About the Resilient Australia Awards

The Resilient Australia Awards is a nation-wide program that celebrates, shares and promotes initiatives that build and foster community resilience to disasters and emergencies. Since 2000, the awards have showcased innovation and exemplary practice across Australia; celebrating achievements that might otherwise go unseen, and inspiring others to build greater disaster resilience in their own communities.

With the exception of multi-jurisdictional projects, submissions are judged in their state or territory, and jurisdictional winners considered for national awards. 

The Australian Government is proud to sponsor the Resilient Australia Awards in partnership with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience and the states and territories.

Resilient Australia National Award

Award of excellence across all National Award categories (excluding photography). Projects demonstrate the most systemic change and groundbreaking results.

Winner

Local Indigenous Cultural Recovery Advisors (LICRAs)

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet
Northern Territory

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Resilient Australia National Collaboration and Partnership Award

Recognition of projects that encompass activity across two or more partners, sectors, states or territories, and consistently demonstrate the power of collaboration and partnership when working toward a goal or mission with partners combining efforts and resources. Judges considered winning projects from all Award categories except Photography.

Winner

Fire Centre: Building community resilience to bushfires through science translation

University of Tasmania

The Fire Centre at the University of Tasmania is a bushfire research hub that integrates methods from a broad range of biophysical sciences and the humanities. We aim to achieve a holistic understanding of bushfire disasters and develop cost-effective interventions and public education campaigns to build community resilience. We have developed deep collaborative relationships with local councils, fire-management agencies, Aboriginal communities contributing traditional knowledge, and world-leading fire scientists. It was established in 2018 by Professor David Bowman, the Centre Director, and is managed by Ms Meagan Porter.

The Centre has been remarkably successful in attracting grants, including a $3.4 million prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship awarded to Professor Bowman. The Laureate Fellowship is designed to develop adaptation pathways so Australian communities can co-exist safely and sustainably with intrinsically flammable landscapes. Two Natural Hazard Research Grants that involve a broad cross section of Australian stakeholders tasked with managing bushfire risk have also been awarded to the Centre.

The Centre was part of the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub and its second iteration of the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Hub. A key outcome of this collaboration has been the development of the cutting edge FireTools software package by Dr Grant Williamson, which now underpins prescribed burning planning and reserve management throughout NSW. This work contributed to the first NSW Bushfire Hub receiving a Eureka Prize for applied research excellence.

University of Tasmania has awarded over $1 million to the Centre to build FireLab3, a globally unique fire laboratory that enables studies of plant flammability, smoke exposure, and the evaluation of whether bioenergy and biochar can be used to reduce wildfire fuel loads and thus bushfire risk.

The Centre has a deep commitment to public outreach and education including developing short online courses such as ‘Living with Fire and Bushfire’.

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Resilient Australia National Research for Impact Award

Open to all tertiary institutions (colleges and universities). Applicants will showcase research that is having or will have a significant impact on knowledge, capability and practice and will enhance disaster resilience outcomes as a result. Applications for this Category will only be received and judged at the national level.

Winner

The Impact of Heatwaves on Health Services on Queensland

James Cook University

Heatwaves pose a growing threat to health and wellbeing. Our project addressed a critical knowledge gap regarding heatwave impacts on health service delivery across Queensland, especially beyond Brisbane. Utilising a retrospective population-based approach, we analysed data from 2010 to 2019, incorporating inputs from diverse stakeholders, including Queensland Health, the Queensland Ambulance Service, and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Our research identified significant increases in ambulance calls, emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and deaths during heatwaves. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, those with preexisting health conditions, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, were notably affected. Collaborative efforts with state departments and academic institutions enriched the project's outcomes and facilitated the integration of findings into policy and planning, exemplified by their inclusion in the Queensland Health Heatwave Sub-Plan and the Stakeholder Toolkit.

Diversity and community engagement were central to our methodology. The research team, primarily based at James Cook University, represented regional Queensland, ensuring a comprehensive analysis that included rural and remote areas. Feedback from diverse community representatives and experts helped tailor our findings to address the needs of at-risk groups, including Indigenous communities and those in low socioeconomic regions.

Our project's sustainability is underscored by ongoing collaborations and the adaptability of our research methods. The scalability of our data has already inspired further investigations into specific health outcomes, such as drowning during heatwaves. The project's findings have been widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, media engagements, and academic presentations, raising public awareness and driving future research.

In conclusion, this project has significantly advanced understandings of heatwave impacts on health services in Queensland, informed policy, and laid the groundwork for continued research and preparedness efforts. Our collaborative, inclusive approach ensured the research benefits are broad-reaching and sustainable, fostering resilience against the increasing threat of heatwaves.

Highly Commended 

Energy Ready: A Toolkit for Resilient Communities

Institute for Sustainable Futures, University Of Technology Sydney

This research project explored energy resilience from a community perspective, aiming to build community knowledge and capacity. The project synthesised leading academic research, consulted with experts in energy resilience and disaster response, and worked with climate disaster-impacted or at-risk Australian communities to understand their perspectives, experiences and needs. The primary output was the Energy Ready Toolkit.

Energy Ready is a free Toolkit for communities that want to become more energy-resilient and better prepared to meet environmental disasters exacerbated by climate change. Consisting of a user-friendly guidebook and activity-based workshop materials, Energy Ready helps communities across Australia to create a plan that meets their unique circumstances, values and priorities.

Developed for communities with communities, Energy Ready draws on insights from workshops in Bonang, Gympie, Mullumbimby, Mornington Peninsula, Lake Macquarie and Magnetic Island.

It helps communities be prepared, stay safer, maintain access to energy (a lifeline during a disaster), and bounce back faster and stronger in the aftermath of a disaster. Encouraging communities to work together strengthens ties, not just in emergencies but all the time. Energy Ready also guides communities to engage and collaborate productively with local councils, emergency response agencies, communications providers and utilities.

Since its launch in December 2023, Energy Ready's website has attracted 1,472 viewers from Australian and international community groups, government agencies, regulators and local councils. Over 60 Toolkits (physical copies) have been shipped across Australia, the electronic version has been downloaded more than 270 times and shared widely.

Energy Ready is funded by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA). The research was led by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney, in collaboration with Community Power Agency (CPA) (community engagement) and Parallel Lines (user-led design). An advisory group of cross-sector experts, stakeholders and government agencies from around Australia contributed expertise.

Please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVY9pC8W4Y&t=1s

Finalists

Fire Centre: Building community resilience to bushfires through science translation

University of Tasmania

The Fire Centre at the University of Tasmania is a bushfire research hub that integrates methods from a broad range of biophysical sciences and the humanities. We aim to achieve a holistic understanding of bushfire disasters and develop cost-effective interventions and public education campaigns to build community resilience. We have developed deep collaborative relationships with local councils, fire-management agencies, Aboriginal communities contributing traditional knowledge, and world-leading fire scientists. It was established in 2018 by Professor David Bowman, the Centre Director, and is managed by Ms Meagan Porter.

The Centre has been remarkably successful in attracting grants, including a $3.4 million prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship awarded to Professor Bowman. The Laureate Fellowship is designed to develop adaptation pathways so Australian communities can co-exist safely and sustainably with intrinsically flammable landscapes. Two Natural Hazard Research Grants that involve a broad cross section of Australian stakeholders tasked with managing bushfire risk have also been awarded to the Centre.

The Centre was part of the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub and its second iteration of the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Hub. A key outcome of this collaboration has been the development of the cutting edge FireTools software package by Dr Grant Williamson, which now underpins prescribed burning planning and reserve management throughout NSW. This work contributed to the first NSW Bushfire Hub receiving a Eureka Prize for applied research excellence.

University of Tasmania has awarded over $1 million to the Centre to build FireLab3, a globally unique fire laboratory that enables studies of plant flammability, smoke exposure, and the evaluation of whether bioenergy and biochar can be used to reduce wildfire fuel loads and thus bushfire risk.

The Centre has a deep commitment to public outreach and education including developing short online courses such as ‘Living with Fire and Bushfire’.

An integrated hi-tech solution to detect and suppress fires

Australian National University

The Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence (BRCoE) at the Australian National University (ANU) is at the forefront of a transformative shift in bushfire management that will equip Australia to navigate the threat of fire in a world altered by climate change.

Australia’s current fire management system is not equipped to detect and suppress the fires that cause the most catastrophic damage to life, property, and nature: bushfires started by lightning strikes in remote areas.
Our mission at the BRCoE is to identify how cutting-edge technologies can be combined to find these fires and put them out before they escalate beyond our capacity to control them.

Launched in response to the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires, BRCoE has already become a trusted voice in the bushfire community. In collaboration with many industry and emergency management sector partners, BRCoE Director Professor Marta Yebra and her team of engineers and scientists are making significant strides in advancing how fires are managed.

Our expertise in engineering, bushfire, space, and computing science is globally recognised. We lead discussions on fire management policy and standards, influencing political and policy decisions with ministers and providing formal advice to government.

In the lab and in the field, we are developing and validating a range of novel technologies that have been demonstrated as proofs-of-concept or become operationalised, including novel space-grade sensors and algorithms for satellite vegetation flammability monitoring, detection of hazardous lightning strikes, and fire detection using data from ground internet-of-things sensors as well as imagery from drones, fire watch towers and other infrastructure. The result is a suite of tools that provides highly specific intelligence that firefighters can use to make better decisions about risk and strategy, helping avoid the loss of life, habitat, and infrastructure.

Predictions in Public: Improving public-facing fire spread prediction map design

RMIT University

For the first time, during the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires, authorities released bushfire spread prediction or impact zone maps to the public in New South Wales, ACT, and Victoria. The novelty and popularity of these predictive products led emergency management agencies across Australia - and in particular, the AFAC National Working Group for Public Information and Warnings (WG) and AFAC Predictive Services Group (PSG) – to want to better understand how the public received, interpreted, and acted on these maps, and where and when these maps would be useful in the future.

With so much public attention on these and other types of hazard maps, it is concerning that there is a lack of research focusing exclusively on hazard maps, and in particular fire spread prediction maps, in an Australian context. Therefore, the Predictions in Public research project, which is funded and supported by Natural Hazards Research Australia, was created to assess the extent to which community members use, comprehend, perceive, and act in response to maps, including incident and fire spread prediction maps in bushfires.

Predictions in Public, a highly collaborative and practitioner-led project by experts at the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Victoria and the Victorian Department of Education (DE), involved researchers from four Australian universities (RMIT University, Queensland University of Technology, Deakin University, and Swinburne University of Technology) and emergency management personnel from each Australian jurisdiction. This project strives to develop an evidence base for a nationally consistent approach to the design, dissemination, and communication of public-facing fire spread prediction maps during future emergencies. By involving community members in this research via surveys, experiments, interviews and focus groups, the project addresses their information needs and, in turn, empowers communities to take action to protect their lives and the lives of their loved ones during future bushfire emergencies.

Building individual and collective resilience through community engagement

University of Melbourne

Community Engagement for Disaster Risk Reduction (CEDRR) is the title of a large-scale research program led by Dr. Brian Cook from the University of Melbourne. The CEDRR team has successfully supported individual and community resilience through partnerships with flood-prone households and with community groups. Beginning in 2022, CEDRR has undertaken 9,363 door-knocks with flood-prone households and, as of July 2024, held 3,509 individual engagements. CEDRR has partnered with more than 20 community groups, distributing more than $40,000 to support their activities.

62% of CEDRR participants reported increased awareness of flood risk, 64% reported increased intentions to reduce flood risk, and 43% had taken action to mitigate risk of various types. In terms of spillover effects, 73% of participants who had completed a follow-up engagement had spoken about risk mitigation with an average of 3.6 non-participants.

In terms of research, our commitment to rigorous, empirical analyses has enabled CEDRR to support actual risk mitigation while analyzing who learns or acts, why they learn or act, and how their learning and acting influences other community members. Most originally, we have empirically demonstrated that normative learning is the root of risk mitigation actions, providing world-leading evidence on the value of community engagement and public partnerships.

CEDRR is being embraced by local governments (e.g., Mornington Council) and the risk sector (e.g., Melbourne Water) to reduce future and present risk. The approach enables risk reduction across society, having targeted all households in flood-prone areas. CEDRR supports community groups (e.g., Girl Guides, Community Gardens, Sports teams) whose members participate, creating stronger and more resilience communities through connections amongst government, industry, community, and not-for-profit organizations. Lastly, CEDRR is rigorously empirical in its generation of evidence, enhancing the basis of future risk mitigation in Australia.

Innovative model explaining community flood preparedness attitudes, strategies, and dynamics

University of Newcastle

Floods remain Australia's costliest natural hazard. Communities and households bear the brunt. So why do those impacted by floods often lack a flood plan? The logic of preparedness planning is sound. Those who have prepared tend to suffer less losses, damages, and trauma; preparedness protects life and promotes recovery. Yet, in practice, getting to the national aim of household preparedness has stalled (Diagram A). Why is that?

This is a profoundly important question with a widely misconceived answer (Diagram B). A 2020-2023 NSW Government scholarship funded PhD research project conceptualised an innovative model; explaining the socio-educative dynamics that inhibit our national aim of flood awareness and preparedness.

The study's empirical findings break apart this understudied phenomenon. Preparedness means you have chosen your best coping strategy (Diagram C). Which means you have understood your realistic options (Diagram D). Which means you have understood the specific impacts of the worst and best possible flooding events on you. Which means you have gauged your flood risk exposure. Which means you have learnt how a flood will behave in your local street. Which means you have the motivation, time and capacity to learn about floods. Which assumes you have (at the very least) become aware you have flood risk.

The study shows it is a problem of our own design: society's current practice inhibit, even counter, the dynamics that support households within their community settings to climb this ladder of preparedness; dismantling barriers across authorised and unauthorised systems can change the trajectory of community resilience; changing prevailing social narratives allows education to trump bitter experience.

Expert practitioners, attending the 2024 Australian national floodplain conference, embraced the model's potential for re-designing community engagement approaches and flood intelligence practices (Diagram E).

Measuring fire prevention and preparedness to inform community risk reduction

Fire and Rescue NSW

In 2022, Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) was awarded funding from the NSW Government to measure fire prevention and preparedness in NSW. The study proposed a systematic, rigorous approach that would result in evidence-based recommendations for community resilience to fire and other emergencies. In 2023, FRNSW partnered with Monash University Accident Research Centre to conduct the research. A scoping review of fire prevention and preparedness measurement was conducted to inform the development of a survey instrument. After validation, the survey was disseminated to a representative sample of over 10,000 householders in urban fire districts in NSW. The survey collected data on demographic and situational characteristics, use of fire, fire risk and safety knowledge, residential fire and bushfire prevention and preparedness, exposure to residential fire and bushfire and associated behavioural responses, perceptions and attitudes towards fire, awareness and trust of fire services, and participation in FRNSW’s fire prevention and preparedness approaches. The survey produced rich, diverse, and valuable population-level data that has been analysed in myriad ways. For example, the data has been used to identify the demographic predictors of exposure to residential fire and bushfire to inform targeted approaches to at-risk groups; demographic and situational predictors of fire prevention and preparedness that must be considered when measuring resilience to fire; associations between perceptions and behaviours to inform tailored messaging; and measures of reach and effectiveness of FRNSW’s suite of approaches, including the first known attempt at analysing the effectiveness of combined and cumulative exposure to fire prevention and preparedness approaches. Importantly, the survey serves as a population-level measure of fire prevention and preparedness that can be expanded to include other disasters and emergencies and can be disseminated repeatedly to measure changes in risk, resilience, and program reach and effectiveness.

Optimised Street Greenery for Urban Heat Resilience

James Cook University

The Optimised Street Greenery Strategy Study is an Australia's first multidisciplinary project offering implementable guideline for strategic planning to reduce heat risks in the built environment. By utilising sustainable solutions to address extreme heat, the number one natural hazard-related killer, this study successfully fills the gap on where to plant street vegetation for maximising their cooling effect. This strategy is based on a quantitative assessment of numerical simulation output data grounded in field research and can form the basis for a national evaluation system for the urban street thermal environment. Aligned with the main values specified in the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience, the outcomes of this study enrich relevant knowledge on heat risks and providing valuable insights for urban planners, designers, policy makers, and stakeholders to mitigate risks in the built environment.

Reviewing Globally Observed Hazard Factors, Relating to Mining Coal Seam Methane by the Process of 'Fracking'.

The Royal Society of Queensland

Volunteer Learned Societies Contribute to a National Hazard Resilience Analysis.

Research from The Royal Society of Queensland by Peter Dart1, Colin Lynam and Geoff Edwards3 and Revel Pointon4

1. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072
2. Earthquake Services, 32 Coventry Place, Wishart, QLD 4122
3. Centre for Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222
4. Environment Defenders Office, QLD 4101, Australia

This entry is made under the assumption that "National Action 2" is still an operational goal of AIDR, whereby it hopes to "ensure risk is not opaquely transferred to those least able to mitigate it, ... creating and maintaining alignment between local, state and national assessments of natural hazard risk, to create a national picture." We report on such a scenario, which can be implemented nationally.

Coal seam gas mining in the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland, Australia, has developed rapidly over the past decade.

Many landholders are concerned about the effects of the industry on groundwater and agricultural resources and the weakness of official oversight, recently criticised by the Queensland Audit Office. The prevailing self-regulation, lack of baseline assessment and inadequate monitoring of the mining processes is an abrogation of government responsibility and the precautionary principle.

The authors from this Royal Society of Queensland volunteer investigation team have researched widely and documented the potential hazards, that are observed elsewhere and have cited valuable local historical earthquake occurrence data, in lieu of a paucity of a regional earthquake monitoring program.

The Authors propose three initiatives for the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments, essential to making prudent decisions about hazard prevention.

Irreparable damage is being done to the public interest is revealed in this paper justified by the extensive scientific literature cited.

Keywords: groundwater, subsidence, aquifer, Induced earthquake, agriculture production, regulation

Evaluation of the Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program

Charles Sturt University

A Charles Sturt University research team conducted an independent evaluation of the second phase of the Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program (BRP). The BRP was a multifaceted, multidisciplinary, community-based program, delivered through primary schools and preschools, providing psychosocial support to children, parents/carers and educators impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires.

The evaluation aim was to determine whether the BRP had a demonstrable impact, and identify for whom, in what ways and circumstances the outcomes were achieved. In addition, the evaluation identified ways the BRP and other factors contributed to the outcomes. A mixed method approach was used, including the use of established surveys and clinical measures, analysis of data collected by RFW, spatial analysis, and interviews.

The outcomes of the evaluation found the BRP was a successful program. Children who participated in the program understood the changes they experienced due to bushfires and other events (e.g., COVID-19, floods), understood their reactions were normal, developed skills for coping, problem-solving, decision-making, and building peer support networks, and developed strategies to restore self-confidence and self-esteem. Parents/carers who attended the Tuning in to Kids® program learned helpful ways to understand and respond to their child’s emotions and were more confident connecting emotionally with their children. Educators developed the knowledge and skills to be confident to emotionally support the children in their care in relation to the impact of the bushfires and other disasters. The Royal Far West staff implemented strategies and supports to monitor and maintain their sense of wellbeing while planning and delivering the Program.

As climate-related disasters are predicted to be compounding and increase in frequency and intensity, there is a need for programs, such as the BRP, to continue to be funded and delivered to improve the resilience and wellbeing, and decrease the likelihood of long-term emotional reactions, of children post-disaster.

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Resilient Australia National Business Award

State and territory winners in the Business category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Business Award.

Winner

Cultural Healing & Aboriginal Participation for October 2022 Flood Clean Up Victoria

A2B Personnel Pty Ltd
Victoria

A2B are an Aboriginal Owned and Operated Regionally based company. We provide Indigenous workforce to major projects through our Labour Hire model.

The Cultural Healing and Aboriginal Participation program for the October 2022 Victorian Flood Clean Up was lead by A2B Personnel, a regionally based Aboriginal Owned and Operated organisation creating employment opportunities on major projects for First Nations people. Creating opportunities for Indigenous employment, training, mental health and healing for the communities affected by the Oct 2022 floods. The project created 38 jobs for local Indigenous people, many coming from unemployment and adversity. The Community Liaison program within the Aboriginal Participation created an opportunity for local First Nations people to talk with community during a time of trauma and loss. The project saw local First Nations people in roles across all areas of the clean-up process. Regional Operations Managers, Supervisors, Labourers, Traffic Personnel along with out Cultural Heritage team worked together to deliver street debris removal, the make safe & demolition of flood effected property and post event heritage surveys of National Parks under the Emergency Recovery Victoria Clean up Program.

Highly Commended

Global to local: Cross-sector Collaboration for Resilient Infrastructure

Aurecon
Queensland

Resilience is multi-scalar and requires collaboration to connect assets and systems to the people, communities and economies that rely on critical infrastructure. This project demonstrates how asset resilience can be measured and inform investment. With the support of Aurecon, a resilience assessment was undertaken by Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, a major asset within QIC’s infrastructure portfolio. The Port of Brisbane is a cornerstone of the Queensland economy with 95% of Queensland’s containerised trade, 90% of motor vehicles and 50% of Australia’s agricultural exports moving through this vital asset.

This project reviewed Port of Brisbane’s vulnerability to external risks and hazards, encompassing wider economic and social impacts. The resilience assessment was the first in Australia to integrate a leading global methodology – the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Principles of Resilient Infrastructure Scorecard – applying a global benchmark to a critical local asset. This project was carefully designed to address the systemic need for public-private partnerships to enhance asset resilience.

Third-party risks are risks beyond the control of the owner and mitigation requires collaboration between asset managers and third-party stakeholders. The Port of Brisbane resilience assessment identified risks to critical access roads and their vulnerabilities to disasters. The access roads are managed by local councils, thus revealing collaboration with respective stakeholders as essential to enabling infrastructure resilience. QIC supported an additional assessment for a wind farm asset, identifying a consistent theme - the criticality of cross-sector collaboration for infrastructure resilience.

The outcomes of Port of Brisbane resilience assessment will be enhanced through future work; the Increasing Investment in Infrastructure Resilience (IIIR) initiative, a collaborative project focused on undertaking resilience assessments to provide financial justifications for resilient investments. The PoB assessment will help demonstrate how investment in resilience initiatives is financially beneficial and critical to long-term asset sustainability.

Finalists

Climate Change Adaptation Plan – building resilience to climate driven disasters

Icon Water
Australian Capital Territory

Climate change is no longer a future threat but a present reality. In Australia, climate disasters have affected the whole of society, impacting human and environmental health, households’ resilience, community and business investments, and seeing insurance premiums soar. It is a complex challenge.

As the supplier of essential water and wastewater services to the nation’s capital, it is critical our services remain available and resilient to climate disasters. Our operations rely on weather and the water cycle. We are keenly aware of the important role we play protecting human health and the environment.

As climate-driven disasters become more frequent and severe, the need to protect lives and livelihoods through informed decision-making and planning is becoming more urgent and doing this effectively requires a united and coordinated effort.

Icon Water paved the way for the water industry by being one of the first Australian utilities to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan in 2020. This plan was founded on sound governance, the ability to assess and address climate risk and resilience based on latest scientific evidence and climate modelling, internal consultation and external engagement, and achieved through measurable metrics and targets.

Since our first plan four years ago, we have experienced first-hand the impacts of widespread bushfires followed closely by storms and flooding. Our second Climate Change Adaptation Plan - sustaining resilience released in 2023 acknowledges that climate change extreme events do not happen in isolation, often happening concurrently and consecutively. In addition, cascading impacts from external forces can further amplify the impact of climate change - adding complexity.

In developing these plans, we consulted with 200 stakeholders and local partners. A community version is publicly available to build broader community and industry understanding. It aligns with government policy and delivers actions to create stronger, more resilient communities to climate disasters.

An amphibious dwelling design to bring flood resilient accommodation to residential land lease communities and caravan parks.

Amphibode
New South Wales

The mid north coast of NSW experienced major flooding in 2021. Our caravan park was inundated, flooding all our cabin accommodation and half of the permanent homes in our park. The community was very vulnerable to flood risk as these dwellings had been installed prior to current day flood controls. The impact of the flood was disastrous, and even more so for our vulnerable community, the larger majority of whom live week-to-week on the pension. Their emotional and financial resilience to rebuild was next-to-none. Residents in our caravan park required a significant contribution from government, the local community and not-for-profits to recover. In some instances, this recovery period took longer than a year and the emotional impact of this disaster will be lifelong. This event made us seriously consider what change we could bring to the residential land lease community/caravan park sector and we embarked on a journey to design and build fit-for-purpose flood resilient accommodation. Out of this disaster, an amphibious dwelling was borne, and the first of its kind amphibious dwelling was installed in our park in April 2024. This dwelling delivers an affordable flood resilient accommodation option to our sector. It offers a design that can be used to retro fit existing dwellings and achieves important social and community objectives such as inclusion, accessibility and affordability as it adapts to climate risk is a safe and measured way. This amphibious dwelling enables owners of residential land lease communities, and residents themselves, to invest in disaster risk reduction to create a stronger and more resilient community before, during and after a flood. We have commenced this journey to prove it can be achieved and our efforts have received interest nationally from the private sector and government.

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Resilient Australia National Community Award

State and territory winners in the Community category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Community Award.

Winner 

Fire to Flourish: A holistic community-led model of disaster resilience

Fire To Flourish
New South Wales

Everyday Australians are the first and last responders when disaster strikes. But despite the billions of dollars spent on disaster recovery, communities continue to receive inadequate financial and other forms of support to address their long-term recovery needs and resilience building priorities.

Led by Monash University and philanthropically funded, Fire to Flourish is partnering with bushfire-affected communities to address this gap by piloting a new model of holistic support for inclusive, community-led action.

Our partner communities in NSW (Clarence Valley, Tenterfield and Eurobodalla) and Victoria (East Gippsland) were severely affected by the 2019/20 bushfires.

Our innovative approach is not one-size-fits-all. We address the gap between hyper-local needs and government-led responses by supporting communities to create tailored solutions for their unique contexts and priorities.

Key areas of innovation include processes that give community decision-making power over flexible grant funding, community governance processes that grow capabilities and strengthen networks, and Aboriginal leadership that catalyses transformative connections between people, place and culture. Grants allocated through these processes are resourcing diverse community-led projects that strengthen community disaster resilience.

Our program principles guide us to be community-led, foreground Aboriginal wisdom, enhance inclusion and equity, and be strengths-based and trauma-informed. These principles have inspired partner communities to focus on stopping cycles of entrenched disadvantage through their disaster resilience solutions.

Our program is delivered through partnerships with communities, philanthropic funders, community foundations, local organisations and service providers. We enjoy a broad network of collaborators that are critical for enhancing impact locally and nationally.

Community feedback and emerging research evidence confirms that F2F is having a positive impact in partner communities: strengthening social capital, stimulating economic activity, addressing Indigenous and community wellbeing priorities, strengthening community infrastructure, and leading to increased resilience and reduced disaster risk. We are proving that our model works, and that it is scalable.

Winner 

Walking alongside, building resilience: The First Nations Recovery Group

Australian Red Cross
Queensland

First Nations people in Australia are between three and five times more likely to be living in areas that are impacted by increasingly severe natural hazards than non-First Nations people. However emergency management and disaster resilience approaches have typically overlooked the unique strengths and needs of First Nations peoples.

In recognition of this, the First Nations Recovery Group (FNRG) was established by Australian Red Cross to empower First Nations people to lead community resilience and recovery in Australia, and to help inform the disaster management sector on best practice principles and application for working with First Nations communities.

The FNRG developed a culturally appropriate First Nations Recovery Framework building on best-practice resilience approaches. This includes recognising the existing work in communities, taking a strengths-based and community-led approach, and 'handing over' activities to community to ensure true community control and ownership.

With generous support from donors the FNRG has walked alongside First Nations communities throughout COVID-19, the 2019-20 bushfires, the 2022 floods and other emergencies and disasters. Embedded in communities, FNRG staff work closely with Elders and leaders, including youth and emerging leaders. By taking adaptative and collaborative approaches, the FNRG has delivered culturally appropriate and successful resilience and recovery programs and services with a range of First Nations communities across Australia.

‘As First Nations people…to (have) something to celebrate, something to acknowledge our culture, that was really awesome. That was a good healing source as well for the whole community. There were Elders out that I hadn't seen for a long time, and kids. …I think that was really, really helpful for the whole community. Not just the Aboriginal community either. … I think it's good for closing the gap and reconciliation and cultural appreciation. It was awesome for the whole community.’

Highly Commended 

Women Rising: Empowering Flood Recovery

Women's Health Loddon Mallee
Victoria

In the wake of the floods that impacted Victoria in October 2022, Women’s Health Loddon Malee (WHLM) took steps to address the unique challenges faced by rural women in the Loddon Mallee region in times of disaster. Heavy rain led to widespread evacuations, loss of homes, businesses, and infrastructure, plunging communities into chaos and uncertainty.

Recognising that disasters exacerbate existing gender inequalities, WHLM responded with a multifaceted approach aimed at supporting gender equality and women’s wellbeing in disasters. The impacts of floods are felt by the entire community; however, women face a heightened risk of gendered violence, stress, financial insecurity, and disruption to their personal and family life.

WHLM’s response aimed to ensure women were not overlooked in disaster recovery efforts. By addressing the unique needs and vulnerabilities of women, WHLM sought to promote more equitable health, social and economic outcomes in the aftermath of disasters.

Key highlights of WHLM’s response include:

Gender Inclusive Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery: WHLM worked closely with key stakeholders to integrate gender-responsive approaches to ensure women’s needs are prioritised.

Community-centred and led approaches: WHLM facilitated access to resources to ensure communities could lead their own recovery efforts and to provide women with safe spaces to share their experiences.

Advocacy for policy change: WHLM has been able to advocate for policy changes that address gender disparities in disasters. By leveraging their expertise and networks, WHLM aims to influence decision-makers at all levels to adopt more inclusive and gender-responsive approaches to disaster management.

WHLM’s innovative approach to addressing gender inequalities in disasters serves as a model for how other organisations can proactively support women’s wellbeing and promote gender equality. By prioritising the needs of women, we can build communities that are more inclusive, safer for women and better equipped to withstand the impacts of future disasters.

Finalists

Bushfire Risk Reduction, Prevention and Infrastructure Upgrade

Tasmania Fire Service
Tasmania

Hydro Tasmania was mandated to install static water tanks for property protection during bushfires as part of subdivision approval. Approximately 56 of these tanks, serving as community assets in the Miena Great Lake area, lack adequate risk mitigation messaging. This deficiency poses a challenge as landowners may be unaware of the tanks' critical role due to limited education on bushfire risks.

Ownership arrangements and maintenance issues have rendered these tanks ineffective. To address this, a project was proposed to enhance their functionality and visibility. Each tank would to be appropriately labeled and equipped with QR codes linking to bushfire planning messages, emphasizing safety considerations regarding firefighting tanks.

The project's primary objective for the project was to educate local communities in Miena, Breona, and Brady’s Lake on bushfire prevention and property preparation to mitigate fire risks. Additionally, it aims to ensure the water tanks are operational and easily accessible, thereby supporting fire prevention and preparedness efforts.

Through 2 targeted education sessions and the introduction of tank signage, the project empowered local residents with essential knowledge and resources, ultimately increasing their resilience to bushfire threats and enhancing the survivability of shack and homeowners within these communities.

GIVIT Far North Queensland Flood Appeal – Wujal Wujal Flood Recovery Project

GIVIT
Queensland

GIVIT is a donation management e-solution which strengthens community disaster resilience. By using a digital platform to inform and facilitate community-led disaster recovery, GIVIT aims to help communities better prepare, respond and recover from a disaster by ensuring donations do no harm during an emergency and are instead directed to fill genuine need. GIVIT was funded by the Queensland Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts Community Recovery Branch to prioritise the recovery of the discreet Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal which was catastrophically impacted by widespread flooding caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper in late 2023. The aim was to expedite community members recovery to allow them to return to Country as soon as possible. GIVIT worked closely with the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and charity partners Cape York Partnership and Cooktown District Community Centre on the flood recovery project to support the population while they were displaced and to re-furnish 96 social houses in this community. GIVIT delivered post-disaster growth and improved living conditions in Wujal Wujal beyond pre-disaster standards. GIVIT’s provision of approximately 8,870 individual goods and services has supported the recovery plan and contributed to the community being able to return to Country within six months.

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Resilient Australia National Government Award

State and territory winners in the Government category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Government Award.

Winner

Local Indigenous Cultural Recovery Advisors (LICRAs)

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet
Northern Territory

Highly Commended

Australia's first State Disaster Mitigation Plan

NSW Reconstruction Authority
New South Wales

Finalists

ACT Social Recovery Framework - Promoting and supporting stronger, thriving and connected communities

Community Services Directorate
Australian Capital Territory

Collaboration, sharing, building and enhancing social recovery across Australia

Social Recovery Reference Group
Tasmania

Disaster resilience in the agriculture sector: Planning with purpose.

Department Of Agriculture And Fisheries Queensland
Queensland

Resilient Australia National Local Government Award

State and territory winners in the local government category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Local Government Award.

Winner

The Adaptation Game - building climate resilience in Merri-bek

Merri-bek City Council
Victoria

Highly Commended

Get Ready Workshop - Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Townsville City Council
Queensland

Finalists

Latrobe Council
Tasmania

Resilient Australia National Mental Health and Wellbeing Award

State and territory winners in the mental health and wellbeing category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Mental Health and Wellbeing Award.

Winner

Naturally Brave by Growing with Gratitude, Bushfire Kids Connect and Makers Empire

Growing With Gratitude
South Australia

Carinbundi Emergency and Disaster Readiness Training Program

Burnett Respite Services Ltd T/a Carinbundi
Queensland

Community Resilience Building in East Gippsland

Mackillop Seasons
Victoria

Climate Ready North Coast: Elevating the community sector for health resilience

Healthy North Coast
New South Wales

Resilient Australia National School Award

State and territory winners in the school category will be considered for the Resilient Australia National School Award.

Winner

Wellbeing win for Lismore South students!

Lismore South Public-School NSW Education
New South Wales

Resilient Australia National Photography Award

The People’s Choice photography winner in each state and territory will be considered for the Resilient Australia National Photography Award.

Winner

Carinbundi Clients Complete Emergency and Disaster Management Training

Tina Marshall
Queensland

Highly Commended

We work together as one

Nikki Woods
Western Australia

Finalists

Generations in Resilience

Marta Yebra
Australian Capital Territory

"Cool Night Burning" Prescribed burning of an asset protection zone

Rolf Poole
New South Wales

Reflections: Riverland revival

Nicole Westbury
South Australia