In November 2008, the WADEM Oceania Chapter was launched. The launching of the Chapter was the culmination of a year's long effort by WADEM members Dr. Frederick Burkle, Dr. Frank Archer, and Dr. Paul Arbon.
Current Chapter Council
President: Graeme McColl | Biographical Sketch
Vice President: Peter Aitken | Biographical Sketch
Secretary/Treasurer: Ian Norton | Biographical Sketch
Councilers:
John Coleman | Biographical Sketch
Joseph Cuthbertson | Biographical Sketch
Lidia Mayner | Biographical Sketch
Oran Rigby | Biographical Sketch
Thompson Telepo | Biographical Sketch
Co-Opted Councilers
Frederick "Skip" Burkle | Biographical Sketch
Hendro Wartatmo | Biographical Sketch
Geographic Area
The WADEM Oceania Region generally corresponds to that area covered by SOPAC, which includes the area supported by AusAID and NZAID (ex. Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Island Nations, and Papua New Guinea). Flexibility is required at this stage of the evolution of WADEM Chapters. Members located in adjacent nations or islands including: East Timor, Indonesia, and the Hawaiian Islands, may choose to be included in the Oceania Regional Chapter.
Oceania Chapter Mission
As a multi-disciplinary organization, the WADEM Oceania Chapter's mission is to advocate and promote the development and improvement of disaster and emergency health through research, development, and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence emergency management and health care policy, education, and practice. The Chapter will foster WADEM regionally by providing regional coordination and a regional influence.
The aims of the Chapter are to implement the objectives of WADEM within the Oceania Region as applicable to the resources and needs of the Region. Members of the Chapter possess a region-specific knowledge base of disasters and their prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery requirements. The Chapter provides a means to advocate for ensuring that region‐specific disaster requirements are being properly understood and addressed.
Use the following links to view the Oceania Chapter Bylaws and Oceania Chapter Charter.
Chapter Objectives
To achieve this mission, the objectives of the Chapter are to promote:
- Education and training opportunities to advance the professionalism of the humanitarian workforce;
- Interpretation and exchange of information through a network of members and publications;
- Development and maintenance of evidence-based standards of emergency and disaster health care and provision of leadership for integration into practice;
- Coordination of data collection and provision of direction in the development of standardized disaster assessment and research/evaluation methodologies;
- Encouragement of publications and presentation of evidence‐based research findings in scientific publications, national, regional, and international conferences and congresses;
- Increased credibility for the members of the organization on a global, national, and local level;
- Increased membership and promotion of WADEM; and
- Ongoing development and improvement of emergency and disaster health management in the community.
Oceania Chapter Contact
For information, questions, and comments regarding the WADEM Oceania Chapter, please contact Graeme McColl.
