We inform how information about natural hazards is collected, interpreted and communicated. This has resulted in actionable messages that are used across Australia by emergency services, businesses, communities and individuals.
The AFDRS has come together through strong collaboration between researchers and fire and land management agencies. Ongoing bushfire science continues to inform important updates to fire behaviour models, which are now being applied operationally across the country.
Timely, trusted, evidence-informed and actionable warnings ultimately save thousands of lives, properties and businesses from natural hazards.
Following on from Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recommendations around the need for national warning systems, we fund research that provides the evidence base to tailor warnings according to best practice for minimising loss of life and property during an event.
For example, research we funded led to a change in advice during bushfires from stay and defend to evacuate; warnings during floods now focus on preventing people from entering floodwater.
Our projects also inform the way warnings are communicated, ensuring every Australian can understand and act. Working with agencies across Australia, this research has ensured national consistency in how the public receives information when it matters most.
Initial research undertaken by the Centre studied the wording and structure of warning messages, how messages are understood and translated into action, and how information should be structured.
This work has evolved with further projects on how to better warn people and how to improve forecasts with longer lead times to inform communities of the potential occurrence of natural hazards days to weeks ahead to improve their preparedness.
The research has been translated into targeted warnings, information and advice used across Australia, including in:
Research we fund contributes to sophisticated hazard predictions combining the use of satellite data, ground observations, weather models and computer modelling. This research is used in the development of:
Building on Centre-funded research, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System uses evidence to forecast and communicate fire danger across the country.
A set of 26 evidence-informed community service announcements co-developed with our researchers has been used by the ABC across Australia, reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners with clear and actionable information on what to do during an emergency.
As the community expects more real-time information about fires, we’re showing how to effectively embed predictions into warning products, and the best way of releasing these to the public.
Insights from Centre research contributed to NSW State Emergency Service’s (SES) Steer Clear campaign, saving lives by finding more effective ways to urge people to reconsider driving through floodwater.
