In November 2008, the WADEM Oceania Chapter was launched. The launching of the Chapter was the culmination of a year’s long effort by WADEM members Dr. Frederick Burkle, Prof. Frank Archer, and Prof. Paul Arbon.
The Oceania Chapter region generally corresponds to that area covered by Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), which includes the area supported by AusAID and NZAID (ex. Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Island Nations, and Papua New Guinea). The Chapters boundaries are not overly rigid and members residing in adjacent countries or islands including East Timor, Indonesia, and the Hawaiian Islands, may participate in the Chapter.
Oceania Chapter Chair, Joe Cuthbertson, interviews Dr. Erin Smith from Edith Cowan University about her journey researching the psychosocial impacts of disaster.
The Oceania Chapter aims to advocate and promote the development and improvement of disaster and emergency health through research, development, and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence emergency management and health care policy, education, and practice. The Chapter will foster WADEM regionally by providing regional coordination and regional influence.
The aims of the Chapter are to implement the objectives of WADEM within the Oceania Region as applicable to the resources and needs of the Region. Members of the Chapter possess a region-specific knowledge base of disasters and their prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery requirements. The Chapter provides a means to advocate for ensuring that region‐specific disaster requirements are being properly understood and addressed.
The objectives of the Chapter are to promote:
Chair: Joe Cuthbertson
Deputy Chair: Erin Smith
Committee Members: Peter Aitken, Penny Burns, Rowena Christiansen, Graeme McColl, Sonia Morshead, Sandra Richardson, Caroline Spencer, Vivienne Tippett
Co-opted Members: Skip Burkle, Thompson Telepo, Hendro Wartatmo