Enhancing the Effectiveness of Seqwater's Dam Release Messaging: A Response to the IGEM Review

This report supports Seqwater’s response to the 2015 Review of Seqwater and Sunwater Warnings Communications by the Office of the Inspector General for Emergency Management (IGEM). Specifically, Seqwater engaged the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to respond to Messaging: Recommendation 1 by addressing three project objectives: test new and existing dam release messaging, identify evidence-based opportunities to improve the effectiveness of dam release notifications, and support Seqwater’s response to the IGEM requirements. To meet these objectives, QUT researchers, with support from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, drew on risk communication models and theories to design a multi-method, multi-phase research program that included community focus groups and surveys. Seqwater messages were modified using principles of effective message design to add specificity, clarity, clear guidance, relevancy and consistency, and tested during all phases.