Red Cross Emergency Preparedness - General Public

Australian Red Cross EmergencyRedi™ Workshops (Free)

Hosted by: Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre

Facilitated by: Red Cross

Discover the Australian Red Cross EmergencyRedi™ workshops, a vital resource for enhancing disaster resilience through our award-winning Rediplan. Our free workshops integrate academic research with real-life experiences, offering a comprehensive approach to psychosocial preparedness and support to help individuals and communities effectively manage emergencies.

Workshop Highlights:

Our EmergencyRedi™ workshops are grounded in a psychosocial perspective and informed by various behavior change theories. These workshops focus on building psychosocial capabilities and fostering stronger social and community connections. Participants will gain practical, psychological, and social strategies to prepare for emergencies, address emotional and psychological challenges, and bolster overall resilience.

Key Features:

1. Psychosocial Approach:
• Address Long-Term Impacts: Learn to manage the extended effects of disasters, such as bereavement, loss of housing, and grief. We provide actionable advice on planning for family reunification, finding alternative accommodations, dealing with income disruption, and safeguarding sentimental items.
• Emotional and Psychological Support: Understand how to maintain emotional stability and psychological well-being during and after disasters. Our approach helps you feel safe, calm, and self-reliant, fostering hope and a sense of connection.
2. Comprehensive Wellbeing Support:
• Holistic Approach: Our workshops emphasize a holistic support system that includes both psychological and practical strategies. Participants will learn how to manage stress, build resilience, and create support networks within their communities.
• Focus on Resilience: Gain insights into maintaining and enhancing personal and community resilience. We highlight the importance of preparedness in reducing the psychosocial impacts of disasters and crises.
3. Building Stronger Social Connections:
• Enhancing Social Capital: Learn how to establish and nurture support networks and relationships within your community. Our workshops encourage collaborative efforts to understand collective risks and leverage existing strengths and resources.
• Community Engagement: Participate in activities that bring community members together, fostering trust and collective resilience.
4. Enhancing Psychosocial Capabilities:
• Self-Assessment and Skill-Building: Develop personal resilience by building on your inherent strengths. Our approach respects participants as experts in their own circumstances, promoting self-assessment and the development of practical skills.
• Actionable Steps: Receive guidance on creating and refining your own EmergencyRedi™ Plan, tailored to your specific needs and context.

Workshop Details:

• Flexible Duration: Workshops can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on group needs.
• Tailored Content: Each session is customized to the specific needs and context of the group, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
• Convenient Scheduling: Workshops are scheduled at a time and place that suits the group, making participation easy and accessible.
• Relaxed and Informal Atmosphere: Enjoy a relaxed and informal setting that fosters engagement and learning through real examples, anecdotes, facilitated discussions, and interactive activities.
• Focused Preparation: Emphasis on both psychological and practical preparedness strategies ensures a well-rounded approach to disaster readiness.

Our EmergencyRedi™ program is designed for individuals and households, making it ideal for adults and mature teens. It complements existing hazard-specific plans (such as bushfire or flood plans) by offering a more comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness.