Ready and able : lower secondary emergency awareness education resource.

Spiral bound

Australia is a land prone to many natural hazards. Periodically in our communities, disasters and emergencies occur which result in the loss of lives and property. Today's students have been exposed through media coverage to a wide range of emergencies which have happened in Australia in recent times. The earthquake in Newcastle, the Thredbo landslide, the floods in Katherine, the bushfires in the Dandenongs, and the severe storm during the Sydney to Hobart Yach race in 1999 are prime examples. Encouraging students to gain the knowledge and skill necessary to deal with natural hazards and potential emergencies contributes to their development, both now and in the future. Individuals and communities need to be alert, informed and prepared if the impact of emergencies is to be minimised. Being informed of these risks and having determined local measures to reduce the impact of specific hazards protects lives and property. Our emergency management system depends not only on the emergency service professionals, but also on the support and participation of many thousands of Australians who are trained volunteers. The contribution of volunteer community-based service organisations is vital in Australia's response to emergency situations and it is important that our young people are encouraged to appreciate and understand the value of volunteer efforts, whether on land or at sea. In dealing with emergencies, everyone has a role to play. They also need to recognise that personal and community self-help is a critical element of Australia's emergency management processes, especially since there may be a delay at the time of an emergency before outside assitance arrives. Understanding how, when and where hazards and potential emergencies are likely to occur enables people to anticipate the problems that might result and empower them to take positive action to reduce the impacts and cope with the effects. Bringing these issues into the classroom provides teachers with a wealth of opportunites to enable students to explore the world in ways that are meaningful and relevant to their lives. It also allows them to examine the strengths in the human spirit which enable us to conquer the outcomes of emergency events, rather than be conquered by them