As bushfire season begins, Tasmanians are being encouraged to make sure their emergency plans are up to date. However, everyone's plans look different. A new program in Tasmania, specifically aimed at people with disabilities or spinal cord injuries, is helping ensure that everyone in the community has the tools they need to prepare for emergencies.
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00:00Tarrad always lived an active lifestyle, but 18 months ago, a mountain bike accident left
00:08him quadriplegic.
00:10I went over the handlebars and I woke up probably five minutes later, we think, and immediately
00:17I realised I'd done something pretty bad.
00:21When a bushfire struck near his family's home in Margate last summer, his new vulnerability
00:26became clear.
00:28We realised very quickly, although we had some plans in place for the farm, we didn't
00:33have so much to get him out and everything that he needs.
00:38A new program from Tasmania State Emergency and Fire Services, which includes emergency
00:43preparedness workshops tailored to those with a disability or spinal cord injury, is
00:49helping people like Tarrad protect themselves.
00:52It was okay, yes, steps one, two, three and four, but in a world that 18 months ago, I
00:58had no idea about.
00:59The program uses the person-centred emergency preparedness approach, a model designed to
01:04empower people with a disability to lead their own preparation and help them identify the
01:10individual supports they need.
01:13For example, wheelchairs, what they're going to do with them if they need to evacuate quickly,
01:17then other things like medications and also something as simple as support workers and
01:23transport, if their support worker isn't available to help them evacuate, who are they going to call?
01:28Personally, myself, I've got two prosthetic legs, so I need power to charge my legs, so
01:33if power goes out, I need to look at alternatives like battery-powered chargers.
01:38The program will run for three years, with more workshops being held online.
01:42Organisers are hopeful that as more people learn it's available, participation will increase,
01:46resulting in a better prepared community.
01:49They're urging anyone interested to reach out to the SES.