There is no doubt that the consequences of climate change are now playing out in real time across Australia. This study deepens our understanding of the impacts of climate change on mental health in Australia, and provides an opportunity to hear from those on the...

After years of floods and heavy rains, Australian authorities should prepare for widespread grass fires on a scale never-before experienced, the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action warn in this report.

This inquiry report looks at improving crisis communications to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. It examines ways to improve channels of communication with CALD communities, and the use of multicultural and CALD community groups and networks to distribute in-language information.

In December 2022, the Climate Council, supported by Beyond Blue, undertook an extensive two-part national study designed to better understand the impact of climate-fuelled disasters on mental health in Australia. This paper provides a snapshot of some of the most significant findings.

2022 will be remembered as the year of the 'great deluge' - when record-breaking rain and floods lashed large parts of Eastern Australia, causing untold devastation for Australians and the national economy. The authors of this report call for all levels of government to speed...

The impacts of natural disasters on small and family businesses can be devastating and can include damaged and destroyed assets and reduced production and revenue streams. This inquiry looks at existing education and engagement practices, with respect to promoting small business disaster resilience, and makes...

This paper reviews the literature and documented evidence on capacity and coordination issues in crisis situations, where social protection and humanitarian assistance intersect. The paper finds that while there is a burgeoning literature that mentions capacity and coordination, very little of this focuses on crisis...

Climate change is driving worsening destructive extreme weather events in a range of different ways around Australia - from more severe bushfire seasons and intense heatwaves to more powerful cyclones, flash flooding and droughts. This report argues that whether insurance is paying for it, or...

As New South Wales recovered from the 2019-20 summer bushfires and the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Australia in February 2020, there was no indication of the upheaval and sacrifices that lay ahead. In this report, researchers look at mental health, drawing together...

In March 2022, the NSW Government commissioned an independent expert inquiry into the preparation for, causes of, response to and recovery from the 2022 catastrophic flood event across the state of New South Wales. This report outlines the findings.

This report details the rationale, background research and design for a platform to help local communities map resources for disaster preparedness. It sets out a first step in improving community data capability through resource mapping to enhance humanitarian action before disaster events occur.

Major flooding in NSW in February-March 2022 was a catastrophic disaster, causing widespread devastation and damage – particularly in the Northern Rivers and Hawkesbury regions. This inquiry was set up to consider the NSW Government's preparedness, coordination and response to the flooding events. While this...

In this journal article, the authors explore the exposure to risk and experiences of people with disability and carers during a flooding event and the subsequent mental health impacts.

The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) plays a critical role in Victoria’s emergency management response model. This review considered all aspects of ESTA’s operating model and assessed ESTA’s capabilities against the core services it delivers.

Increasingly, the use of technologies such as the internet, smartphones and social media is amplifying the power of local community action and knowledge. This brief addresses the need for policy change to overcome key barriers in this space.

The record-breaking and relentless deluge that has flooded towns and cities in Queensland and New South Wales is one of the most extreme disasters in Australian history. This report explains how climate change is intensifying extreme rainfall and how the frequency of these events is...

The key focus in this report is the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires on human health and welfare, and the recovery process for those who lived through the fires and are attempting to rebuild their lives in impacted regions and communities.

This is a review of the way in which WorkSafe New Zealand performed its regulatory functions in relation to Whakaari White Island eruption in 2019.

While droughts are a natural part of the historical climate variability in Australia, drought conditions are likely to become more frequent, severe and longer due to climate change. The committee urges the Australian government to accept the findings and recommendations of this report to improve...

Persons with disabilities are more likely to be badly affected by disasters and be left behind in their wake. This panel discusses the importance of mainstreaming inclusive responses to ensure that disaster preparedness and responses ensure safety, security and rights for all.

This document reviews the state of current knowledge on the role of community assets in supporting community resilience, recovery and wellbeing, focusing on disaster recovery and resilience building processes. It forms part of the 'Community resilience, wellbeing and recovery project'.

Emergency recovery goes beyond survival. It is a complex process with potentially long-lasting impacts on people’s lives. Within research, policy and practice, there is a widespread assumption that preparing for a disaster has a positive impact on recovery. This report examines the emergency experiences of...

This report outlines the findings from a longitudinal study of how survivors fared during the 12 months immediately after the fires decimated communities in Victoria’s East Gippsland Region. The report was prepared for Australia’s national energy consumer advocate, Energy Consumers Australia.

This issues paper was prepared in response to the lived experience and literature presented at the Disability and Disaster Resilience forum, held in August 2020. It builds a picture of the roadblocks to safety and wellbeing for Australians with disability in emergency management.

Affected communities need long-term support far beyond what many disaster relief volunteering organisation can often commit to. This project explores the phenomenon of support before, during and after disaster (specifically the floods in Townsville and North West Queensland), focusing on organisational support for staff to...