Ensuring that great value for our partners is derived from investments in the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC, the CRC has begun a process to refresh our current research program. This process, conducted over the next 18 months, will see successful current projects continue and vital new projects commence to meet the needs of our partners.
With research utilisation beginning on the current projects, the time is right in the CRC’s third year of operation to ensure that the original aims of the CRC are still in focus, that the research program is consistent with the outcomes of a number of subsequent reviews conducted at the national, state and territory level, and that appropriate resources are being allocated to the areas of most need.
The refresh of the research program is a refinement to ensure our science is contributing to a more disaster resilient Australia, and meeting the needs of the community and Australia’s emergency management agencies.
How will it happen?
The refresh of the current research program has now begun, with the plan to continue successful current projects and commence new projects of vital need to the industry from mid-2017. The process will be similar to the initial startup of the CRC in 2013, but on a longer (18 month) timetable.
The current program will be evaluated to see how it measures up for research quality and utilisation potential.
Current CRC partners and the wider emergency management sector, including the private sector, will be consulted to define a national agenda for natural hazards research.
CRC partners will be asked to prioritise areas for future research
An appropriate scope of research will be devised that aligns with the national research agenda.
Expressions of interest for undertaking the research will be sought from our existing research partners in the first instance, and the wider research sector if required, against this scope of work.
The CRC will seek the best alignment and value from the research proposals.
The process will start with the scope of the current projects, looking to see if they should be varied in line with more current needs, and with the broader environments the emergency management sector operates in, including the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience, the recent Productivity Commission report on disaster funding arrangements and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
It is important to note that the refresh is not starting with a blank sheet. Projects that are working well (in terms of quality and utilisation potential) and projects that require further resources, will continue to be supported. Projects that are complete or no longer required will be ended and transferred to research utilisation processes. If emerging and vital needs are identified, new research projects will begin. This could include new funding from the industry for high priority needs.
Let’s get started
All CRC partners should start thinking now about the research they would like to see in the research program post-2017. The CRC will hold workshops later this year and the first half of 2016 to consult with the emergency management sector.
This is your CRC – own it, shape it, be an active part of building its future.