Rifka Sibarani is a PhD researcher in the College of Health and Human Sciences.  Her PhD research project focuses on exploring social effects of the ubiquitous use of social media on community disaster preparedness. This includes researching social cultural factors that contribute to effective community disaster preparedness in the age of digital media. Rifka Sibarani holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Tasmania and her work as an early career lecturer in communication studies in Indonesia has led her to an interest in solving social issues with effective communication approaches. She has extensive experience in community engagement and research projects  with diverse populations in Tasmania, Australia and Indonesia.