CQ University researchers will travel to McKinlay Shire next week as a part of a project to understand the experiences North West Queensland communities impacted by the 2019 North Queensland floods.
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Dr Robyn Preston and Ms Joanne Harding will interview Julia Creek employees of businesses, council and community organisations to explore ways that workplace can better support employees and prepare for any such disaster events.
Dr Robyn Preston said they would travel out from Townsville to interview locals in focus groups.
"We are interested in hearing people's stories about the monsoonal floods that happened in February 2019 and we are going to talk to people in McKinlay and Townsville about their experience and who they received support from," Dr Preston said.
"The reason we wanted to do this was because there was a lot of talk about support done by community organisations or individuals, but not much about support people get from their workplace.
"We did a pilot study among our own group here at the university, because we found among ourselves and colleagues they were getting a lot of in-kind support from their workplace, like giving people time off work to clean up or colleagues sending cleaning supplies."
Dr Preston said the findings from the study would be used to help workplaces develop guidelines for organisational response and staff support during and after a disaster.
"It will help us find out some guidelines for employers to help them set up policies or procedures if another event like this occurs and what is the best support they can give employees," she said.
"Research outcomes will be used to assist in regional recovery from disaster and building awareness to promote preparedness and future resilience to disasters as a part of the Far North Queensland and North Queensland monsoon trough scheme."
CQ University Townsville was awarded a $73,822 grant jointly funded under the Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to support this initiative focusing on Townsville City Council and McKinlay Shire Council areas.
CQ University will be in Mount Isa on November 30 and Julia Creek on December 1.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
