Monash University’s Fire to Flourish survey asked 3522 Australians about their perceptions of preparedness and resilience to natural disasters such as fires, floods and major storms. It compared responses between those who had lived through disaster and those who had not.
The study found that experiencing a disaster greatly influenced how prepared and resilient people felt if disaster struck again. When asked about future disasters, 67 per cent said they would cope ‘well’ or ‘very well’, compared to 48 per cent of those who had never experienced disaster.
But some respondents living in disaster-prone areas were completely unaware of their level of risk, and almost half of all respondents indicated they did not feel their community was prepared for a natural disaster.
With natural disasters projected to increase in frequency and intensity, Fire to Flourish chief executive Briony Rogers said the study shone a light on the need for increased and ongoing investment in initiatives that built community resilience and supported a community-led approach to recovery when disaster did occur.
“Our survey revealed that a significant portion of the Australian community do not feel prepared for a natural disaster, and feel that their household and community will have low resilience in the event a disaster hits,” Associate Professor Rogers said.
“This reveals an opportunity to better support our communities to build a foundation of resilience, that can be a support in times of disaster and beyond.”
For those that experienced a disaster, the survey also shows this challenging experience can become a source of strength.
Participants with disaster experiences reported greater confidence that their household was prepared (68 per cent vs 43 per cent), felt more connected to their communities, shared information about local problems and initiatives more regularly (61 per cent vs 49 per cent), and had people in their community equipped to step up and lead recovery efforts if they need to (62 per cent vs 49 per cent).
“While disaster survivors are often depicted as victims with reduced capacities, this is not how they see themselves. In fact, Australians who have gone through a natural disaster bounce back, more confident in their ability to cope with whatever the future may throw at them,” Assoc Prof Rogers said.
“All disasters, including fires and floods, happen within our communities. These communities form the backbone of any response, yet they’re often under-utilised in broader disaster preparedness and recovery. Harnessing the strengths and unique lived-experience of disaster survivors can support community-led recovery, tailored to local priorities and place.
‘’The findings will help to inform ongoing Fire to Flourish program work, reimagining community resilience by supporting communities to lead their own local initiatives that strengthen disaster recovery efforts and resilience, and disrupt cycles of disadvantage.
“Our approach seeks to facilitate transformative change and demonstrate what can be achieved when communities are not just passive recipients of recovery funds, but are supported to actively find their own ways to rebuild and recover,” Assoc Prof Rogers said.
“We aim to see the Fire to Flourish community-led approach to building resilience to natural disasters shared across all Australian communities.”
