Source: Australian National Party
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Released 22/09/2025 – Joint media release
The ACT’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities will benefit from tailored emergency preparedness support through a $1.87 million investment by the Disaster Ready Fund, including $937,414 from the Australian Government, and support from the ACT Government.
EmergencyRedi for ACT Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities is a two-year collaboration between Australian Red Cross and Multicultural Hub (MHub) Canberra to build tailored resilience and capacity within CaLD communities through tailored preparedness workshops using the Australian Red Cross EmergencyRedi and Pillowcase programs.
With collaboration from the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), this project will bring together emergency services, emergency management experts and community leaders to co-create impactful, culturally relevant emergency information.
EmergencyRedi is funded through Round Two of the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, supporting innovative, community-led approaches to emergency preparedness across Australia.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, welcomed the Australian Government’s support for this initiative.
“I am pleased to see that EmergencyRedi will empower individuals and families with practical and psychological skills to reduce disaster risks, understand local hazards, and remain calm and confident during emergencies,” Minister Paterson said.
“I would like to thank the Australian Government for investing in such an important initiative and commend the work of the Australian Red Cross and MHub for joining forces to make emergency information accessible for all members of our community.”
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Michael Pettersson, also commended the initiative, and the focus on working with CaLD communities.
“Too often, we hear from CaLD community members who feel excluded from conversations and decisions that directly affect them, when all it would have taken was someone asking, listening, and including their voice,” Minister Pettersson said.
“That’s why I’m proud to see EmergencyRedi being co-designed with CaLD communities. This approach not only ensures that emergency information is tailored to their needs, but also gives these communities a meaningful platform to shape the messages that impact their lives.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bean, David Smith MP:
“It’s critical when emergencies occur that everyone is able to have access to information to be ready and respond and EmergencyRedi plays an important role in ensuring our diverse community can do so.”
Quote attributable to Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh MP:
“Emergencies don’t discriminate, but access to information too often does. EmergencyRedi ensures every community has the tools to prepare, protect, and recover together.”
Quote attributable to Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne MP:
“Tailoring emergency messaging to our Nation’s diverse community ensures that all Australians are prepared for emergencies. EmergencyRedi is a vital service and will make a difference across the ACT.”
Quotes attributable to Australian Red Cross ACT Director of Migrant Support National Programs, Jessi Claudianos
“Getting people to take action now and get prepared for emergencies is critical to ensure they’re ready before disaster strikes, and that they are more resilient through the recovery.
“CaLD communities can be particularly vulnerable due to factors like language barriers, so it’s essential that we’re supporting them with access to tools and resources that meet their specific needs.
“We’re delighted to have received this funding to invest in a series of workshops and information sessions which will make a real impact on the communities we work with.”
Quotes attributable to Multicultural Hub Canberra Executive Director, Zakia Patel
“Emergencies look different in Canberra to other countries, and it is important that our multicultural communities are provided with the right tools, knowledge and information to increase their level of preparedness, resilience and safety.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the Red Cross to deliver the EmergencyRedi program in Canberra, in collaboration and co-design with community leaders to ensure that the information is tailored to reflect the diverse languages, cultures and experiences of our community.”
Quotes attributable to ESA Interim Assistant Commissioner for Emergency Management and Collaboration, Kaylee Rutland
“At ESA, we are deeply committed to informing and empowering our community to be emergency ready. However, for some multicultural communities, we recognise that uniformed services may not always be the first or most trusted source of information for every individual. That’s why partnerships like this are so important. They help us reach more people in ways that resonate with their lived experiences.
“We sincerely thank the Red Cross and MHub for inviting us to be part of this important collaboration. We look forward to the outcomes of the EmergencyRedi campaign and are eager to integrate the insights and learnings into our ongoing work at ESA.”
– Statement ends –
Marisa Paterson, MLA | Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases