Gender and Emergency Management How can local government Communication take gender into account in • Tailor disaster risk and recovery information for emergency management? women and men when needed. • Take notice of who attends community meetings Emergency management committees, and planning and decision-making make it easier for women and men to participate. • Include gender specific organisations and Evaluation and performance measures groups on • Ask questions about whether and how gender is committees. considered in emergency management policies, • Pre-disaster, develop an action plan with a plans, contact list of gender specific support activities and the use of resources. organisations. • Analyse data by gender and age. • Ensure committees consider gender • Include a gender focus in research. representation. Volunteers • Understand community composition when developing • Recognise how gender stereotyping affects the policy and plans. development and sustainability of • Involve women, men, boys and girls in identifying emergency management volunteer and groups. addressing local hazards. • Partner with existing women’s and men’s groups. • Take into account different needs and • Extend the volunteer opportunities and roles capacities of women and men, girls and available to women, men, girls and boys. boys. Recovery • Identify groups of women and men who may be • Ensure support is available in ways that both men particularly vulnerable in the community. and • Ensure disaster recovery packages are gender women will find useful. equitable. • Provide women-friendly and men-friendly activities Relief centres and outreach services. • Ensure there is a safe space for women and • Provide mental health and family violence children. information in formats and places where women • Ensure relief staff are appropriately trained and men already meet and support each other. in identifying family violence and other predatory behaviours. Useful resources and Women’s Health Goulburn North East Information sheets, check lists, training, information presentations and stories. Department of Human Services Municipal Association of Victoria Emergency Management Planning for Children MAV gender and emergency management and strategy Young People: Planning guide for Local Further information and resources can be found Government on the MAV website. Australian Journal of Emergency Management
Gender and Emergency Management How can local government take gender into account in emergency management? Emergency management committees, planning and decision-making • Include gender specific organisations and groups on committees. • Pre-disaster, develop an action plan with a contact list of gender specific support organisations. • Ensure committees consider gender representation. • Understand community composition when developing policy and plans. • Involve women, men, boys and girls in identifying and addressing local hazards. • Take into account different needs and capacities of women and men, girls and boys. • Identify groups of women and men who may be particularly vulnerable in the community. • Ensure disaster recovery packages are gender equitable. Relief centres • Ensure there is a safe space for women and children. • Ensure relief staff are appropriately trained in identifying family violence and other predatory behaviours. Communication • Tailor disaster risk and recovery information for women and men when needed. • Take notice of who attends community meetings and make it easier for women and men to participate. Evaluation and performance measures • Ask questions about whether and how gender is considered in emergency management policies, plans, activities and the use of resources. • Analyse data by gender and age. • Include a gender focus in research. Volunteers • Recognise how gender stereotyping affects the development and sustainability of emergency management volunteer groups. • Partner with existing women’s and men’s groups. • Extend the volunteer opportunities and roles available to women, men, girls and boys. Recovery • Ensure support is available in ways that both men and women will find useful. • Provide women-friendly and men-friendly activities and outreach services. • Provide mental health and family violence information in formats and places where women and men already meet and support each other. Useful resources and information Municipal Association of Victoria MAV gender and emergency management strategy Further information and resources can be found on the MAV website. Women’s Health Goulburn North East Information sheets, check lists, training, presentations and stories. Department of Human Services Emergency Management Planning for Children and Young People: Planning guide for Local Government Australian Journal of Emergency Management
Gender-and-emergency-management-fact-sheet.docx