Refugee communities are getting valuable fire safety education thanks to translated and easy to understand fire safety information sheets.
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The City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Community Health Services have teamed up with CFA community educators to produce the material.
Bendigo Community Health Services' cultural diversity and relationships manager Kaye Graves said refugee communities helped with the production of the information sheets, to ensure the right messages were delivered.
"We found some of the translated material was just too complex and there was fear among our new refugee communities, particularly after seeing some of the images coming out of the big fire at Huntly.
"For many of our new arrivals, these are new conditions for them to live in and understand," Mrs Graves said.
Refugee communities were consulted in the translation of the material, to develop new Karen and Dari information sheets.
Mrs Graves said working with those in the refugee communities to help with education around fire safety and using the Vic Emergency app was another important aspect of the project.
"The CFA community educators have been excellent.
"They have helped us along the way and their input has allowed us to put together what we believe are really important fire safety resources for the refugee communities," she said.
The city's director of health and wellbeing, Vicky Mason, said the project was a great example of groups working together to respond to community priorities.
"This project has given people the information they need to be able to monitor emergency situations.
"The information will help people make well informed decisions that will support their health and wellbeing and that of their family members," Ms Mason said.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet provided funding support for the project.
Printable PDF versions of the translated Dari and Karen fire safety information sheets can be found at www.bchs.com.au
