Multicultural Emergency Management Initiative
We worked with multicultural communities to create tailored emergency communications.
Project goals
- To ensure multicultural communities have access to information that supports emergency preparedness.
- To co-design better emergency communication resources with multicultural communities in regional Victoria.
Videos with community experiences
A series of videos featuring community experiences and practical tips was created to convey the following 3 key messages – translated into three languages:
- Connect with the community
- Learn about local emergencies
- Start an emergency plan.
“Most of our workshop participants did not have a plan and didn’t know where to start, so they told us they wanted the videos to include community experiences to empower action with local and positive images so that the videos feel relevant,” said Dr Douglass.
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Working in partnership
Dr Douglass said it was important for the researchers to work in partnership with a local organisation that community members trusted. NEMA’s members are drawn from more than 90 different language groups.
“Working in partnership meant that we were able to workshop with NEMA staff and volunteers to produce results and end products that really reflected those community priorities,” Dr Douglass said.
NEMA’s Manager Community Engagement and Programs, Faryal Nawaz Khan said clear, accessible communication helps to keep everyone safe and informed, especially in isolated regional areas.
“The project showed how vital it is to build trust and deliver culturally appropriate communication year-round, not just in emergencies,” she said.
Dr Douglass said the next step will be to work with NEMA to share the videos more widely and evaluate their reach and impact on emergency preparedness.
Burnet’s Infectious Diseases Implementation Science working group is skilled at working with multicultural communities and partnering with different organisations to understand public health priorities, to explore complex topics and draw on findings to create products and programs that aim to improve health equity.
Partners
Funding partners
- Emergency Recovery Victoria.
Collaborators
- North East Multicultural Association (NEMA).
- Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.
- Language Loop and Neighbourhood Collective.
Project contacts
Main contacts
Project team
Dr Caitlin Douglass
Senior Research Officer
Ana Orozco
Research Assistant
Amy Kirwan
Senior Research Fellow, Social Impact and Innovation
Associate Professor Alisa Pedrana
Senior Research Fellow; Deputy Discipline Head, Public Health; Eliminate Hepatitis C Australia Coordinator
Professor Margaret Hellard AM
Deputy Director, Programs; Adjunct Professor, Monash University, DEPM.
