Many recent developments in education theory and the field of disaster management have left the meaning of public education as applied in the disaster management field fraught with uncertainty. This thesis addresses this uncertainty via a phenomenographic research study that sheds light on the meaning of public education, despite such uncertainty, by revealing a discrete number of qualitatively different ways in which disaster managers and disaster educators experience and understand public education. Transcriptions of interviews of 25 such senior Australian disaster managers and educators were analysed using phenomenographic methods and revealed a set of discrete, parsimonious and qualitatively different ways of experiencing public education. The referential component of the different ways of experiencing was revealed within ten emergent categories of description for public education: (i) a non-effective process; (ii) a way of managing a public issue; (iii) promoting an issue; (iv) issuing expert instructions; (v) changing individuals; (vi) strategic teaching and training; (vii) collaborative partnerships; (viii) empowering learners to make informed decisions; (ix) negotiation; and (x) element in societal learning. The structural component of the emergent ways of experiencing public education was presented in the form of a phenomenographic outcome space. Linkages between these findings about public education and current literature were made. The results suggested multiple ways to improve public education within the disaster management community and more widely. The need for clarity in communication amongst educators and professionals in regard to public education was confirmed by the research findings. Insights into phenomenography and education were included within the discussion.

The 1999 earthquakes revealed serious gaps in the Turkish disaster management system. The lack of coordination and cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations, limits in the legal framework and the lack of policies and plans about disaster preparedness and mitigation are basic. It is highly relevant therefore to expose these deficiencies and find which changes are necessary for capacity building in civil initiatives and which policies can be put into practice to form a strong and a sustainable organizational structure between governmental organizations and civil initiatives. This required reconsidering the events of 1999 Marmara earthquakes and civil initiatives&rsquo / activities. The analyses have been made among civil initiatives to expose their objectives, their response to earthquakes and future plans. Futher, this required discussion of the current state of disaster management system and legal structure. Findings are that a number of creative activities of civil initiatives can be observed after the Marmara earthquakes. However, the existing level of collaboration with governmental organizations is inadequate, considering the magnitude of disasters taking place in Turkey and the degree of the people&rsquo / s vulnerability. Efforts such as new draft of law of Turgey Emergency Management General Directorate (TEMGD) seem to provide means to meet the requirements. This draft law could provide the tools to accommodate civil initiatives The law could be revised so as to maintain a legal basis for civil initiatives&rsquo / activities as part of disaster management system indicating that governmental organizations should work together in coordination with civil initiatives. Secondly, to encourage voluntary activities, a number of provisions should be available such as life insurance against accidents for the accredited volunteers. Thirdly, TEGMD should also act to find partners for supporting civil initiatives in their financial, personnel training and management needs. With increasing conviction in the need for participatory approaches and people-oriented developments, civil initiatives are committed to face challenges in mitigating and preparing for the variety of disasters facing Turkey.

Memoria para optar al título de Geógrafo / En esta investigación se realiza un análisis y comparación respecto de la incorporación de la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (GRD) en los instrumentos de ordenamiento y planificación territorial de las comunas de San Bernardo y Calera de Tango, identificando factores críticos que determinan las diferencias entre ellas. Si bien las comunas en estudio son colindantes y poseen características físicas similares, cada una ha ido adoptando caracteres de acuerdo a su funcionalidad dentro de la Región Metropolitana. Sin embargo, las dinámicas que se han desarrollado no responden a la planificación vigente, lo que ha generado condiciones de riesgo para la población, sus bienes y economía. En la investigación fue posible determinar que los instrumentos de planificación y ordenamiento territorial aún no incorporan de manera íntegra la GRD debido en parte, a que existen confusiones conceptuales, y al tipo de gestión que se intenta proponer, ya que sigue siendo mayoritariamente reactiva. La principal diferencia entre las comunas estudiadas radica en que San Bernardo, al poseer un Plan Regulador Comunal, gestiona y ordena el territorio disminuyendo la exposición de la población a las amenazas de origen natural y antrópico existentes en la comuna, vale decir presenta una gestión preventiva. Por su parte, Calera de Tango nunca ha contado con este instrumento en particular. Al ser una comuna de carácter rural, los instrumentos de planificación actuales no son de gran ayuda debido a que se enfocan en la gestión de las zonas urbanas principalmente, por lo cual gran parte del territorio comunal no tiene regulación. A pesar de las ventajas con las que cuenta San Bernardo aún son insuficientes para reducir el riesgo de desastre. / This project consists of comparative analysis of the integration of the Disaster Risk Management (GRD) in the regulation and territorial planning of the San Bernardo and Calera de Tango municipalities, with the intent of identifying critical factors differentiating the two. While these municipalities are adjacent to each other and share many physical characteristics, they have developed distinct characteristics in accordance with the role each plays within the wider Metropolitan Region. The dynamics developed within each nonetheless do not share policy frameworks – something that has created risky conditions for their local populations, properties and economies. This investigation determined that the current methods used for territorial planning and legislation have yet to meaningfully integrate the GRD due to both conceptual ambiguities and the fact that management has up until now been largely reactive. The principal distinguishing factor separating the municipalities under investigation is that San Bernardo, in possessing a Regulatory Communal Plan, manages its territory with an eye towards reducing its population’s exposure to local natural and man-made threats. In contrast, Calera del Tango has never possessed this particular policy framework. As a rural municipality, current planning frameworks are of limited effectiveness due to their focus on urban locations. In spite of their advantages San Bernardo possesses, the current policy framework is insufficient as a means of reducing risk in the face of possible disasters.