NVC attends the National Coordination Mechanism meeting today

NVC Group staff attended the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) meeting this morning, to hear information on the higher risk weather season ahead.

The NCM provided information for organisations on the seasonal climate outlook and advice on how aged care organisations could be best prepared for natural disasters.

“The information the CEO of Shepparton Retirement Villages, Veronica Jamison, provided was both informative and interesting. Ms Jamison presented a detailed case study on how their aged care facilities survived a one in one-hundred-year flood event in 2022,” said NVC Group Executive Care Manager Moriah Resurreccion.

“The most important thing was their planning – strong communication between residents, their families, staff, SES and other government agencies, that no question was a stupid question and that early arrangements were put in place was crucial.”

NVC Group is planning for the high-risk season ahead by formalising an Emergency Response Team.

Being ready for a potential emergency is a top priority for NVC Group.

During the meeting, the Bureau of Meteorology delivered predictions on the upcoming weather this season, advising the risk of bushfires, heat, drought and dust were increased, while wide flooding was decreased. There’s been 36 per cent below average rainfall between July and September, with temperatures 2.57% above average during this period too. Warmer days are predicted for December and January 2024.

“For the potential bushfires and heatwaves predicted, I am establishing a formal, internal NVC Group Emergency Response Team,” Ms Resurreccion said.

“Our goal is to ensure our aged care homes residents and community clients continue to receive the best quality care and services possible over summer.

“Before the end of the year we will also practice our disaster management plans by running drills, so that staff will be familiar with what to do in the case of a disaster, which was something that was emphasised in the meeting.”

NVC Group Emergency Response Team will be responsible for communicating and coordinating disaster mitigation actions within the not-for-profit organisation when necessary, in consultation with disaster response government agencies.