One of the issues highlighted during the 2022 floods was the difficulty experienced by interpretation services within the multicultural community during a natural disaster emergency.
Now, 15 months later, with water expected to break the banks of the Goulburn River again, the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is working to ensure the multicultural community is informed as best they can be.
Manager Sam Atukorala said the ethnic council had been working closely with emergency services, Greater Shepparton City Council and other services to achieve this.
“Because we had the experience from the 2022 floods, the council is practically engaging with us,” Mr Atukorala said.
“We want to make sure they (residents) have enough food, medication and any other things needed, so we’re encouraging them to keep necessities in stock for a couple of days and connecting them with community connectors if they have any language barriers so we can refer them to the services they need if their house gets cut off.”
One of the services is the Wise Well Women program, a health education program focusing on improving health literacy among Shepparton’s multicultural community.
The program distributes flood updates to the multicultural community, and program convenor Christine Nunn is at the forefront.
“Greater Shepparton City Council engaged with us to do a flood update they had prepared with the Ethnic Council and asked us to do the translation and audio,” Mrs Nunn said.
“Once it’s finalised, our main method of getting it out to the community is through different community health educators through WhatsApp and other messaging formats like group messenger groups and radio.”
Languages the messages have been recorded in include Arabic, Dari, English, Hazaragi, Punjabi, Swahili, Tongan and Samoan, with the aim to include Malay and a Papua New Guinean language in the next update.
Mrs Nunn said the response from the community had been pleasing, which was good to hear after the difficulties during the 2022 floods.
“We were engaged by council the last time, but it was after the flooding event,” she said.
“This time, we’ve been able to do some preparedness work beforehand, which is much better than doing it afterwards, and each time, we all learn something.
“People are pleased to receive something that is telling them it’s not going to be like 2022, and people are feeling a bit calmer, I think.”
If you or someone you know needs to go on the list for translation services for flood updates, contact the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District on 5831 2395.