@article {bnh-3460, title = {Implementing Disaster Preparedness education in New Zealand primary schools}, journal = {Disaster Prevention and Management}, volume = {23}, year = {2014}, pages = {370-380}, chapter = {370}, abstract = {
Purpose
{\textendash} The purpose of this paper is to assess the national implementation of disaster preparedness education in New Zealand primary schools through the dissemination of\ What{\textquoteright}s the Plan, Stan?, a voluntary, curriculum-based teaching resource.

Design/methodology/approach

{\textendash} Results and findings from a focus group study with school teachers and local civil defence staff in 2011 and a nationally representative survey of schools in 2012 were analyzed to identify intervening, facilitating and deterrent factors of uptake and use of the resource.

Findings

{\textendash} The main intervening factors between resource promotion and school teachers{\textquoteright} awareness of the resource are word of mouth among school teachers and teachers{\textquoteright} proactive lesson plan research. The strongest facilitating factor was school-wide use of the resource. Lack of awareness of the resource and the perceived need for teacher training are the greatest deterrents to use of the resource.

Practical implications

{\textendash} Based on the findings, several recommendations are provided for increasing use of the resource including use of web-based technology for teacher training, integration of disaster preparedness messaging into other children{\textquoteright}s programs, ongoing evaluation and curriculum requirements.

Originality/value

{\textendash} An evaluation of the implementation of\ What{\textquoteright}s the Plan, Stan?\ adds to the limited body of knowledge on the benefits and challenges to distributing a voluntary teaching resource as a national strategy for curriculum integration of disaster education. The findings and lessons are relevant for nations meeting the Core Indicators of progress toward the 2005-2015 Hyogo Framework For Action.
}, doi = { http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/DPM-09-2013-0151}, url = {http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/DPM-09-2013-0151}, author = {Vicki Johnson and David Johnston and Robin Peace and Kevin Ronan} }