While focused on completing her Bachelor of Occupational Health & Safety degree, Michelle Samson has recently been awarded the Gladstone Regional Council Natural Disaster Resilience Scholarship...

"The scholarship project involves developing social media communication tools to relay information in the event of a natural disaster and also to provide a communication tool for community members during a natural disaster event or clean-up," Michelle says.

Michelle Samson at one of her remote work sites

"The idea came from watching recent coverage of natural disasters in the media, and wondering why councils and governments didn't have social media tools to communicate information, as the mobile network proved to be the most reliable communication source, as it can still work when electricity is down (as long as your smart phone is charged!)."  

LINK HERE for the survey for Gladstone residents

The first part of the scholarship is an online survey to determine attitudes and preparedness of the community in the event of a natural disaster, and to determine the existing community use of sites such as Facebook and twitter and also mobile applications (iPhone, smart phones).

"The survey will also ask what sort of information the community would like available on such tools and also if they would join/follow on Facebook/Twitter or download a mobile app."

Michelle says the survey aimed at residents within the boundaries* of the Gladstone Regional Council is likely to be available online now!  If you are interested in taking part in the research survey please click the following link: https://www.kwiksurveys.com/?s=IBILOO_b5b89df6 . The survey is open from May 2 to 20.

"Once the results are in I hope to be able to develop communication tools to to channel information to the community and make any future natural disaster events and clean-up a process where people don't feel isolated and can get current information quickly and easily."

Michelle is pleased that CQUniversity offers a flexible degree, allowing her to study while working in remote 'Fly In Fly Out' roles across Australia for the past four years.

The Health Safety Environment Advisor is currently living near the penguin colonies on Phillip Island while she works at Victoria's Wonthaggi Desalination Project.

Longer-term, Michelle says she would love to design OHS communication programs for a large mining or construction company.

"This would combine my love of working with people in mining/construction and my creative side.  Either that or you may find me working overseas in Africa or Asia - who knows!"

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* Including the urban centres of Gladstone and Tannum Sands/Boyne Island, plus the smaller towns of Agnes Water, Ambrose, Baffle Creek, Benaraby, Bororen, Builyan, Calliope, Lowmead, Miriam Vale, Mount Larcom, Many Peaks, Nagoorin,  Raglan, Rosedale, Seventeen Seventy, Turkey Beach, Ubobo and Yarwun.