A primary school bushfire initiative backed by research has been recognised nationally by taking out the 2023 Resilient Australia National School Award.
Harkaway Primary School backed up their state level win at the 2023 Victorian Resilient Australia Awards with the national gong, presented at a ceremony in Perth on 22 November.
The school is recognised for a range of activities, including the establishment of a student-led bushfire safety committee and the development of a ‘Bushfire Safety Manifesto’ – both outcomes of a Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research project led by Dr Briony Towers (Leadrrr) and the late Prof Kevin Ronan (CQUniversity).
The Award also recognises Harkaway Primary School’s contribution to Schools in Fire Country, a Natural Hazards Research Australia project with Safer Together. Led by Neil Munro (CFA) and Dr Towers, Schools in Fire Country has enabled agencies, experts and educators to collaborate on the development and implementation of a new research-informed bushfire education program.
Andrew Gissing, CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia, said the award was fantastic recognition.
“To win a national award is tremendous credit to both Harkaway Primary and their use of the research, as well as the quality of the research itself, more than a decade’s worth that underpins Harkaway Primary’s bushfire education. Congratulations to all the Harkaway students who have been involved for many years, as well as Principal Leigh Johnson and Dr Briony Towers,” Andrew said.
Briony Towers said the program at Harkaway Primary shows the impact students can have when they are given the opportunity to identify and solve local problems.
“The contributions that Harkaway staff and students have made to child-centred disaster risk management are wide-ranging and profound. From action research with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to the development and testing of a place-based, participatory bushfire education program with the Country Fire Authority, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Natural Hazards Research Australia, Harkaway Primary School is helping to improve policy and practice from the local to the National level,” Briony said.
View the ‘The Harkaway Primary School Manifesto and Bushfire Safety Committee’ below.
Natural Hazards Research Australia research was also a finalist in the overall national award, for the Community-led recovery: evidence, dimensions and supports for Community Recovery Committees project.
The research team of Prof Lisa Gibbs, Dr Colin Gallagher, Dr Kate Brady and Hannah Morrice from the University of Melbourne addressed the knowledge gap around Community Recovery Committees to develop practical tools and resources to better support Community Recovery Committees. Learn more about this research in this report, or by watching this webinar held in July 2023.
Coordinated by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, the Resilient Australia Awards celebrate achievements in community resilience to disasters and emergencies that might otherwise go unseen.
Learn more about all the Resilient Australia Awards finalists here.