Family Assistance and Caregiving

Ensuring that those involved in aviation disasters – and their families – are provided with appropriate information, services and support was enshrined in law through the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996. However, such support is also a fundamental part of the crisis response involved in any event involving fatalities or major injuries, regardless of industry or geography.

In the first 2021 event of the EACD’s Crisis & Risk Communication Working Group, we will explore this crucial area with Intan Darlina Muhammad, former Caregiver Manager at Malaysia Airlines. Darlina led Malaysia Airlines teams of hundreds of caregivers in Beijing, Amsterdam and Kota Kinabalu, following the disappearance of flight MH370 in March 2014 and then the tragic shooting down of flight MH17, just four months later.

In conversation with the Working Group’s Chair, Rod Cartwright – who was part of an agency team advising the Chairman, CEO and Board of Malaysia Airlines on MH370 – Darlina will draw on her experience to explore:

1. Definitions of family assistance and caregiving
2. Key challenges, imperatives and guiding principles
3. The impact of an organisation’s broader crisis response on family assistance efforts
4. The personal lessons learned, and key advice for crisis communicators and caregivers

Intan Darlina Muhammad, former Caregiver Manager, Malaysia Airlines, in Conversation with Rod Cartwright

This event is for members only, not a member? You can apply for membership here.