Pandemic Flu Advertisements win Safer Communities Award

Five television Community Service Announcements produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and DHHS in preparedness for an influenza pandemic, have won an Australian Safer Communities Award.

The Department of Health and Human Services received the award from Emergency Management Australia.

The Minister for Health Services Lara Giddings said through production of the Community Service Announcements, the ABC had made a large contribution towards Tasmania’s pandemic-preparedness.

“The ABC’s commitment to this project demonstrates an understanding of the huge risk posed by pandemic influenza, the enormity of the communications and marketing challenge and the need for all sectors of the community to be actively involved,” Ms Giddings said.

“The ABC has been a long-standing contributor to public communications infrastructure and services in emergencies, and I am profoundly grateful for their support in preparing Tasmania for this threat to public health."

Ms Giddings said unlike many emergencies, the impact of a pandemic would affect everyone in Tasmania for many months.

“The most effective strategy for reducing the spread of influenza during a pandemic is for the community to adopt behaviours that minimize the risk of infection," Ms Giddings said.

"This will require behavioural change across all sections of the community, and a long-term and multi-faceted marketing campaign.

"I congratulate the ABC and government staff who were involved in creating these Community Service Announcements, and are working hard to prepare Tasmania for the next pandemic."

The first Community Service Announcement focuses on the seriousness of influenza, its symptoms and how to slow its spread, and was broadcast in Tasmania recently by the ABC, Southern Cross and WIN TV.

The other four Community Service Announcements are ‘ready to use’ when Tasmania faces serious risk from an impending influenza pandemic or when a pandemic is underway.

For more information, and to view the first of the five Community Service Announcements, go to www.pandemic.tas.gov.au