The RSPCA NSW Animals in Emergencies Conference

On 11 June 2025, Dr Isabel Cornes spoke at the inaugural RSPCA NSW Animals in Emergencies Conference alongside Honorary Associate Professor Mel Taylor from Macquarie University.

It was a pleasure to be invited and share the Planning for Animals Handbook with over 40 other organisations. The other attendees were from sectors including animal welfare, veterinary, biosecurity, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, emergency services, agriculture, research, and state and local government sectors.

In our presentation, Mel and I spoke about the journey and process that led to the Planning for Animals Handbook. It’s safe to say that it has taken a long time for animals to become a part of the emergency management conversation.

Hurricane Katrina (2005) in the United States was a pivotal moment in global discussions around the impacts of disasters on animals, particularly on companion animals. In Australia, our own significant disasters led to the Managing Animals in Disasters (MAiD) research project (2014-2017), of which Mel was a lead researcher.

The 2019-2020 bushfires had devastating impacts on native wildlife, leading to a global outpouring of grief. Collectively, this all contributed to the strong need to have a dedicated handbook on planning for animals.

The conference featured a fantastic lineup of speakers who gave us insights into:

  • the range of contexts that animals live
  • regulatory and legislative requirements (and gaps)
  • the diversity of animals that need to be considered in planning at all levels
  • the varying kinds of human-animal relationships
  • the different kinds of professional and volunteer roles that interact with animals before, during and after disasters.

Each presenter brought their unique insights, passion and perspectives to the conversation, furthering a shared vision of animal-inclusive emergency management and a one health approach. I would strongly encourage everyone to check out the great work being done by each of the presenters: Dr Bonny Cumming (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities), Scott Meyers (RSPCA NSW), Robert Leach (International Fund for Animal Welfare), Karen Roberts (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), David King (NSW State Emergency Service), Dr Stephen Van Mil and Dr Bree Talbot (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital).

Theres no doubt that bringing such a range of animal types into the emergency management equation reveals new complexities, competing priorities and different values to navigate. However, decades of research and numerous disasters have shown us is that leaving animals out of the equation puts the physical and emotional safety of the public and of emergency services personnel at significant risk. Planning to manage the risks to animals before, during and after disaster is critical for the safety and welfare of both animals and people.

Thank you to Anne Keyvar and the team at RSPCA NSW for bringing us all together to learn, to connect, and for putting animals in the spotlight.

To find out more, visit the RSPCA website or go to their Facebook page.