This evaluation assesses a pilot project where the Australian Red Cross and the Victorian Dargo community co-designed a preparedness platform using local knowledge, open data and artificial intelligence (AI). It showcases how ethical, inclusive technology development can empower communities against climate risk, while highlighting challenges and innovations in co-designing disaster resilience tools with local stakeholders.

The findings offer valuable lessons for future technology development through community co-design. They illuminate recurring obstacles and showcase adaptable innovations that can guide the creation of more responsive, inclusive and impactful preparedness solutions.

Key recommendations

• Ensure early communication around privacy and disclaimers and engage developers from the outset in discussions.
• Use locally sourced data where possible to enhance relevance, accuracy and community trust.
• Empower local leads for community outreach.
• Consider ways to represent outside stakeholder interests such as tourists in planning and design.
• Consider the way technology design can achieve community-wide benefits by moving beyond individualised app design to consider collective uses.
• Ensure accessibility for users with varying levels of digital literacy.