With new projects in bushfire modelling, extreme rainfall forecasting, climate change scenario analysis and emergency personnel mental health kicking off, Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) continues to strengthen our wide-ranging research portfolio that helps ensure a safer, more resilient and sustainable Australia in the face of natural hazards.
Identifying and defining landscape dryness thresholds for fires will improve the metrics identifying bushfire risk to guide suppression tactics and support prescribed burning operations. This research will improve the accuracy of fire simulation systems and fire danger rating systems, add value to seasonal forecasts and enhance the interpretation of landscape systems, leading to enhanced community safety.
The research team comprises:
- Dr Jane Cawson, The University of Melbourne (research leader)
- Dr Jamie Burton, The University of Melbourne
- Brett Cirulis, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Hamish Clarke, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Rachel Nolan, Western Sydney University
- Luke Collins, Natural Resources Canada
- Prof Trent Penman, The University of Melbourne
Developing an integrated predictive capability for extreme rainfall and inundation will develop a multi-disciplinary predictive capability prototype to improve extreme rainfall inundation forecasts and how this risk is communicated with emergency management agencies and personnel.
The research team comprises:
- Dr Paul Fox-Hughes, Bureau of Meteorology (research leader)
- Dr Carlos Velasco-Forero, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Wendy Sharples, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Carla Mooney, Bureau of Meteorology
- Jayaram Pudashine, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr David Wilke, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Dragana Zovko-Rajak, Bureau of Meteorology
- Barry Hanstrum, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Navid Ghajarnia, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Christopher Picket-Heaps, Bureau of Meteorology
- Dr Jiawei Jou, Bureau of Meteorology
Utilisation of transformative scenarios in a climate-challenged world will further develop the way the Transformative scenarios in a climate-challenged world resources developed through the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC are translated and used in practice. The project will work collaboratively to ensure the resources are of maximum benefit and use to agencies, creating a more dynamic, informed and prepared emergency management sector that can respond to unpredictable events in a climate-challenged world.
The research team comprises:
- Liza Gelt, Collaborative Consulting Co
- Rosie Tran, Collaborative Consulting Co
- Gill Fletcher, Collaborative Consulting Co
- Dr Michael Rumsewicz, Collaborative Consulting Co
- Deb Martindale, Sentient Co
Best practice for tracking potentially traumatic event exposure will analyse psychological risk management systems, infrastructure, assessment tools and recording platforms in Australia and abroad to better safeguard the mental wellbeing of emergency services personnel. Through the analysis of these structures to determine their strengths and weaknesses in tracking the cumulative exposure of fire and emergency service personnel to potentially traumatic events, the project will enhance agencies’ ability to assess their current monitoring of trauma exposure practices and improve the future development and implementation of systems to create and maintain psychologically healthy workplaces.
The research team comprises:
- Alexandra Howard, Phoenix Australia/The University of Melbourne
- Anita Savic, Phoenix Australia
- Dr David Pedder, Phoenix Australia
- Loretta Watson, Phoenix Australia
- Dr Tracey Varker, Phoenix Australia
- A/Prof Lisa Dell, Phoenix Australia
- Enterprise Prof Nicole Sadler, Phoenix Australia
- Dr Kit Huckvale, The University of Melbourne
Is your organisation looking to expand their research capabilities? As part of the Centre’s ongoing research plan, project concepts are formally considered for funding twice a year. The next submission round will open on 29 July. Visit here for more information.