Meals on Wheels NSW ACT! – A Collaborative Toolkit for Emergency Services and Home Support Providers
Gospers Mountains Fire 15 December 2019 Photo by Indigo Fraser page 2
Indigo Fraser Gospers Mountains Fire 15 December 2020 page 3
Quiz – did you know? Question 1: Is the following statement True or False? 1 in 10 people in Australia will experience an emergency or the threat of one, in their lifetime Question 2: Is the following statement True or False? Two thirds of all housefire fatalities are people 65 and older Question 3: Today’s modern constructed homes and their furnishings burn faster and more intensely than homes in the past. How long does it take for a fire to completely engulf a bedroom? 1,3,5 or 30 minutes? page 4
Our project origins • Initiated in response to overrepresentation of socially isolated people aged 65 and over dying in house fires – FRNSW approaches MOW NSW • Based on successful home fire safety project between MOW and Texas fire depts – F.I.R.E. Help • Expanded to include ‘all hazards’ – involved developing partnerships with FRNSW, NSW RFS, SES, Red Cross and other key players • Funded by Office of Emergency Management’s Community Resilience Innovation Program (CRIP) page 5
Our project objectives 1. Enhance the all hazard emergency preparedness of at-risk older adults (over 65) who live at home 2. Increase the capacity of MOW and other home support staff and volunteers to support CHSP clients in emergency preparedness 3. Build effective collaborations between partners at the State and local level to maintain the delivery of this program post pilot page 6
What it involves ACT! – A Collaborative Toolkit for Emergency Services and Home Support Providers A pilot project to develop and test a collaborative toolkit to facilitate emergency preparedness discussions with vulnerable older people and link to existing emergency services preparedness programs Collaborative Toolkit consists of: ✓ Discussion tool – hard copy and app ✓ Leave-behind resources and smoke alarm test horn ✓ Online training tool ✓ Implementation guide ✓ Referral to programs - FRNSW Safety Visits, NSW RFS AIDER and Red Cross Rediplan Link to video and online tools page 7
It’s all about partnerships What we all bring to the partnership • Expertise in our specialized areas • MOW and other CHSP providers have strong existing relationships with older adults who may be at risk • Emergency service providers such as FRNSW, NSW RFS, Red Cross, NSW SES have existing resources and programs to assist older at-risk adults Outcomes • Emergency services increase the effectiveness of their connections and communication with at-risk older adults • Home support providers improve the emergency preparedness knowledge and skills of their staff and volunteers to benefit their clients and themselves page 8
Our partners page 9
Where we are up to • Toolkit developed and trialled in five NSW pilot sites • Initial project now complete – soft launch 2 nd June • Toolkit available on NSW Meals on Wheels website • Project evaluation completed • Delivery of Starter Kits to providers • Current promotions and train-the-trainer network development • Development of App - release due at end 2020 Link to website page 10
Some client data from pilot sites Profile of participants: ➢ 64% female, 36% male ➢ median age 78 ➢ 67% live alone ➢ 68% own their home, 16% in social housing and 9% rent ➢ 30% don’t / don’t know if smoke alarms checked regularly Following participation, emergency preparedness activities undertaken: ➢ 82% have taken some preparedness action ➢ referrals to Safety Visits, AIDER and RediPlan ➢ packing a ‘grab and go’ bag ➢ recognising need to evacuate early ➢ using phone for document storage ➢ talking with neighbours/family about their plans page 11
Opportunities and Challenges • Collaborating across sectors and agencies is a learning process • Opportunities for cross sector collaboration and innovative funding options • Time ! Extensive reforms and increased accountability impacting on face-to- face time with clients • Ensuring emergency preparedness is seen as core business across both sectors • Variation in community engagement practice across agencies • Ensuring sustainability of the project post pilot page 12
Thank you! This project is funded by a Commonwealth and NSW Government grant under the Community Resilience Innovation program. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the New South Wales Government. For further information contact: Louise Sutcliffe Project Officer, Meals On Wheels NSW Phone : 0411 644 600 Email : louises@nswmealsonwheels.org.au page 13
Any questions? page 14
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