This research forms part of the initial activities being undertaken in the ‘Managing Animals in Disasters: Improving preparedness, response, and resilience through individual and organisational collaboration’ project of the newly-established Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. This project (MAiD), is identifying best practice approaches to the management of animals in disasters to help ensure optimal outcomes for public safety, and the longer-term mental and physical health of responders, owner groups (with pets/stock), and communities.

The MAiD research program is in its initial exploratory and scoping phase in which data are being gathered via a number of small-scale studies with different key groups. The emergency services personnel survey will be gathering information from a broad range of responders, both salaried and volunteers, to gather information about their experiences with animals and their owners in disasters. It will seek to identify challenges and concerns, examples of effective practice, the expectations and needs of responders, and suggestions for how to improve response in this area. Data will be collected from late May to mid-July. This presentation will include preliminary findings from the study and further information about the MAiD project and the other small-scale studies.

One of the overarching goals of the MAiD project is to improve the interface between responders and the community concerning the management of animals in disaster. This responder survey, along with mirror studies with animal owner groups, will help to direct future project activities and the development of evidence-informed support tools to assist operational response and community engagement, and the production of professional development resources.