- Title
- Incentives for encouraging householders’ self-evacuation from bushfire-prone areas in NSW, Australia
- Creator
- Adedokun, Olufisayo Adewumi
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2024
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Increasing migration to or population density in bushfire-prone areas raised significant concern about Australia’s potential fatalities of intensifying recurring bushfires. This reality has made disaster preparedness, particularly evacuation of households exposed to bushfire risk, a priority across Australia. However, the evacuation behaviours of bushfire risk-prone households during emergencies have been challenging. Consequently, the research question for this study is, “how can incentives inform householder’s self-evacuation decisions in response to a severe bushfire threat?” Following this research question, the primary aim is to investigate how incentives can inform householders’ self-evacuation decisions in response to a severe bushfire threat. To achieve this aim, the study’s objectives are to (ia) investigate why householders live in bushfire at-risk communities, (ib) examine how householders perceive and respond to bushfire threats, (ii) identify factors influencing their decisions to engage in at-risk behaviours, (iii) explore incentives that could encourage self-evacuation, and (iv) develop a framework to inform householders’ self-evacuation decisions. Drawing upon the Protection Motivation Theory, this study developed a conceptual framework using three key constructs: threat appraisal, coping appraisal, and incentives. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was employed. Thirty householders residing in the severely affected south-eastern region of New South Wales, who experienced the devastating 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires, were interviewed. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that householders in bushfire-prone areas had heightened risk perceptions after the fires. Despite this, they continue to live in bushfire at-risk communities due to tree change, proximity to family, location beauty, place attachment, work-related, property affordability, and relationship-related factors. Among the 30 people interviewed, 47% (n=14) of householders chose to remain on their properties during bushfire events, while 53% (n=16) evacuated bushfire-prone areas. The findings identified nine key factors influencing householders’ decisions to engage in at-risk behaviours: protection measures, attitudes, information availability, operational considerations, road conditions, shelter availability, financial constraints, health concerns, and rebuilding-related factors. Moreover, the findings identified thirteen incentives that could promote householders’ early self-evacuation from bushfire-prone areas. These incentives comprised various aspects, such as improved information and communication channels, adequate resourcing of Rural Fire Service, targeted bushfire education programs, enhanced vegetation management practices, provision of emergency accommodation, financial assistance measures, improved access road infrastructure, enhanced security and property protection measures, affordable insurance coverage, alternative power supply options, assistance in property preparation, ensuring return access to properties, and streamlining development approval procedures. This study developed a framework that offers valuable guidance to policymakers and emergency agencies regarding implementing incentives to influence householders’ self-evacuation decisions. The framework serves as a valuable resource in reducing fatalities during bushfire events. Including a broader range of participants from diverse geographical areas is recommended to enhance the generalizability of the findings in future research.
- Subject
- black Summer; bushfires; householders; incentives; New South Wales; self-evacuation
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1506284
- Identifier
- uon:55839
- Rights
- Copyright 2024 Olufisayo Adewumi Adedokun
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 373 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |