Science impacts on show

Emergency managers and policy makers from across Australia gathered in Adelaide on 4-5 July to discuss how national research by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is making communities safer. Research Driving Change - Showcase 2017 highlighted the practical research outcomes of the last four years of research, with case studies and utilisation examples from across the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research program presented by partners of the CRC.

CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, Dr Richard Thornton, said the attendance of 190 people showed how much science is valued by those who are working to improve the way Australia prepares for and responds to natural hazards emergencies.

“We are now seeing outcomes of the national research program being taken up by our partners, and others, across the broader emergency management sector,” Dr Thornton said.

The Showcase featured two days of learnings and case studies of how the emergency management industry is using the results of CRC research. How these findings are being put into practice across the sector was highlighted, with end-users also speaking about what works in directing research and how to make it easier to absorb the findings into operations and policy. 

Topics covered included bushfire and severe weather modelling, emergency warnings and risk communication, teamwork in high pressure situations, the economics of mitigation, volunteering, engineering and the built environment, supporting Indigenous communities in northern Australia and disaster policy. 

A series of panels featuring industry leaders shared their insights on how CRC research is influencing their business, how to get the best value from investment in research and where science will lead emergency management in Australia next.

Importantly, the next stage of the science was also discussed, with new projects pointing to exciting new directions in catastrophic event planning, land use planning, flood risk communication, predicting impacts on the built environment along the coast, diversity and wellbeing in emergency services, and mental health. This new research will build upon the work completed in recent years.

The Showcase began with the launch of the priorities for national research into natural hazards for the next decade. National research priorities for natural hazards emergency management, developed in conjunction with the emergency management sector, identify where future investment is needed.  

“As a nation, we have a moral and economic obligation to mitigate against the impact of natural hazards,” Dr Thornton said.

Major issues across all hazards have been identified. They include:

• Shared responsibility and community engagement
• Communicating risk and understanding the benefits of mitigation
• Climate change
• Predicting hazards more accurately, leading to better warnings.

Discover the National research priorities for natural hazards emergency management at www.bnhcrc.com.au/nationalpriorities