Reframing disaster response: TD Elective students shine in national competition

Three UTS students have taken their coursework to new heights, presenting an assessment developed in the TD Electives program to a national audience of researchers, first responders and disaster relief professionals.  Their VR-led program ignites survival and recovery conversations around fires and floods

TD Electives students Kathy Tran, Maya Walton and Chloe O’Brien were part of the only undergraduate team to make it to the top three finalists of the 2023 Disaster Challenge, which was held in Melbourne last month by Natural Hazards Research Australia. 

The team’s idea was originally developed to respond to a complex challenge set by the Australian Red Cross in the TD Elective subject Reframing, Remixing, Reimagining Society. 

In this subject, UTS and the Australian Red Cross asked students to consider how young Australians might be activated to create more resilient communities that can adapt to the effects of a changing climate. 

The students’ pitch was to increase disaster education in high schools with a ‘Climate Day’ experience, involving virtual reality as an immersive experience to help alleviate young people’s climate anxiety. You can watch the student's presentation here.

Joint runners-up in the Disaster Challenge were Dr Catherine Kim, Dr Kate Saunders, Dr Jess Hopf, Dr Richard Cottrell, Tace Stewart, Kaitlyn Brown and Dr Aiden Price, a team representing the Queensland University of Technology, Monash University, Oregon State University, the University of Tasmania, and the University of Queensland. 

First place was awarded to Lydia Wardale for her concept of ‘Youth Guardians’, enabling young Australians aged 13 - 18 to engage in practical skills to strengthen their understanding of the disaster risks within their community.

The UTS students were commended for their efforts by Andrew Gissing, CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia, "the concept put forward for the Disaster Challenge by Maya, Chloe and Kathy met the brief so well.”

Transformational change is needed to equip Australia for the increasing natural hazard risk we face. Research is key to driving innovation and test ideas.

Andrew Gissing, CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia.

“Not all the expertise sits with those in the disaster management space currently, and hearing from Maya, Chloe and Kathy, as biomedical students from the University of Technology Sydney, was a key part of that and truly exciting,” Gissing said.

Thank you to Natural Hazards Research Australia who hosted the 2023 Disaster Challenge with support from universities and emergency management organisations in Victoria: the Australian Red Cross, AFAC, the Country Fire Authority, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Inspector-General for Emergency Management Victoria, Monash University, RMIT University, the University of Melbourne and the Yarra Ranges Shire Council.

Thank you also to the Australian Red Cross for your participation in TD Electives as the challenge partner in Reframing, Remixing, and Reimagining Society.