This policy insights paper highlights how better integration of local knowledge and participation can improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The research – focusing on three Local Government Areas in New South Wales – outlines how strengthening community engagement can lead to more coordinated and resilient disaster management across the state.

This report shows that complex and entrenched disadvantage is experienced by a small but persistent number of locations in each state and territory across Australia.

Between 2001 and 2006, significant population growth occurred along the eastern seaboard states of Australia. A substantial proportion of this growth occurred outside capital cities, particularly on the urban fringes of large cities, coastal areas and the areas around mining towns.

Rural communities in developed countries such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland have experienced profound challenges over the past three decades. The social fabric of rural communities in these countries has been and will continue to be affected by global and local processes that compound poverty and exclusion. The paper then...

The past decade has seen profound cultural and policy change in relations between the government and non-government sectors. Influences such as new managerialism have reshaped traditional relations between these sectors as well as ushering in a mixed market in welfare services. Within Australia and internationally there has been considerable interest and some anxiety about what...