Research-informed policy, advice and submissions
Making communities safer, more resilient and sustainable through research-informed policy advice and inquiry submissions
Informing national policy and strategic plans
The Centre has provided research-informed expertise and advice through:
- National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan
- Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation inquiry
- National Urban Policy for Australia
- Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding
- Independent Review of the Australian Climate Service
- Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response Discussion Paper
- Emergency Response Fund Amendment (Disaster Ready Fund) Bill 2022
- Appearance before the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience to provide evidence-informed testimony on the challenges facing Australia’s future disaster management workforce and possible solutions.
Research-informed submissions to inquiries and reviews
The Centre provides research-informed input to government inquiries and reviews to ensure the scientific rigour of recommendations for Australian communities.
Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation
Ensuring disaster risk reduction and adaptation are at the heart of Australia’s path to a cleaner, more resilient future was the Centre's key message to the Productivity Commission’s Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation inquiry.
Inquiry into the 2026 bushfires in Victoria
Effective bushfire management requires a systems approach that considers the changing climate, community and environmental resilience and the use of innovative solutions, in addition to the emergency response was highlighted in this submission.
National Climate Change Adaptation Plan
A more proactive and ambitious response model with a long-term outlook and commitment of resources is required to enable effective adaptation of emergency responses to our climate future. Innovation and research are essential in supporting such a model.
A National Urban Policy for Australia
Specialist input to the draft National Urban Policy for Australia being developed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Inquiry into Australia's Disaster Resilience
Catastrophic disasters require a nationwide, whole-of-community effort across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Inquiry into Climate Resilience (Victoria)
Submission to the Victorian Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry into Climate Resilience, specifically addressessing the intersection of natural hazard risk and climate resilience.
Supporting strategic planning at the state and territory level
The Centre has supported submissions and provided advice to state and territory-wide strategic issues:
- Queensland Inspector-General Emergency Management 2023–24 Severe Weather Season Review
- Victorian Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee on climate change adaptation
- Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements Review – Queensland Inspector General Emergency Management
- NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Shelter-in-Place Guideline
- Advice to the NSW Reconstruction Authority on State Resilience Strategy and State Risk Assessment
- NSW Reconstruction Authority on State Risk Assessment
- SA SES on national flash flood warning proposal
- Australian Climate Service on local government flood risk analysis.
Membership
The Centre contributes expertise as a member of:
- Independent Peer Review Panel for Flood Hazard Mitigation Methodology (NSW Reconstruction Authority)
- Independent Peer Review Panel for Flood Hazard Mitigation Methodology for the NSW Reconstruction Authority
- NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Technical Advisory Group on high-risk flood prone development proposals consistent with the NSW Flood Inquiry
- Project Control Group to update the climate change considerations in the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Guidelines
- Independent Peer Review Panel for Flood Hazard Mitigation Methodology for the NSW Reconstruction Authority
- Independent Peer Review Panel for Flood Hazard Mitigation Methodology (NSW Reconstruction Authority)
- Queensland Disaster Management Research Advisory Panel
- Awards Committee, Queensland Division of Engineers Australia
- AFAC Collaboration Groups
- Queensland Disaster Research Alliance Stakeholder Network.
Participation in the national, state and local policy conversations
The Centre also contributes its expertise and advice through broad range of additional reviews, summits, consultations, industry association committees, etc.:
- Independent Review of National Natural Disaster Governance Arrangements
- Department of Home Affairs’ Critical Infrastructure Annual Risk Review
- NSW Treasury project to develop cost-benefit analysis tools for natural hazard mitigation arising from the NSW Flood Inquiry
- Disaster Ready Fund Assessment Panel
- AFAC Board, AFAC Council and AFAC collaboration groups
- Australian Fire Danger Rating System Program Board
- Project Control Group to update the climate change considerations in Australian Rainfall and Runoff
- Higher Risk Weather Season Summit - National Emergency Management Agency
- National and South Australian Climate Change Risk Assessments
- Insurance Council of Australia and Building Council of Australia Land Use Planning Roundtable
- NEMA consultation on Disaster Ready Fund
- Independent Voice of Strata Owners – Disaster Resilience Workshop
- Steering Committee for the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre
- Northern Australia Fire Management Forum
- SA SES on flash flood warning proposal
- NSW Reconstruction Authority on State Risk Assessment
- Participation in NSW Treasury project to develop cost-benefit analysis tools for natural hazard mitigation arising from the NSW Flood Inquiry grant assessment panel for the NSW Bushfire Commercialisation Fund for the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer
- Australian Fire Danger System Working Group
- NSW Overarching Bushfires Evaluation Advisory Group
- Adapt NSW Households Research Project Advisory Group, hosted by Office of Energy and Climate Change, NSW Treasury
- WA In-Band OnChannel Research Subcommittee
- Research briefing to the National Resilience Taskforce to inform future policy recommendations
- Briefing to a visiting delegation from the Science and Technology Directorate of the US Department of Homeland Security
- Briefings to the NSW State Emergency Management Committee, WA State Emergency Management Committee and ACT Multi-Hazard Advisory Council on applications for current natural hazards research
- NSW Treasury project to develop cost-benefit analysis tools for natural hazard mitigation arising from the NSW Flood Inquiry
- Australian Fire Danger Ratings System Program Board
- Australian Rainfall and Runoff Project Control Group to update climate change considerations
- Steering Committee, NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Centre
- National and South Australian Climate Change Risk Assessments
- Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) 2024 Critical Infrastructure Annual Risk Review
- Australian Climate Change Risk Assessment review and stakeholder forum attendance
- Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, Engineers Australia
- NEMA National Space Weather Exercise
- First Nations Community of Practice
- Queensland Disaster Research Alliance
- Queensland Disaster Management Research Advisory Panel
- Resilient Sydney and Community Deliberative Workshop
- WA Interagency Bushfire Operations Committee Research Group
- AdaptNSW forum
- Insurance Council of Australia Annual Conference.
Amplifying natural hazards research in the media
- Publication of a 5-point plan in the Canberra Times to inform strategic policy for Australia’s future disaster resilience.
Research-based presentations and lectures
Centre staff actively share evidence-based information with many stakeholder groups, including at conferences, meetings and through lectures:
- Higher Risk Weather Season Summit hosted by NEMA
- Land Use Planning Roundtable hosted by the Insurance Council of Australia and Building Council of Australia
- NSW Telecommunications and Power Resilience Forum hosted by Essential Energy
- AFAC Research Committee Strategic Workshop hosted by AFAC
- Disaster Resilience Workshop hosted by the Independent Voice of Strata Owners
- 7th International Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference
- Natural Hazards Research Australia Executive Masterclass
- Northern Territory Emergency Management Symposium 2024
- Stakeholder forums aligned with Centre Board meetings in Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
- LGAQ Disaster Management Conference 2025
- Western Australian Interagency Bushfire Operations Committee Research Subcommittee Meeting
- Floodplain Management Association 2025
- Emergency Media and Public Affairs Conference 2025
- Engineers Australia Risk Management Conference 2025
- Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation Cyclone Seminar 2025
- Western Australia State Emergency Management Committee
- Western Australia Land Information System (WALIS) Council
- Recovery Leaders Forum
- NZ Natural Hazards and Resilience Platform Evaluation
- NSW State Emergency Management Committee
- NSW State Emergency Management Committee – Capability Sub-committee
- AFAC Council
- WA State Emergency Management Committee
- University of Western Sydney
- Methodist Ladies College
- Governor General’s reception for the Fiona Wood Foundation
- Australian Tropical Cyclone Advisory Group
- Engineers Australia Risk Engineering Conference
- Victoria State Emergency Management Planning Committee
- Collaborative Research Australia Collaborate Innovate conference
- Western Australian Land Information System (WALIS) Council
- Queensland Inspector General of Emergency Management staff in July 2024 during the 2023–2024 Severe Weather Season Review.
- NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre Day 2025
- Steering Committee, Northern Australian Fire Managers Forum 2025
- Member of Victorian Emergency Services Foundation Learning Network
- Participant in Cooperative Research Australia CEO’s Forum
- Member of Tasmanian SFMC Fire Management Practice to Research Working Group
- Editorial Committee for the Australian Journal of Emergency Management
- Program Committee, 2025 Australian Disaster Resilience Conference
- Steering Committee, Queensland IGEM Disaster Management Research Forum 2025
- Australian and New Zealand Emergency Management Committee
- Resilient Futures Investment Roundtable
- AFAC Council Meetings
- ARPC Stakeholder Forum
- Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly
- Western Australia Bushfire Conference
- Land Use Planning Roundtable hosted by Insurance Council of Australia
- Policy Roundtable on Indigenous disaster resilience
- National Preparedness Summit 2024 – Higher Risk Weather Season
- NIDR Gathering
- Global Nature Positive Summit
- Australian Climate Science Workshop.