Preserving Memories: Piloting a Hands-On Emergency Management Workshop with Artlab Australia

Yesterday marked an exciting milestone as we partnered with Artlab Australia to pilot a hands-on emergency management workshop designed to help communities salvage their personal treasures after disaster strikes.

In the aftermath of a disaster, the critical first 48 hours can mean the difference between saving or losing deeply personal items—family photographs, cherished letters, or even digital media that hold irreplaceable memories. This workshop was all about empowering emergency service staff and volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to assist communities in safeguarding these personal pieces of heritage.

Here’s what the session covered:

📚 Disaster Response Essentials – A focused theory session on immediate steps to protect personal heritage items, emphasising rapid and effective action.

🖼️ Hands-On Salvage Training – Participants got their hands dirty (in the best way!) practicing how to salvage wet and damaged materials, including books, photographs, paintings, and more.

💪 Building Practical Skills – Equipping emergency service staff and volunteers with the tools to support community recovery by rescuing and preserving cherished belongings.

The feedback from this pilot session has been incredible! Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their thoughts, and contributed to making this workshop such an impactful experience. Together, we’re not just salvaging items—we’re preserving memories, stories, and connections that matter most to people during their recovery journey.