In-person DRANZSEN forums return

Held in Hobart on 15 June and Brisbane on 6 July, the first in-person DRANZSEN events since the beginning of the pandemic provided a great opportunity for people to reconnect. Across the two events, attendees from Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland included those new to the sector who are looking to learn more about how to develop their own disaster resilience education (DRE) program, as well as established practitioners. 

Both forums included presentations from leading DRE thinkers and organisations.

• Birdie's Tree. An update on the Birdie's Tree initiatives, which supports mental health and social emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents, babies and young children in the context of disasters and disruptive events. 
• Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN). The network is working towards building knowledge and support for and with children. The presentation updated attendees on what ACATLGN has been doing with communities and school in response to recent disasters, and what they are learning along the way.
• Girls on Fire (Hobart only). A presentation from Bronnie Makintosh, founder of Girls on Fire, on how the program increases engagement, participation and pathways for girls aged 15-19 in fire and emergency services.

In addition to the presentations, attendees completed a visual representation workshop. Attendees worked individually and in small groups to answer 4 questions:

• Where are we now with DRR and youth engagement?
  What is the ideal scenario in 5 years time?
• What actions can you undertake in the next 1-2 years?
• What challenges might you face to achieve these actions?

Attendees created visual representations and diagrams to answer the questions.

The workshop enabled attendees to think critically about the current and future state of youth engagement and participation in disaster resilience and risk reduction and problem solve potential future challenges as a group.