In Australia, being prepared for storms and bushfires is a community effort – and that includes retirement village residents.
At Southern Cross Care’s Noosa Waters Retirement Estate, residents recently got a firsthand look at Noosa Shire Council’s innovative Simtable technology. This Queensland-first tool uses 3D hazard mapping to show how a bushfire could personally affect their homes and community.
Ian Williams, Disaster Resilience Officer for the Council, explained, “The Simtable helps residents understand how disasters like bushfires might impact them and offers guidance on managing these situations.”
The workshops, held with the Queensland Rural Fire Service and the Council’s Fire Management team, stress the importance of detailed disaster and evacuation plans in aged care and retirement villages.
Deb Leask, Manager of Noosa Waters Retirement Estate, thanked the Council for taking a proactive approach. “The workshop was incredibly informative and vital for building a resilient, connected aged care community in Noosa,” she said.
“The bushfire scenario and Simtable technology helped us plan for potential impacts and evacuation procedures, which we are now incorporating into our own village emergency plan,” Deb added.
Council continues to partner with local aged care and retirement facilities to improve disaster readiness. “One of the valuable resources the Council provides is the Noosa Emergency Action Guide,” Deb noted. “Many of our residents and other local aged care providers have copies to help them prepare.”
Last year alone, Council’s Get Ready for Storm and Bushfire Season program reached over 2,500 local school students and hundreds of aged care residents – all provided with the Emergency Action Guide.
A digital version of the guide is available on the Council’s Disaster Dashboard, which residents and the wider community are encouraged to check during any disaster event: disaster.qld.gov.au