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...

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.

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.

This paper examines the experiences of Aboriginal people and communities during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, capturing their stories and unique impacts. The author also explores the response by Aboriginal communities and organisations to reveal how these community and cultural governing institutions rallied to support...

Australia’s established Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Resilience (HADR) capabilities are facing new and growing challenges. The Indo-Pacific is facing a complex network of established, evolving and intersecting climate, conflict and human-security risks. This report presents a snapshot view of the current Indo-Pacific 'threat-scape'.

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...

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'.

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...

This report examines the allocation and distribution of federal funds from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020, following the bushfire crisis of 2019-2020. While large pledges were made by the Morisson Government to support families and businesses, much of the funding appears to be...

This two-year community engagement and research project found well-developed resilience capacities within CALD communities, with a strong potential for them to enrich disaster management knowledge and practices in wider Australia.

This study investigates housing outcomes during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and evaluates the complex interrelated impacts it is having on Australian households with a range of vulnerabilities.

This research paper looks at how Australians sought and provided financial, emotional and physical assistance during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been great concern about the future of the Australian charity sector, and the people it supports. This report calls for reforms to support the charity sector as post-COVID recovery partners – following findings that charities are...

This report argues that taking stock of regional achievements in disaster risk reduction policy and practice is important, alongside identifying the areas where the region needs to focus most in the coming years.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of Australia’s existing national natural disaster arrangements. Australia’s natural disaster management arrangements reflect the federal system of government, which apportions powers and responsibilities between the Commonwealth and states and territories.

Australia is currently in the midst of an unprecedented emergency with the COVID-19 pandemic, following the summer bushfire crisis. The purpose of this issues paper is to invite information from the public on emergency planning and response.

This report examines the benefits of Australia strengthening its implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, to bolster its regional stability and national security efforts.

This paper argues that a National Climate Disaster Fund should be established to reduce the cost burden of natural disaster response and recovery to Australian households and taxpayers. The Australia Institute suggests that it should be funded by a levy on coal, gas and oil...

This research brief summarises three recent publications that analyse some of the social and political effects of Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji.

This quick guide provides information about domestic arrangements at the Commonwealth level to work with state and territory governments on emergency and disaster management and resilience.

The aim of this study is to complement ongoing work on the role of social protection in responding to emergencies in Nepal. The study uses a mixed-methods research approach to assess the potential role of the social security allowance (SSA) schemes to support emergency response...

Reporting on a cash and voucher assistance (CVA) preparedness study, this report considers activities in Fiji and is part of a series of feasibility studies to increase awareness, capacity and expertise in cash programming for humanitarian assistance in the Pacific Islands.

This audit found 31 cases of misconduct committed by aid workers connected to Australian charities. The sector's peak body, the Council for International Development, has promised major changes to protect some of the world's most vulnerable people.

Tropical Cyclone Evan passed over Samoa on 13-14 December 2012 and caused widespread damage. This report evaluates the Tropical Cyclone Evan Recovery and Rehabilitation Programme (TCRRP), which was implemented as budget support, and the Tourism Cyclone Recovery Programme (TCRP) which was implemented as a program.

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) engaged the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) as an independent reviewer to understand practice and response of ACFID member organisations in preventing sexual misconduct amongst its employees and agents, and to make recommendations to address any areas...