Four Weeks On: Participants Turn Insight into Action
The first round of four-week check-ins from our Kalorama workshops is starting to trickle in, and the early signs point to exactly what the Immersive Bushfire Experience was designed to achieve: lasting shifts in how people think, talk, and plan for bushfire risk.
Seven participants have completed the follow-up survey so far, and although it’s a small sample - their responses show strong behavioural change across households, families, and neighbourhoods. All respondents rated the workshop highly for increasing their emotional preparedness, with most giving a score of 5 out of 5 for knowing their triggers to leave and knowing where to seek support when needed.
Conversations Are Turning Into Plans
Across the responses, one theme stood out: people are talking — and acting.
Participants reported:
More robust conversations with partners about when to leave.
Reviewing and confirming fire plans, including clear triggers and actions.
Engaging teenagers in planning and checking in on their needs if home alone on a high-risk day.
Speaking with neighbours and friends, encouraging others to prepare.
Creating practical readiness tools, including packing an evacuation suitcase.
A heightened awareness of stress responses, triggers, and emotional readiness, with one participant saying they now recognise how much they need to practise staying calm under pressure.
As one respondent put it: “Anyone living in a bushfire area needs this workshop.”
Participants Want More — For Themselves and Victoria
The feedback also carried heartfelt appreciation:
Thank you, it was a great workshop.
I really appreciate the program, and I’m keen for it to be expanded across Victoria.
Excellent presentation — friendly and very informative.
Why the Four-Week Check-Ins Matter
IBEF is committed to supporting behaviour change beyond the two-hour workshop. The immersive environment helps participants confront risk and practise decision-making, but it’s what happens afterwards — the conversations at home, the updates to plans, the reflection — that truly builds emotional preparedness.
These follow-up surveys are a crucial part of our evaluation framework. They help us understand what’s changing, what’s sticking, and what support communities still need.
We’ll now pause check-ins until 14 December, when Warrandyte participants will begin receiving their survey link. Our goal is to reach 30 responses from across our six communities, and we’d love your help achieving that.
A Note to Participants
If you’ve attended an IBE workshop recently, keep an eye out for our four-week survey in your inbox.
It only takes five minutes, and your insights will help us strengthen and scale this program across Victoria.
Together, we’re building communities that are more emotionally ready, better connected, and safer when fire threatens.
