Radio Brisvaani
Canberra, October 3 (MCCQ Newsdesk)
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) CEO Mary Ann Baquero Geronimo provided a multicultural community perspective at the 2025–26 Higher Risk Weather Season National Preparedness Summit. She emphasised the importance of investing in the capability of community organisations, leveraging grassroots networks, and engaging them as partners in all stages of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
Drawing on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Ann highlighted the need for emergency messaging to be delivered in plain English and accompanied by culturally appropriate translations that are clear and accessible to diverse communities. She also stressed that ongoing engagement with community leaders is critical to counter misinformation and disinformation effectively.
By involving multicultural communities in emergency planning and communication, FECCA aims to ensure that all Australians receive timely, accurate, and relevant information during periods of high risk, strengthening resilience and preparedness across the country.
