In 2023-24, Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) successfully completed its third year of operation. This success is driven by the commitment and passion of our Participants and researchers to achieve safer, more resilient and sustainable communities through research that is useful, useable and ultimately, used.
The Annual Progress Report 2023-24 highlights our achievements and demonstrates the soundness of our strategic direction with a targeted national research program.
During the last 12 months, our networks continued to grow, welcoming new Participants from Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia and bringing our total number of Participants to 32. We’re also now working with 47 research providers.
Two successful research concept rounds took place throughout the year with $21M in research investment now allocated to 67 core research projects. These projects are at various stages of completion, reflecting the Centre’s end-user driven approach to research that aligns with our 10-Year Research Strategy and Biennial Research Plan 2024–26.
Through the implementation of our evaluation framework, we’re able to measure the use of our research. Key examples include the national roll-out of the SES Fit for Task program, ABC Emergency’s evidence-based Community Service Announcements for floods and storms based on research findings, more than 55,000 registered users of the Australian Disaster Resilience Index, and the incorporation of research findings into national emergency management doctrine.
Throughout the year, the Centre was asked to contribute advice to strategic policy initiatives including the review of flood hazard mitigation methodology to inform resilience programs in the NSW Northern Rivers; participation in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) National Disaster Risk Profile Expert Reference Group and Disaster Ready Fund Assessment Panel; and contributions to the National Climate Risk Assessment.
Demonstrating thought leadership through a partnership with Suncorp Insurance, we delivered a discussion paper following a high-level roundtable event on the topic of assisted relocations. The launch of the Be Ahead of Ready initiative further encouraged sector and wider big thinking to prompt transformative change to safeguard Australia’s future resilience.
Our commitment to the next generation of researchers and policy makers continued through the Centre’s education and training program. Our program now invests in 39 active postgraduate and 21 associate students, with three scholarship students completing their studies.
Throughout the year, Centre staff worked with First Nations research leaders to co-design a First Nations Scholarship to be officially launched later this year. We also launched our first industry internship.
The Disaster Challenge again successfully inspired innovation in and support for early- and mid-career researchers and practitioners to connect with industry with a brilliant solution to the wicked problem put forward by our 2023 winner, Lydia Wardale.
Our Early- and Mid-Career Academic and Practitioners Network launched to advocate for the next generation of natural hazards leaders by supporting and fostering excellence in the science and management of natural hazards.
As our research portfolio matures, activities to translate research into practice continue through regular webinars, participation in conferences and key sector events, as well as regular engagement with the media. This has seen our research reach thousands of people in the last year alone.
We welcomed several new staff members, increasing our internal capability and capacity to develop, deliver and share research that is useful, useable and used, and opened our Western Australia Node Office, significantly enhancing connections with Western Australian and South Australian Participants and stakeholders.
The ongoing journey to promote reconciliation continued through the implementation of the Centre’s REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan, with the vast majority of actions now completed.
Looking towards the 2024–25 financial year, we will continue to expand and mature our research portfolio, focusing on the translation and utilisation of research outcomes into practice. It is vital that our research program remains future-focused to answer the vital questions that will enable the ongoing safety, sustainability and resilience of communities as natural hazard risk continues to worsen.
It’s been a successful, rewarding 12 months and I look forward to furthering our vision of communities that are safer, more resilient and sustainable in the face of natural hazards. Thank you to all who make up the Centre – researchers, end-users, PhD scholarship students and associate students. Without your dedication and hard work, the progress that the Centre is making wouldn’t be possible.
Stay up to date with all natural hazards research news and outputs at www.naturalhazards.com.au.