Local organisations and councils have teamed up to create a tailor-made emergency preparedness bag for the region's most vulnerable.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Some of Echuca-Moama’s most vulnerable residents are now better prepared for emergencies thanks to a new healthcare initiative spreading across the region.
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The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit has partnered with Community Living and Respite Services, Vivid and Campaspe Shire Council to launch bright green ‘go packs’.
Co-designed by the organisations and people with disability, the practical, easy to use packs were created to improve preparedness for floods, fires and other emergencies.
On Thursday, November 27, local NDIS participants and organisation members gathered at Vivid Living for a community packing day to ready the bags.
Echuca resident Josh Cheep has been involved in the project since day one, and was thrilled to see it come together during the packing day.
Josh Cheep praised the packs, and has been heavily involved in the initiative.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
“For me, it’s the best ever thing I did ... I live near the Campaspe River, and I actually got to see a couple of years ago the floods,” he said.
“For people with disabilities like myself, I like this bag because it’s very visual, and they’ve got pictures of what goes in.”
The packs include clear icons, simple instructions and space for personal details to support quick decision-making when time is critical.
Information and resources from the council’s First 72 Hours program, including a USB, fridge magnet and preparedness brochure have also been added to the packs.
During the 2022 floods, evacuation orders saw many residents with disability arrive at relief centres without their support providers knowing they had left home.
The pack is designed to accommodate for similar situations by making information clear and easy to share during fast-moving situations.
Oliver Smith, Emmett Stephens, Josh Cheep and Wendy Quinn at the community packing day.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Campaspe Shire Council relief, resilience and recovery co-ordinator Lachlan Cozens said the packs would help improve visibility at the centres during emergencies.
“From council’s perspective, I can see a green bag, and I know that person might need additional support,” he said.
“Think of three staff to a couple hundred people in there ― it makes it easier for us to identify.”
Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit manager of prevention and population health Emma Brentnall said the final product reflected the lived experience of people with disability.
“They’re so excited to see it in production, and know that their voice has been heard in listening and accommodating their needs,” Ms Brentnall said.
“Vivid and CLRS have been fundamental to this process, and our great working relationships have meant we’ve been able to do it really easily.”
Campaspe Shire is being treated as the trial site for the 2000 go packs, which will also be rolled out in the Gannawarra, Buloke and Swan Hill local government areas.
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