Developing and Evaluating Effective ‘Bushfire’ Communication Pathways, Procedures and Products
In March 2012, the RMIT Effective Communication Team (CPOW) was approached by the Country Fire Authority to identify, develop and evaluate effective communication pathways. The project will take advantage of “The Grid”, which is a knowledge management tool developed by the CPOW team, which acts as a repository for knowledge within the emergency response domain.
Briefing Report 1 – Assessing current knowledge
This report comprises an assessment of the current state of knowledge of the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) services and procedures. This report will help situate the research in the context of both the current bushfire information service model, as well as a potential future public information service model. We also identify some minor implications for future work in the project.
Briefing Report 4 – Localities and Bushfire Information
Based on the analysis of existing pathways and research in three selected localities, the report presents preliminary recommendations detailing effective communication pathways and procedures for selected VBIL materials (e.g. VBIL DVD, wallet cards and refrigerator magnets).
Briefing Report 5 – Communications Grid
This report describes a set of research activities conducted by CPOW in order to provide the CFA VEIL management team with a Knowledge Management tool documenting bushfire risk communication artefacts (The RMIT Grid). The RMIT Grid is a repository of bushfire risk communication artefacts that have been produced by emergency agencies to promote public bushfire safety, be it via education, raising awareness or facilitating increased levels of preparedness. We document a set of activities designed to extend the Grid from a repository towards an analytic, knowledge management tool. This work is placed in the broader context of Knowledge Management principles and how the Grid is situated in the range of emergency agency Knowledge Management activities.
Briefing Report 6 – Multiple Hazards Emergency Information
This report details results from phase two of this research, in which a series of scenario-driven focus groups were conducted with residents as end-users in five localities. This research was undertaken in the context of a future move to a multi-agency, multi-hazard model of incident preparation and response. This will include the establishment of the Victorian Emergency Information Line (VEIL). Findings address the effectiveness of potential VEIL dissemination procedures and products, including when and where people are most likely to use the VEIL, potential barriersto using the VEIL, and how awareness materials can assist with accessibility and uptake of such a service.
Briefing Report 7 – Scenario Methods
During phase two of this research a series of focus groups was conducted with residents as end-users in five localities. Scenario-based methods were one of the methodological approaches employed in this phase of research. This briefing note outlines the rationale behind scenario methodology, its aims and outcomes, and how these techniques were used in this project.
Briefing Note – Risk Communication
This briefing note reviews the evidence-base for effective risk communication strategies in safety-critical work, with a focus on infrequent but severe hazards. This will assist in guiding further activities of the Effective Communication Pathways research.