Statement - VicGovernment's Announcement of Loudspeakers in Melbourne CBDHello
all. For your information. See email below from Deaf Victoria. What about
deafblind community. Could you please share your thoughts or feedback to this
email or Deafblind Victorians on deafblindadvocacy@xxxxxxxxx. Something for
Deafblind Victoria and Deaf Victoria work together in the coming year.
Thank you Heather
Here is:
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On Monday 11th December 2017, the Victorian
Government announced they would be installing loudspeakers around Melbourne’s
central business district as part of a new emergency warning system. To date,
sixty-five loudspeakers have been installed across a number of city sites where
security cameras are already in place, such as Bourke Street Mall and Flinders
Street Station.
According to ABC News (11 December 2017), the new
emergency warning system would be operating like this:
. A police officer will be reading out a
message which will help to direct people around the CBD during an emergency;
. The message may be broadcasted in one
location, or around the city;
. People will be informed to move to a location
or to take shelter in a nearby building or area;
. Text messages or alerts will be sent on
social media.
Deaf Victoria would like to commend the Victorian
Government on this excellent initiative. However, Deaf Victoria would like to
take this opportunity to raise their concerns about the inaccessibility of the
new emergency warning system for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Victorians.
Alerts and warnings are broadcasted in English,
and aurally, which causes deaf and hard of hearing people to miss crucial
information in which would allow them to prepare and respond, and most
importantly, to stay safe during emergencies (Beaver, 2016).
One in six Australians have some form of hearing
loss, and this is expected to increase to one in four by 2050 (Access
Economics, 2006). According to the 2016 Census, there are 2,870 Victorians who
use Auslan.
The majority of the communication system utilised
by emergency services is typically designed for those who can hear, which
leaves deaf people without a clear understanding of what is happening, and the
steps they need to take to ensure their own safety (Beaver, 2016).
During the recent severe weather warning for
Victoria over the weekend of 1st – 3rd December 2017, VicSES sent text messages
to people who were at risk of being affected by flooding in their residential
zones. This was an effective way of informing people, particularly those who
are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, of an emergency.
An effective and inclusive emergency warning
system would include all Victorians, particularly those who are Deaf or Hard of
Hearing.
Deaf Victoria encourages the Victorian Government
to consult with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to ensure that emergency
warning systems are inclusive.
END
Sherrie Beaver
Project Officer
projects@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
References
ABC News. (11 December 2017) Terror-alert
speakers, CCTV rolled out across Melbourne’s CBD. Retrieved from
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/terror-alert-speakers-cctv-rolled-out-across-melbourne-cbd/9245106
on 13 December 2017.
Access Economics Pty Ltd. (2006) Listen Hear! The
economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia. Retrieved from
https://audiology.asn.au/public/1/files/Publications/ListenHearFinal.pdf on 13 ;
December 2017.
Beaver, S. (2016) Empowering Deaf people through
social media during natural hazard emergencies in Australia. Deakin University.
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