Post-Conference Workshops

Wednesday 26th October 2011

Workshop A: Responding to Media: What To Do When Reporters Intrude
9:00am - 12:00pm

Every organisation has contingency plans for managing media. Someone senior is usually prepared to answer questions and control authorised filming. And, in 95 per cent of cases, these plans will be adequate.

However the environment is changing. Media has become more intrusive and competitive. Reporters may ignore normal protocols and try to get sensational pics and comments, to beat up an otherwise dull story. Even staff may film unobtrusively using the increasingly sophisticated mobile media – and use these shots on Facebook or YouTube.

Security and safety managers have an important role in media management that is usually ignored. These employees may accidently become the frontline of media questions if management is slow to respond or are absent from the premises when the reporters call.

No matter the size of the health facility, the best plans – and media policies – may not be flexible to handle the problems on site during a media intrusion. They assume media inquiries happen during business hours, that there will be enough security personnel to handle several reporters at once – or that the media won’t ever be interested in their organisation. When a crisis happens, this complacency is tested.

Unfortunately most media plans concentrate on preparing senior management to answer questions when they are ready – and ignore the preparation of staff at the frontline: The people who have to take the first call, handle inquiries at reception or control the media scrum until the spokesperson arrives.

This workshop, based on more than 20 years of managing media in health settings and using Australian cases, provides practical experience in preparing security and safety personnel for media intrusions:

• Why media intrude into facilities and how, including the changing technology that makes security more difficult
• Auditing your facility's vulnerability to invasive media
• Preparing a media intrusion defence plan
• How to prepare and rehearse front-line staff
• Handling aggressive media actions so that you don't become the story
• Tips on answering media questions so you don't offend or accidentally provide a quote
• Ensuring the safety of staff and patients if media intrude
• Assessing the damage to reputation if the media gets the wrong story

Participants will rehearse scenarios in front of a TV camera and lights, with playback for evaluation. This technique allows participants to rehearse common scenarios before they have to respond in real-life situations.

Facilitator: Sue Driscoll, CEO, Health Communications

Workshop B: Developing a Security Infrastructure Business Case – More than Paper!
1:00pm - 4:00pm

Having difficulties obtaining a budget allocation?

• Unclear responsibilities or level of authority?
• Tight budgets or little budgetary control?
• Capital infrastructure (CAPEX) list priorities! "Essential for patient care"

These all conspire against us when jostling for a slice of the funding pie. There is no magic quick fix. You have to lead to change management process; it won't be done for you.

Areas covered in the workshop will include:

• Developing a supportive culture within your team
• Developing a supportive stakeholder network
• Building relationships within and outside your team
• Finding ambassadors to support your plan
• Collation and use of supportive documentation, statistics, risk assessment, etc.
• Developing your personal reputation within the organisation – The need to make difficult decisions and find appropriate solutions

Expected outcomes - participants will have:

• Tools to better develop a professional business case
• The greater awareness of the importance of nurturing, supportive relationships
• Understanding management and leadership are essential components in obtaining support from within and outside the team

Facilitators:
Ross Judd, Security Manager, St Vincent's Public and St Vincent's Private Hospitals, Darlinghurst
Leon Harris, Principal Consultant, Harris Crime Prevention Services