Actions taken:
Over 2019–2023, the Australian Government implemented the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (NDRRF) to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) across Australia. In September 2022, the Australian Government established the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to lead Australia’s DRR, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, in line with the NDRRF. NDRRF implementation is guided by national action plans, the first of which was endorsed in May 2020. The Second National Action Plan was endorsed by Australian emergency management ministers in August 2023, and was informed by stakeholder consultations and post-disaster reviews.
In 2022-23, the Australian Government enhanced DRR investment through the Disaster Ready Fund, providing AUD1 billion over five years (AUD200 million annually to states and territories) for DRR projects.
Federal, state and territory governments committed AUD261 million (50:50) from 2019-20 to 2023-24 to a DRR Package, which funds initiatives aligned to the NDRRF.
Over 2019–2023, the Australian Red Cross (ARC) bolstered Australian communities’ DRR awareness through preparedness sessions and workshops, community-level programs, capacity-building, dissemination of information, the annual national awareness campaign and climate resilience programming.
ARC helped those most at risk through several initiatives, including:
- Emergency Resilience in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities report
- Easy English RediPlan – an accessible disaster preparedness guide for individuals with low literacy, intellectual disabilities, or learning disabilities
- RediPlan in Auslan: for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, with guidance in sign language.
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community-led Disaster Resilience project
- First Nations Recovery Group
- Youth in Emergencies Development Program
- Pillowcase Workshops for children to prepare for, cope with and respond to emergencies
- People at Risk Framework: for the South Australian Government
ARC also worked with government agencies, organisations, committees, and groups, including:
- NEMA, to develop national actions plans to implement the NDRRF
- Community Outcomes and Recovery Sub-Committee, to develop the Australian Disaster Recovery Framework
- Social Recovery Reference Group, to develop national policy and strategies on the human, social and community consequences of disasters
- Natural Hazards Research Australia and Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, to strengthen Australian communities’ disaster resilience.
ARC founded and worked closely with partners on:
- Climate Leaders Coalition, supporting Paris Agreement commitments and setting decarbonisation targets.
- Resilient Futures Investment Roundtable, enhancing investment in resilience.
- Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities, helping Australian communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
- Community Resilience Alliance, enabling community resilience through policy, advocacy, and championing.
ARC disaster resilience and is planning research to better understand the humanitarian impacts of climate change. Australian Red Cross also published several reports/submissions, including:
- Understanding preparedness and recovery. A survey of people’s preparedness and recovery experience for emergencies report
- ARC Supplementary Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Resilience
- Submission on the National Adaptation Plan Issues Paper
- ARC Public Submission to the Productivity Commission Review of the Future Drought Fund
