Given the diverse needs of schools across NSW, ranging from large metropolitan institutions to small, remote schools, I designed and executed two rounds of extensive research after completing a thorough review of all existing research and process materials.

The first round involved one-on-one interviews with thirteen participants from schools and Department executives statewide. We explored their needs, behaviours, challenges, and critical tasks related to emergency communications. These insights informed a second round of group interviews with a similar set of participants, allowing us to further delve into the current state of emergency communications and validate potential improvements identified in the initial phase.

I carefully analysed each round to highlight any important insights and consistent themes across the state, and presented back to stakeholders for feedback and further validation before starting development on our final deliverables. Key findings, such as who actually had the authority to order the evacuation of a school in an emergency (it was not the principal according to policy), highlighted the need for more flexibility and autonomy, particularly when external communications are cut off.