What do you think of these as RFS Principles for community engagement?? Your thoughts????
Clarity of purpose – we clearly define why engagement activities are occurring, their context and the goals of our engagement Accessibility – we plan engagement activities to ensure needs of targeted individuals and local groups are considered in order to maximise their ability to participate
Hospitality – we provide a friendly, welcoming environment for all face-to-face engagement activities
Communication – we support two-way communication processes that provide accurate and timely information, and invite and value feedback
Evidence – we establish good engagement practices that are based on sound research and quality information
On message – we reinforce organisational key messages and identify locally relevant key messages to ensure we communicate consistently and effectively
Working together – we establish partnerships with relevant individuals, local groups, community networks and other stakeholders to build capacity and add value
Broaden the reach – we endeavour to involve individuals and local groups to move beyond established networks, to tap into significant knowledge and expertise within communities
Continuous learning – we report our engagement activities to ensure they achieve meaningful outcomes and can be monitored and evaluated for future improvement
Integrity – we build relationships by ensuring our engagement activities are open, accountable and designed to improve individual and group understanding of bush fire preparedness; to increase community trust and confidence in us.

No Plan Dan: The Dribbling Hose

Ok so what has been going on in No Plan Dans head?

He hasn’t really planned and prepared for the bush fire season. Sure, he’ll tell you he has a plan, but it won’t be fully thought through. It won’t be written down, even though the NSW Rural Fire Service have been handing out Bush Fire Survival Plans for years. No Plan Dan actually has two of them, one in a drawer in his home office and the newer one hanging on the side of the filing cabinet, untouched since the day he put them there.


This is because No Plan Dan doesn’t really believe that anything will happen to him and his family. He knows there have been bush fires in the area before, but because bush fires aren’t all that regular, it won’t happen to him. After all, he is a local, knows the area and the fires happened ages ago! Naaaaa what are the chances? If it happens he will deal with it then...





No Plan Dan is out of water and out of luck

So when the fire does come, No Plan Dan doesn’t have a proper plan. Instead he does what he has seen so many times on television: he gets out the garden hose, puts the old ladder against the wall, climbs up and starts wetting down the walls and roof. He’s dressed in shorts, singlet and a pair of thongs and is hoping that the water from the garden hose will somehow protect his home from the approaching storm of embers and flame. His neighbours are all using their hoses too, so it’s not long before the water pressure drops. Just a little at first and then as the fire starts to get closer, it plummets to a mere trickle.



Does No Plan Dan look safe to you?

Several things have happened. The power has gone out, so the pumping stations that move the water around the water pipes have stopped working. There is still a bit of pressure caused by gravity, but it’s not a lot. Then No Plan Dan and his neighbours have all started using their garden hoses which has greatly increased the use of water. Finally, those few fire trucks that can get into the area have connected to the main pipes and are taking water to protect homes and try to deflect the worst of the fire. The pipes are almost dry.



Not the best shoes for a ladder...





  










As the sky darkens, the noise approaches and it sounds as loud as jet airplanes. A hailstorm of embers start to arrive, the water finally gives out completely and No Plan Dan realises that it’s time to get off the roof. He’s being burned by the embers that are falling on him and it’s becoming hard to breathe because of the thick smoke. As he climbs down the ladder, eyes streaming from tears caused by smoke and ash, he misses one of the rungs, his thong-clad foot slips and No Plan Dan drops like a stone onto the concrete driveway.

No Plan Dan thought bush fires only happened 'to other people.' A familiar, safe and welcoming environment can become dangerous, dark, extrememly noisy and life threatening when a bush fire occurs. You may lose power, water and telelphone services for hours or days.

Dont be like No Plan Dan.

Protect Your Family.

Protect Your Life.

Complete you Bush Fire Survival Plan!