Australians Promote Community Resilience Today!

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROMOTED AT SAFER COMMUNITIES AWARDS

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today presented 16 Australian Safer Communities Awards to innovative and educational projects that promote awareness and management of natural disasters. With Australia impacted by floods and bushfires on an annual basis, Mr McClelland said it is important that communities learn about and prepare for the hazards they may encounter, and consider how best to deal with those hazards. “This understanding helps create more resilient communities. When communities are resilient they are better able to deal with a crisis, better equipped to deal with the consequences, and bounce back even stronger.”“Australians can be proud that our emergency services are the best in the world, but it’s unfair to expect them to do it all if disaster strikes. Regardless of who we are or where we live, we all have a role to play in disaster preparedness.”“I am very impressed by the wide range and quality of the projects submitted for this year’s Awards. The organisations receiving awards represent the very best of Australian citizenship and participation,” Mr McClelland said.Several of this year’s awards are aimed at raising the awareness of young people to the need for emergency preparedness and local government has again provided significant community projects.This year attracted a total of 89 entries across a range of organisations, including volunteers, the private sector, government, education, training and research bodies, and not-for-profit groups. The annual Australian Safer Communities Awards is managed by Emergency Management Australia, a division of the Attorney-General’s Department.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Sims, Mr McClelland’s Office, 0419 480 224 Alastair Wilson, EMA Media Liaison 0408 606 462

Article courtesy Australia.to news. See http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=794:robert-mcclelland&catid=73:politics&Itemid=31