MEDIA RELEASE	Media embargo – 10 February 2010

Bushfire research played out in real life (200 words)

Four years ago a report to the Victorian health department warned that communities in high-risk bushfire areas needed clearer communication channels.
The study, undertaken in 2004/05 by researchers at La Trobe University, looked at group discussions of a hypothetical bushfire situation in the Kinglake area.
The findings are published in the February issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Co-author Dr Priscilla Robinson said it was concerning that a number of outcomes were remarkably similar to recommendations that have emerged from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Participants said that the threat messages, which were adapted from real examples, were not clear about what action to take, even when the fire threat was considered high.
The study suggested local messages about threats and required actions needed to be conveyed to all residents, including non-ratepayers, a council register of elderly or disabled residents, and a publicly identified lead agency during each phase of a bushfire emergency.
“It is concerning that our information about a theoretical situation that was almost identical to that which occurred on Black Saturday has been available for four years,” said Dr Robinson.
“We hope that the recommendations from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission receive the attention the community deserves.”
ENDS

For more information about this research, contact the research author: 
Priscilla Robinson, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora Victoria 3086. Phone: 0409 020 937; e-mail: priscilla.robinson@latrobe.edu.au

MEDIA ONLY: To receive a PDF of the paper or for more information about ANZJPH, contact: Bridget Hooper ANZJPH Administration Ph: (03) 9329 3535
E-mail: bridget.hooper@substitution.com.au

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health is published by the Public Health Association of Australia. Information on the Association and the Journal can be found at http://www.phaa.net.au