By Kyra Gillespie
Kooweerup Regional Health Services are celebrating a new partnership with the Ready2Go project, run by Emerald-based youth and family services charity Echo.
The Ready2Go project is a resilience program first established in Cockatoo, to support people within the community during heatwaves and other extreme weather conditions such as fire or flood.
The project provides the volunteer an opportunity to support community members who are living independently but, due to age, chronic health issues, disability or social isolation, may need additional support during these times.
The program saw Echo awarded the Access and Inclusion Award and the RACV Insurance Excellence Award for community programs at the Fire Awareness Awards in 2016 and has also received a State Highly Commended at the Resilient Australia Awards that same year.
“We want to launch Ready2Go here in Kooweerup to help more vulnerable people on heatwave days or fire danger days,” Community, Health Promotion and Allied Health Manager Aileen Thoms said.
“The program buddies a person, couple or family with a volunteer who will be available to check on them during times of extreme weather events, help them to identify any risks and put together a safety plan.
“As they build a connection with their volunteer it helps them to build social connections, which helps to build to overall strength of the community.”
The role of Ready2Go volunteers includes checking in on individuals or families to see that they are well-hydrated, that they’ve prepared their property and have an action plan in place in the case of an emergency.
“The program is particularly good for elderly people or people with a mental illness who may find these types of situations quite stressful, who might need support with decision making and whose family might be far away.
“We’re keen to get it up and going with more training and to get more participants buddied up with an individual or family.
“We want to keep these vulnerable people safe and connected.”
For those interested in becoming a Ready2Go volunteer, the Kooweerup Regional Health Service are hosting Prepare Your Mind For An Emergency, a workshop that provide residents with support strategies to be better prepared for emergencies that could affect their lives.
The workshops will be led by Tim Cotter, a psychologist with over 20 years’ experience engaging with organisations and communities on behaviour change.
Potential volunteers are encouraged to attend to find out more about Ready2Go.
For further enquiries contact Ready2Go Coordinator Fleur Hamilton-Weeks on 59979653 or email social@krhs.net.au.
