The 6th Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference will be held over the 22 – 23 May at The Star Gold Coast (previously Jupiter’s), Queensland.

Dr John Rolfe, Executive Manager, Emergency Management Preparedness at QFES joins us at the conference to discuss ‘Queensland Emergency Risk Management Framework: A Clear Line of Sight to Risk Based Planning’.

The management of risk is one of the cornerstones of modern society and in the context of disaster management, a foundational element in the development of effective mitigation and resilience strategies. Additionally, hazard sources are measurably changing based upon climate science. The climate has warmed including the atmosphere and oceans, sea levels have risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.

The recently developed Queensland Emergency Risk Management Framework (QERMF) is a methodology that informs risk based planning through embracing science, technology, risk methodology and most importantly by taking heed of both global and local knowledge.

The QERMF is derived from underpinnings of AS/NZS ISO 31000 Risk management, the National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines 2015 and meets the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’s “Priorities for Action”. QERMF also reflects international best practice as championed by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

The aim of QERMF is to provide a consistent approach to the identification and assessment of risk, which can in turn:

• Link broad area natural hazard risk assessment with disruption related risk assessments of critical infrastructure;
  • Articulate residual risk; and
  • Directly supports risk based planning across the 3 levels of governance that comprise Queensland’s disaster management arrangements.

The risk assessment process within the QERMF methodology enables the literal identification of risk via geospatial analysis of landscape, hazard manifestation, exposure and vulnerability.  Explicitly analysing vulnerability assists planning for mitigation strategies aimed at reducing residual risk.  Application of this approach at all levels of disaster management arrangements can lead to a range of enhancements to community resilience.

For more information on the 2017 Australian & New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference and to secure your spot, visit www.anzdmc.com.au.