Leaving early and being heard: Mums of the Hills at Belgrave CFA
At Saturday night’s Mums of the Hills Immersive Bushfire Experience workshop at Belgrave CFA, the conversations went straight to the heart of family decision-making. Many of the women who attended said they wanted to leave early in a bushfire — but that their partners often dismissed the risk or wanted to “wait and see.”
It’s a familiar tension. Research after Black Saturday found that people who delayed their decision to leave — waiting for the fire to feel “close enough” — were far more likely to lose their lives. The wait and see mindset is still common today, but the Immersive Bushfire Experience workshop is changing that story.
Through virtual reality and guided discussion, participants stepped inside the emotional chaos of a bushfire and reflected on how their own reactions, relationships, and responsibilities might play out under stress.
“This was an excellent session and got me to think about bushfire preparedness differently. The VR experience felt very real and very stressful and was very effective at making me better understand the reality of an emergency experience.”
The workshop gave women practical strategies to recognise their own triggers — the sensory and emotional signs that it’s time to act — and to translate those cues into concrete steps. It also helped them plan conversations at home about who decides when to go, how to bring everyone on board, and how to involve children in preparedness.
“Really opened my eyes to the need for multiple plans. The interaction of the family brought home the need for engaging and giving roles to our children in our planning.”
By the end of the night, participants were not only more confident in their own decisions — they were determined to make preparedness a shared family value.
“This workshop presents up a way of approaching bushfire preparation that is immediately implementable and potentially life-saving. I came away feeling equipped to start a detailed, practical fire plan based on an honest appraisal of my particular situation, resilience level, and goals.”
The Mums of the Hills session was a reminder that in emergencies, knowledge and confidence save lives — and that strong voices at home can shift family culture from hesitation to action.
A big thanks to Belinda and Bryce for their fantastic support organising the session. Thanks also to Shane and David from the Belgrave CFA for their warm hosting of the Immersive Bushfire Experience Team.
Looking forward to seeing the Kalorama community again this Sunday 26 October for our last workshop there in 2025.
