NSW Get Ready Community Award 2018 Entry Guidelines

About the Award

Communities in NSW work together every year in order to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. The NSW Get Ready Community Award is an annual award that celebrates a NSW community that, by working together, has made exceptional progress towards making their community more prepared and better able to recover from disasters.

Who can enter?

Entries for the NSW Get Ready Community Award can be submitted by local community, volunteer groups, community organisations and local council with participation from whole of community.

An entry can also be submitted by a group, organisation or council on behalf of the community involved.

The term ‘community’ can refer to a particular township or region, or a group of people in an area that have something in common for example; young people, older community members, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities or people with disabilities.

Entering is easy!Simply complete three easy steps

1. Complete the application form on Page 4

2. Include all supporting information such as photographs or video footage as attachments.

3. Submit your application by email to getreadynsw@mpes.nsw.gov.au before 3pm on 31 May 2018.

How will I know if my application was received?

You will get an automatic email to confirm receipt of your application, please keep this as proof of your submission.

Need Help?

Call us on (02) 9212 9278

Email us getreadynsw@mpes.nsw.gov.au

Visit us at https://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/Pages/emergency-management/Awards/NSW-get-ready-community-award/NSW-Get-Ready-Community-Award.aspx

Key dates

Entries Open ─ 5 March 2018

Entries Close ─ 31 May 2018 (3pm)

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The Award Ceremony will be held in October 2018 in conjunction with the Resilient Australia Awards 2018.

How will I be notified?

All winners will be notified by email and phone call within 8 weeks after the application close date.

Need inspiration?

Go to pages 8-9 for a description of past winners of the NSW Get Ready Community Award.

Good to know

By submitting your entry for the NSW Get Ready Community Award, you consent to the NSW Government making the project information publicly available for promotional purposes. Entries may be used in future education activities, case studies, government websites, publicity materials or publications.

Information on the NSW ‘Get Ready’ Community Award is available at: https://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/Pages/emergency-management/Awards/NSW-get-ready-community-award/NSW-Get-Ready-Community-Award.aspx

Please contact the Get Ready Award convenor if you require additional information at: getreadynsw@mpes.nsw.gov.au or on (02) 9212 9278

Entrants may also apply for the Resilient Australia Community Award 2018 if they meet the relevant selection criteria. More information on the Resilient Australia Awards can be found at: https://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/Pages/emergency-management/Awards/resilient-australia-awards/Resilient-Australia-Awards.aspx

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NSW Get Ready Community Award 2018 Entry Form

Instructions

Fill out entry details on page 5 Answer questions 1-4 on page 6 Provide any supporting items with your entry and list each one on page 8 Email your application to: getreadynsw@mpes.nsw.gov.au Keep the automatic email confirm receipt of your application Any questions, give us a call on (02) 9212 9278

Selection Criteria

The project or initiative will:

Have been started by the community and managed by local community members Show strong collaboration and partnerships across the community and involvement of

community members Have strengthened the resilience of the local community to natural disasters by

improving community participation in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery

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Applicant DetailsAPPLICANTContact name

Position (if relevant)

Organisation or group

Phone

Email

Address

Website

Social Media (Twitter, Facebook)

SECONDARY CONTACTContact name

Position (if relevant)

Organisation or group

Phone

Email

Address

Website

Social Media (Twitter, Facebook)

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Entry Questions

The Application for the Get Ready NSW Community Award consists of four questions.

Beneath each question are some handy prompts that might help you with your application.

1. What was the issue or challenge for your community? (300 word maximum)

Tell us about: The issue that affected your community What type of emergencies are most likely to affect your community? (i.e. flood, storm, bushfire) Your community’s strengths and vulnerabilities in the face of natural disaster The problems you knew needed to be fixed in order to improve community resilience

2. What was the initiative? (300 word maximum)

Describe the initiative that your community worked on together Who was involved in the project? How did the initiative solve the problem? What actions were taken to prepare for, respond to or recover from disaster in your area? How did the project support or build on the existing emergency management arrangements?

3. How did the community work together on this initiative? (300 word maximum)

How did you collaborate with each other? What were the organisations that participated in the project (including small business, government,

council, community groups, and emergency service organisations)? Were there partnerships formed or strengthened as a result of the project?

4. Tell us what your community initiative achieved (300 word maximum)

What are the specific benefits to the community? What evidence can you provide? How the project helped the community prepare for a natural disaster and/or its ability to recover from

a natural disaster? If your project was specifically targeted at one type of emergency, were there any benefits that apply to

other situations (i.e. networks that can be used across any emergency)? What are the long-lasting benefits that came from your initiative? How are you keeping this community project alive?

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Supporting Information

List any attachments or links you have included to support your entry below.

Thank you for your contribution and good luck with your entry!

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Past projects for inspiration

2017 Winners of the Get Ready Community AwardThere were two winners of the Get Ready Community Award in 2017. Dungog and Lismore communities were recognised for their outstanding efforts in building disaster resilience.

Reflections of ResilienceAfter a catastrophic storm in April 2015 the community of Dungog used photos taken by the community to create a commemorative interactive exhibition to reflect, connect and to continue the healing process on as the first anniversary of the event approached.

The exhibition invited the whole community of 2,000 people to participate, boosted morale and highlighted the town’s strength and community spirit through the sharing process.

Lismore Helping HandsFollowing the April 2017 floods, Lismore Helping Hands was formed by committed locals. Using Facebook they connected vulnerable people in need with local volunteers.

By establishing a community ‘hub’ they gave the community an ongoing space to bring people, organisations and services together. Long term this continues to strengthen the resilience and connectedness of the Lismore community.

In the future, the volunteer management plans and technology used will be incorporated by the Council for future disaster responses.

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2016 Winner of the Get Ready Community Award

Best for BaradineIn 2016, the rural town of Baradine received the award for their project, ‘Best for Baradine’. In a remote location, and with an ageing population, Baradine’s vulnerable position was tested by the 2013 bushfire.

Together, the local community groups decided to take action and worked with Baradine and District Progress Association, the Warrumbungle Shire Council, and local emergency services, to better prepare their town for natural disaster.

2015 Winner of the Get Ready Community Award

Uranquinty Community-Led PlanningAfter repeated flooding in 2010 and 2012, the Uranquinty Progress Association teamed up with NSW SES to develop a disaster response plan for their community.

The Uranquinty Community Safety Group took ownership of their community’s safety and significantly enhanced their resilience to natural disasters.

The group recruited community members with local expertise and resources and together developed a simple, effective plan including a warning system and evacuation plan.

The warning system was designed to quickly alert the community and includes roles such as flood spotters, who live near the head water area and can see early signs of likely flooding, and the warnings group that form a telephone tree or door knock.The evacuation plan was rehearsed and is complete with their own evacuation centre.

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