EMPA

01/10/2025

It's not too late to register for our Webinar tomorrow - Many Mics, One Mission - about Victoria's Forest Fire Management communication during the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park bushfires over Christmas 2024 and into New Year 2025.

12 noon AEST online.

You can register here!

The communication response to the Grampians/Gariwerd bushfires over Christmas was a new approach. Join us to learn more from the Forest Fire Management team!

24/09/2025

It's webinar week next week!

Join Danny Buttler and Pip Younes from Victoria’s Forest Fire Management as they talk about a new communication approach during the Grampians/Gariwerd bushfires that changed the game.

Date: Thursday, October 2
Location: Online and recorded.
Time: 12 noon AEST

Register here!
https://events.humanitix.com/many-mics-one-mission-deeca-s-new-approach-during-the-grampians-bushfires

08/09/2025

EMPA - Emergency and Crisis Communicators.

Join us in partnership with NEMA as we present a special free webinar for communicators previewing the Higher Risk Weather Season Outlook.

This Thursday’s webinar is at 12 noon AEST!

Grab your lunch and some colleagues, and hear from NEMA and the Bureau of Meteorology what the upcoming High Risk Weather Season looks like across Australia.

We'll be joined by Alice Atkins, NEMA Assistant Coordinator-General, Dr Karl Braganza, BoM Climate Manager and Hayley Rorke, NEMA Director of Media and discuss how we can use different communication approaches to ensure our communities are prepared and supported through significant weather events.

Register at the link below for this important webinar and we’ll send the Zoom invite in your confirmation email:

https://lnkd.in/g-NcSqbR

07/08/2025

👀 ☝️ Keep an eye out in your inbox and sign up to our latest webinar which takes place on 15 August at Midday AEST.

Everyone Understands: Language access in emergency.

Cathy Basterfield is a speech pathologist and leads a team of expert Easy English writers at Access Easy English. She will discuss the importance of language for communication with low literacy and English as second language people before, during and after an emergency.

26/06/2025

🎉The countdown to New Zealand’s EMPA Conference begins!🎉

Join us on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November for a powerful 2-day conference packed with workshops, expert speakers, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

This is the only event in New Zealand dedicated to emergency communications and places are limited.

There has never been a more important time to increase our expertise in emergency communications.

🎟️ Early Bird Tickets are now available for $995 (plus gst & booking fees)
📅 When: Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November
📍 Where: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
$ Get tickets now: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/2025-empa-conference-new-zealand/wellington

07/06/2025

A huge congratulations to all the award winners and nominees who were awarded at this year’s conference.

From recognising recovery efforts, to impactful content creation, all the hard work in the emergency services sector was on display this week!

📍 Bunurong Country

07/06/2025

Congratulations to Lucy Bell who was inducted as an EMPA fellow in recognition of her significant contribution to the emergency communications sector!

Lucy was described by her peers as a driving force with an infectious energy. Someone who is a true leader, persistent, a connector, community focused, and who never wavers in her commitment to great outcomes.

Lucy has been involved in EMPA since 2010 when she first started her EM career and reflected she has “grown up” professionally around EMPA over the last 15 years.

Lucy is currently the Manager of Public Information at EMV and has held a range of roles across the sector where she has developed her passion for emergency management - evident through the many high profile incidents and projects she's been involved in.

Well done Lucy!

📍 Bunurong Country

06/06/2025

What an incredible three days it has been!

As we wrapped up earlier this afternoon, we reflected on some of the successes, including engaging panels, real-world case studies, workshops and networking opportunities.

An incredible thank you to everyone who joined us over the past three days, including delegates, the board and committee, our sponsors and each of the presenters.

Thank you, and see you next year!

📍 Bunurong Country

06/06/2025

In an incredibly interactive exercise filled with breaking news updates, social media injects and an unsettled community, tables worked through a mock scenario focussed on floods. Lead by Daniel Barty and Jack Dobson from NEMA, the non-specific town of Nemia needed a communications plan, and EMPA delegates were there to answer the call.

Consistency of information in these situations is vital, especially across all levels of government. If we’re not sharing details – no matter how small – communities will seek answers from other sources.

📍 Bunurong Country

06/06/2025

This morning Phillipe Borremans took the room through an engaging and informative workshop focussed on Artificial Intelligence. The session focussed on prompting AI – shaping our input for the best output in a timely manner.

By being specific in our requests and outlining the task, role, audience, context and intent, what AI produces will be of a higher quality.

📍 Bunurong Country

05/06/2025

The third and final day of the Emergency Media and Public Affairs conference was opened by Bron Sparkes, EMPA board director.

💡 The first workshop of the day was kicked off by Philippe Borremans who discussed Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how we can incorporate it in to everyday tasks as emergency communications practitioners.

📍 Bunurong Country

05/06/2025

An incredible day two wrapped up with a bang, with an insightful conversation between Barbara Ryan from Cicada Research and Anni Fordham from DFES.

The discussion, hosted by Ali Martin, covered all things mis- and dis-information.

From the difference between the two (misinformation is accidental and disinformation is intentional), why people want to fan the flames (hint: it likely comes down to loneliness) and how best to combat it, their invaluable insights were both practical and informed by data.

📍 Bunurong Country