100 Years of Radio - The Evolution and Continued Importance of Emergency Broadcasting in 2024
Tracks
Marquis Room | In-Person Only
| Tuesday, July 23, 2024 |
| 2:15 PM - 2:35 PM |
Overview
Anne O'Keeffe & Glen Dinsdale, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. Exploring why radio broadcasting still plays a vital and critical role in times of emergency and disasters, and why having a battery powered radio in Emergency kits is important for the public.
2. The role that ABC Emergency plays in disseminating critical emergency, disaster and public safety information, and where their agency or organisation can also support this role.
3. The importance of emergency and public safety communications being timely, accurate and made readily available.
Speaker
Ms Anne O'Keeffe
Emergency Broadcast Coordinator (National)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
100 Years of Radio - The Evolution and Continued Importance of Emergency Broadcasting in 2024
Abstract
"One thing that was tricky was trying to find information on the cyclone. Radio was the only way we were able to know what was happening, as the mobile networks were struggling so we had no access to the internet for most of the night." - Erin from Julago
"Thanks for the updates, much appreciated them, and listening on the hour on our battery operated radio. We are in Currumbin Valley, and we also have lost power, mobile service, internet and landline since early Boxing Day morning. " - Michelle from Currumbin Valley
The summer of 2023/24 saw Queensland face multiple major disaster events. Bushfires, Cyclones, Floods, Heatwaves, Thunderstorms and even a Tornado. These impacted property, businesses, public spaces, and infrastructure such as roads, power and communications.
The Gold Coast region alone saw over 100-thousand customers lose power due to severe weather. Some of those lasted for several days, comprising the ability to communicate critical information to residents.
But one thing that remained constant and active during that event and others, was broadcast radio.
Agencies and Councils were actively communicating messaging through social media, texts and emails. But what happens if the power or internet goes out? What if a persons mobile phone runs out of power?
This presentation will highlight the work done by the ABC's Emergency Team. A dedicated group whose primary objective is to ensure critical messaging and warnings are communicated on radio, social media and the organisations 24-hour news TV channel.
It will also highlight why encouraging the general public to have a battery-powered radio in an emergency or bushfire survival kit, still remains vitally important.
And it will also show how and why the team has developed and built strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners, such as emergency and support agencies.
"Thanks for the updates, much appreciated them, and listening on the hour on our battery operated radio. We are in Currumbin Valley, and we also have lost power, mobile service, internet and landline since early Boxing Day morning. " - Michelle from Currumbin Valley
The summer of 2023/24 saw Queensland face multiple major disaster events. Bushfires, Cyclones, Floods, Heatwaves, Thunderstorms and even a Tornado. These impacted property, businesses, public spaces, and infrastructure such as roads, power and communications.
The Gold Coast region alone saw over 100-thousand customers lose power due to severe weather. Some of those lasted for several days, comprising the ability to communicate critical information to residents.
But one thing that remained constant and active during that event and others, was broadcast radio.
Agencies and Councils were actively communicating messaging through social media, texts and emails. But what happens if the power or internet goes out? What if a persons mobile phone runs out of power?
This presentation will highlight the work done by the ABC's Emergency Team. A dedicated group whose primary objective is to ensure critical messaging and warnings are communicated on radio, social media and the organisations 24-hour news TV channel.
It will also highlight why encouraging the general public to have a battery-powered radio in an emergency or bushfire survival kit, still remains vitally important.
And it will also show how and why the team has developed and built strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners, such as emergency and support agencies.
Biography
Anne O'Keeffe joined the ABC in 1997, and is an accomplished broadcaster, producer and administrative coordinator. Among her various roles, in 2016 she was appointed as the organisations first dedicated Emergency Broadcast Coordinator for Queensland, and is now a National Coordinator for the team.
Mr Glen Dinsdale
Emergency Broadcast Coordinator QLD
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
100 Years of Radio - The evolution and continued importance of Emergency Broadcasting in 2024
Abstract
"One thing that was tricky was trying to find information on the cyclone. Radio was the only way we were able to know what was happening, as the mobile networks were struggling so we had no access to the internet for most of the night." - Erin from Julago
"Thanks for the updates, much appreciated them, and listening on the hour on our battery operated radio. We are in Currumbin Valley, and we also have lost power, mobile service, internet and landline since early Boxing Day morning. " - Michelle from Currumbin Valley
The summer of 2023/24 saw Queensland face multiple major disaster events. Bushfires, Cyclones, Floods, Heatwaves, Thunderstorms and even a Tornado. These impacted property, businesses, public spaces, and infrastructure such as roads, power and communications.
The Gold Coast region alone saw over 100-thousand customers lose power due to severe weather. Some of those lasted for several days, comprising the ability to communicate critical information to residents.
But one thing that remained constant and active during that event and others, was broadcast radio.
Agencies and Councils were actively communicating messaging through social media, texts and emails. But what happens if the power or internet goes out? What if a persons mobile phone runs out of power?
This presentation will highlight the work done by the ABC's Emergency Team. A dedicated group whose primary objective is to ensure critical messaging and warnings are communicated on radio, social media and the organisations 24-hour news TV channel.
It will also highlight why encouraging the general public to have a battery-powered radio in an emergency or bushfire survival kit, still remains vitally important.
And it will also show how and why the team has developed and built strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners, such as emergency and support agencies.
"Thanks for the updates, much appreciated them, and listening on the hour on our battery operated radio. We are in Currumbin Valley, and we also have lost power, mobile service, internet and landline since early Boxing Day morning. " - Michelle from Currumbin Valley
The summer of 2023/24 saw Queensland face multiple major disaster events. Bushfires, Cyclones, Floods, Heatwaves, Thunderstorms and even a Tornado. These impacted property, businesses, public spaces, and infrastructure such as roads, power and communications.
The Gold Coast region alone saw over 100-thousand customers lose power due to severe weather. Some of those lasted for several days, comprising the ability to communicate critical information to residents.
But one thing that remained constant and active during that event and others, was broadcast radio.
Agencies and Councils were actively communicating messaging through social media, texts and emails. But what happens if the power or internet goes out? What if a persons mobile phone runs out of power?
This presentation will highlight the work done by the ABC's Emergency Team. A dedicated group whose primary objective is to ensure critical messaging and warnings are communicated on radio, social media and the organisations 24-hour news TV channel.
It will also highlight why encouraging the general public to have a battery-powered radio in an emergency or bushfire survival kit, still remains vitally important.
And it will also show how and why the team has developed and built strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners, such as emergency and support agencies.
Biography
Glen Dinsdale has been part of the ABC since 2017, and has worked in several locations across Queensland as a content producer. He joined the ABC Emergency team as an Emergency Broadcast Coordinator at the end of 2022, after several years of producing various radio programs.
