The City of Greater Bendigo in partnership with the CFA, Red Cross and SES are hosting a Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning Work between 10am and 3pm on Thursday June 15 at the Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre, Nolan Street Bendigo
City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager Andie West said people with a disability are two to four times more likely to die in a disaster than the general population.
“It is a sobering and scary statistic, and one that the City of Greater Bendigo and our partners are keen to address,” Ms West said.
“The workshop is for people who live with a disability, older people, those with chronic medical conditions and people who provide care and support to older people or those with a disability.
“The workshop is also for people working in emergency services, local government, government agencies, community services, ambulance and police.”
Workshop facilitator University of Sydney Associate Professor, Michelle Villeneuve said the workshop will provide a catalyst for local emergency planning to be disability inclusive and pave the way for improved planning.
“We know from the international and domestic research that people with a disability are an at-risk group,” Professor Villeneuve said.
“We also know they are tremendously capable and if we can work out what is needed to support emergency planning, then people with a disability won’t get left behind. In fact, they will likely lead their own emergency planning.
“At the Workshop people can share and learn from each other and work out how to improve Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction so that nobody is left behind.”
Places at the workshop are limited and bookings are essential and can be made on the City of Greater Bendigo’s Let’s Talk website