Deliberative methods provide an effective mechanism for strengthening communities through engagement in decision making.

Recently, some of the worst disasters in Australia’s history have led to billions of dollars being spent to rebuild communities. The capacity for these efforts to reshape and revive communities is enormous – but what part have communities played in guiding and directing the rebuilding, and how has long-term planning for sustainability and disaster resilience been incorporated into recovery plans?

This review explores the potential for deliberative methods to be used to ensure confident answers to these questions in the future. The review considers (1) the nature of deliberative methods, (2) how current recovery policy frames community engagement, (3) how deliberative methods can support notions of betterment, sustainability and resilience, and (4) how deliberative processes sit within the recovery social setting. The review concludes that deliberative methods provide an effective mechanism for strengthening communities through engagement in decision-making.