2024 FMA IAG Excellence Award Prize Money Allocated to Community Resilience in the Hawkesbury-Nepean

The NSW Reconstruction Authority recently hosted a workshop, partnering with Collaborating 4 Inclusion, on Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP), supporting service providers and emergency response agencies to empower people with specific needs in the Hawkesbury-Nepean floodplain.

Led by multi-award-winning researcher and facilitator Michelle Villeneuve, the workshop focused on:
• Self-Assessment: Participants learned to assess their individual and organisational preparedness.
• Flood risk awareness: Applying P-CEP principles to support business continuity and personal preparedness.
• Community Collaboration: Building stronger, more resilient communities.

The workshop was attended by 80 people representing support and response organisations from the Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blacktown, The Hills and Hornsby local government areas. Participants undertook emergency scenario testing based on a flood in the Valley which is considered one of the highest risk floodplains in Australia. They also evaluated their preparedness to maintain client support during a flood, and learnt more about how P-CEP improves outcomes for clients with specific care needs.

The event was made possible thanks to prizemoney from the RA’s Hawkesbury-Nepean River Flood Study that won the 2024 FMA-IAG Excellence Award for Flood Risk Management Project of the Year.

For a short video of the event, see https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nswreconauth_nswreconstructionauthority-disasterpreparedness-activity-7267035293931741184-0t7Y?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop