Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC)
Optimising the lives of people with Aphasia
The Prepare Project: Preparing for and responding to emergencies for people with communication disability
People living with communication support needs are vulnerable during emergencies. The Prepare project will help people with communication support needs be better prepared for future emergencies
Aim of the research
We want to know:
- Will training emergency services staff help them communicate better with people with communication disability?
- Will our emergency preparedness workshops help people with communication disability feel more ready for emergencies?
- What changes do people think are needed to make emergency management more accessible for people with communication disability?
Expected outcomes
- We expect that emergency services staff will feel more confident talking with people with communication disability.
- We expect that people with communication disability will know more about emergency warnings and will be better prepared for emergencies.
- We also make recommendations for how Queensland's emergency management system can be more accessible.
What will the research involve
The project has three parts.
- We will train emergency services staff in how to communicate with people with communication disability, and measure whether the training helps.
- We will run accessible emergency preparedness workshops for people with communication disability and their supporters, and measure what they learn.
- We will hold three stakeholder forums where people with communication disability, carers, Peer Leaders, and emergency services representatives will discuss what needs to change at a system level.
Who will we include in the research?
- Emergency services staff from Queensland Fire Department and Queensland Police Service
- Disaster management staff from Brisbane City Council and City of Gold Coast.
- Adults who have a communication disability and their carers and supporters.
- Stakeholder forums will include people with communication disability, Peer Leaders, carers, and emergency management representatives.
How to be involved
Workshops will run in person in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and online.
If you are interested in attending a workshop, please complete this form or contact Sam Harvey.
Funding source
The Prepare Project received funding from the Australian Government National Emergency Management Agency.
Research team
- Dr Sam Harvey, Project Lead — The University of Queensland
- Associate Professor Sarah Wallace — The University of Queensland
- Professor David Copland — The University of Queensland
- Dr Kirstine Shrubsole — The University of Queensland
- Associate Professor Michelle Villeneuve — University of Sydney
- Rebecca Cason — Queenslanders with Disability Network
- Emma Beesley, Lived-Experience Advisor
- Kim Beesley, Lived-Experience Advisor
- Nina Carr, Lived-Experience Advisor
