News
PR Christmas gift for emergency use only
Wed, Dec 20 2006
PR volunteers will give a special Christmas gift to community organisations in Canberra that support victims during bushfires and other emergency situations.
The Communicators Supporting Community Program makes Canberra communicators available to community groups that have relief roles under the ACT's disaster recovery arrangements. Two volunteers will work with each organisation.
Communicators Supporting Community is an Australian first.
'Each year the bushfire season in Australia shows how much we rely on the community sector in disasters', said Maine Street Marketing Director, Bob Crawshaw. 'In a crisis community organisations with emergency roles are often overwhelmed by requests for information from the public and the media'.
Having professional PR volunteers as part of the team allows other volunteers to focus on providing essential services such as family support, emergency clothing and counselling.
'We are putting out the call for PR professionals in the Canberra region to volunteer to work with not for profits in emergencies'.
Last month organisers met with the ACT Disaster Recovery Committee to discuss the scheme. Volunteering ACT, Lifeline and St Vincent de Paul will pilot the program and plan to have volunteer communicators in their ranks by the end of January.
Volunteer communicators will spend two days each year becoming familiar with their not for profit host. When an emergency is declared they will bolster the organisation's communications staff and help with handling inquiries and preparing information for the public.
The concept is modelled on a US partnership between the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). The program was established after 9/11 and used during Hurricane Katrina.
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public relations, volunteer, australia, canberra, corporate social responsibility, disaster recovery, christmas