MotHs Advocacy Updates
Behind the scenes, a lot of energy and passion goes into advocating for our Hills community. Here is a rundown of the efforts that have taken place.
Telecommunications legislated as an essential service
MotHs has said this many times, telecommunications must be legislated as an essential service under Victoria’s Essential Services Act of 1958. This is MotHs big area of advocacy. Communication is essential to modern society. Mums of the Hills online group epitomises this.
Under the Essential Services Act, should a state of emergency be declared by the Governor in Council, the act gives the Premier wide powers relating to essential services. The application of this act was seen in action with the payments that residents received for electricity following the June storms as compensation to the prolonged power outage. Having telecommunications legislated as an essential service will improve the speed of restoration, provide financial support while services are down for a prolonged time and improve the woefully ineffective framework for teleco regulation around Australia.
What we have done
In August last year, MotHs President, Belinda Young was fortunate to meet the Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Jaclyn Symes MP as part of her role on the Hills Community Recovery Committee. Following this, Belinda wrote to Minister Symes to personally expand on what was discussed on behalf of MotHs, however on this point there is little to report. Telecommunications is largely the responsibility of the federal government which may be the reason.
Belinda has also connected with the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) discussing the need to legislate telecommunications. ACCAN supports advocacy on ‘place-based solutions to better match infrastructure to the needs of consumers, whether over NBN, smaller fixed line networks, local fixed wireless, mobile, or last mile connectivity’. They advocate on improved telco customer service and complaints handling and affordable mobile and nbn programs for direct relief to low-income customers. MotHs will keep ACCAN updated of any progress we make.
Along with ACCAN, Belinda met with a major mobile company representative to understand the complexities of data donation services. MotHs is researching whether data donation following a disaster could be an option provided by all mobile service providers for their customers. It’s still early days but we have yet to find a reason why every mobile service provider can’t provide this service.
So there you have it, a brief run down on our main advocacy work. There are many more conversations and many more doors to knock yet, but we are determined to see change on this issue, after all, communication is essential to the lives of every Australian. Improvements here are essential during and after a natural disaster event.
Siloed Information
Siloed information is not a new problem but one we must address, given the increased frequency and severity of natural disasters. Information siloed by each stakeholder involved in the relief and recovery efforts was particularly challenging following the June storm in 2021. In the 3 weeks following the storm, Mums of the Hills worked to create a centralised library of information, searching online and speaking to locals, businesses and staff involved in the relief effort.
With Bushfire Recovery Victoria transitioning to Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV), we are pleased to hear that they are working with councils to understand how communities receive and exchange information. They will also investigate not-for-profit social enterprises that strengthen post-disaster information dissemination.
What we have done
Since the June storm event, along with our centralised library that is updated before anticipated disaster events, Belinda encouraged the administrators of the area’s largest online groups to join a central admin group in the event of a local emergency. Though this group is largely ‘sleeping’, it is hoped that this concentrated group of admins will become a place for emergency services, NGOs, the council and the media to distribute information, reducing situations where conflicting or incorrect information is being shared online by unknown sources. Since the June storm this group as been woken up twice in preparation for storm activity. We’re grateful that we haven’t needed to use the group in earnest but I’m glad our online groups will come together to support our place-based communities if the need arises.
Trauma and anxiety support
Last year our annual MotHs Survey identified a huge need for seminars on mental health, trauma and anxiety with 69% of participants stating that these were currently very to extremely important. Clearly there is a huge need in our community for this kind of support however based on lower than anticipated attendance numbers at events on these subjects, there continues to be a general unwillingness to access this kind of care.
We are encouraging research and trials on new ways to encouraging people to access these programs. In the meantime, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing can provide locals with access to their own recovery support worker by calling a single state-wide number. Mental health and wellbeing support and financial counselling, and information on available support payments are other services that can be provided. Here is the phone number. PH: 1800 560 760.
Family violence supports
MotHs has seen an increasing number of domestic violence related discussions in our private group. In the past 6 months, members have been supported privately as well as in our group, with information being shared on how to leave unsafe domestic situations. The frequency of people seeking this advice is occurring far more often than pre pandemic or the storms.
What have we done
As a result of our letter to Minister Symes, ERV have extended an opportunity to arrange for someone from the Orange Door to deliver a presentation to the Mums of the Hills group. I will be following this up and will let you know of any progress. We may also have access to additional fact sheets which could be collect at the new MotHs hub. I will be following up on this.
These are a few of the issues that Mums of the Hills are advocating on. We will keep you up to date with any progress. If you are interested in getting involved in our advocacy work, please email us.