Research underpins local initiatives

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Australian Community Engagement and Fire Awareness conference, run the by the New South Wales RFS, in Wollongong. One of the highlights was seeing the way in which Bushfire CRC research was being used to underpin brigade-level community engagement initiatives across the country, and the outcomes that are being achieved at a local level.

In particular, Wollambi RFS brigade in the Hunter region of NSW have drawn extensively on the findings from the community safety research undertaken after major bushfires across NSW in January 2013, while in Victoria, the South Warrandyte CFA and Warrandyte Community Association have joined forces, utilising Bushfire CRC research into community education.

I know that many researchers have become involved in this sector because they want to make difference – this conference provided very tangible evidence that this is being achieved.