Enhancing the Effectiveness of Seqwater's Dam Release Messaging: A Response to the IGEM Review

摘要

This report supports Seqwater’s response to the 2015 Review of Seqwater and Sunwater Warnings udCommunications by the Office of the Inspector General for Emergency Management (IGEM). Specifically, udSeqwater engaged the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to respond to udMessaging: udRecommendation 1ud by addressing three project objectives: test new and existing dam release messaging, udidentify evidence-based opportunities to improve the effectiveness of dam release notifications, and udsupport Seqwater’s response to the IGEM requirements. To meet these objectives, QUT researchers, with udsupport from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, drew on risk communication udmodels and theories to design a multi-method, multi-phase research program that included community udfocus groups and surveys. Seqwater messages were modified using principles of effective message design udto add specificity, clarity, clear guidance, relevancy and consistency, and tested during all phases.