depicts a goat house that survived the bushfire that swept through her Carlton River property on January 4, 2013, thanks in part to great good fortune and the wonderful work of the TFS helicopter water bomber.

The Federal Attorney-General’s Department proudly sponsors these awards in conjunction with the States and Territories. All of the Tasmanian winners will now be included in the judging process for the national awards which will be announced by the Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, in November.

Additionally, due to the excellent standard of entries, a number of 2015 Resilient Australia Award Recognition of Merit certificates will be presented.

• Peter Morgan, representing Ambulance Tasmania – a nominee in the Resilient Australian Government Award for “Join, Learn, Be Ready Campaign’’
• Sharon Campbell from the Department of Health and Human Services – a nominee in the Resilient Australian Government Award for the “Heatwave Ready Tasmania’’ initiative.
• Mhairi Revie representing the Flinders island Council for the “Flinders Island Emergency Communications’’ project.
• Mhairi Revie – nomination in the Resilient Australia People’s Choice Photography Award for her entry “Resilience in the face of adversity.’’
Rene Hidding, Minister for Police and Emergency Management