Recovery Capitals

The Recovery Capitals (ReCap) project began in 2017. It investigated two complementary areas of research relating to the long-term recovery of communities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand after a disaster. It sought to increase understanding about interacting influences of different forms of capital (community capital) on mental health and wellbeing. To help guide decision-making, it addressed the missing link between existing community resilience indicators and disaster resilience frameworks. The project aim is to produce resources to guide long-term recovery strategies for communities post-disasters.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC funded the project, and the University of Melbourne and Massey University in Aotearoa New Zealand were the lead collaborators. The project has encouraged new partnerships with Victoria University of Wellington, Northeastern University, Deakin University and Wellington Emergency Management Office, Fire and Emergency NZ and NZ Red Cross. A range of organisations endorsed the project, including Australian Red Cross (lead end-user), NZ Red Cross, emergency service agencies, national and state government departments, and various university groups.

Massey University investigated how a person’s history of residential mobility might influence their willingness to dissolve social ties. The primary focus has been to provide answers to the questions why people move, how their history of mobility plays out in disaster situations, how movement affects the social capital of the left-behind community and the community migrated to, and how we can use this learning to increase the social capital in these communities.

The University of Melbourne examined the enablers and barriers to successful recovery by looking into the many forms of capital and their interactions in disaster recovery. The various forms of capital explored included natural, cultural, human, social, political, built and financial resources. The study also used case studies to build understanding of potential areas of improvement and to recognise the features of successfully recovered communities. The research will play a critical role in community recovery efforts.

Project findings

After every major disaster, some people move. While disaster-prone locations are often able to reproduce long-established settlement patterns, the demographic characteristics of residents may change. Previous literature reviews showed significant knowledge gaps about demographic issues and a lack of understanding behind temporary displacement, relocation, migration and resettlement after a crisis.

There was also a shortage of research into long-term disaster recovery response, with previous knowledge based on disaster planning, prevention and response. It was also noted that recovery is a complex process, and processes cannot be divided between short and long-term actions. Rather, a transition phase occurs as needs and progress change over time, which can delay the attainment of long-term disaster recovery goals. The recommendations suggested there is a need for a national monitoring and evaluation framework that focuses on long-term recovery, whereas most evaluations actually focused on the immediate and short-term response and lacked consistency.

The overall findings showed that local communities and their associated capitals were a key element to a successful recovery. Community engagement is essential and should be centred around immediate, short, medium and long-term recovery policies and programs. The research also showed decision-makers needed to have a greater focus on restoring the environment and the community. The strategy must be in line with the traditional response to restoring the built environment.

The report highlighted elements that impede community recovery. For example, insecure land tenure, poor land-use practices, inadequate land access and weak administration can increase community vulnerability. Infrastructure planning is essential. Effectiveness in recovery can also be undermined by the community’s social and economic conditions before a hazardous event, which can prolong the time it takes to reconstruct. Economic circumstances, population trends and demographics can affect efforts. A firm economic base can help communities that have access to financial assets and a strong business community to rely on. The wealth of the household is a large indicator of the willingness to move elsewhere; other factors are the individual’s health, their wellbeing and connectedness to the community.

Governments play a critical role in how communities recover after disasters. Most successful strategies have pre-determined policies, good planning and a degree of flexibility. In particular, local governments play a leading role, and strong local leadership is paramount to successful long-term recovery.

Guide to disaster Recovery Capitals - Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

The project used these findings to produce resources to guide recovery strategy development that is culturally and socially inclusive and customised to different community contexts. The Guide to disaster Recovery Capitals was designed to support wellbeing and decision making during emergency recovery. There are two versions: one for Australia and one for Aotearoa New Zealand. Both versions identify seven community capitals associated with recovery – natural, social, financial, cultural, political, built and human – and highlight the important interconnectedness between each of them. In this context, a capital is defined as the resources that are used to generate more or new resources for the purpose of sustaining and securing wellbeing. The guides are practical and can be applied to any type of emergency, large or small. They aim to enhance wellbeing after disasters by supporting evidence-based decision making of individuals, organisations and governments. 

Understanding and using Recovery Capitals research

The video below follows Rowena Frost, Municipal Recovery Manager for the Surf Coast Shire Council in Victoria, as she explores the research findings from this project and the Guide to disaster Recovery Capitals with Prof Lisa Gibbs , learning how to use the research to improve relief and recovery with her local community.

Also available – an interview with Prof Lisa Gibbs.

Podcast on recovery tips 

In 2021, a podcast series produced by the ABC, After the Disaster, draws on research from the project. In partnership with the Australian Red Cross and Bushfire Recovery Victoria, the podcast provides trustworthy information in a safe and companiable format, so that anyone can access support for disaster recovery. From managing insurance to supporting kids, the series offers practical research-based guidance and commonly shared experiences of disaster recovery. he series is hosted by Dr Kate Brady, a disaster recovery researcher from the Centre for Health Equity at the University of Melbourne and National Disaster Recovery Adviser at Australian Red Cross. Throughout the series, Dr Brady interviews people with lived experience of disaster, including community members across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and experts who support people during disasters or are experienced with disaster management. Experts featured include mental health professionals, such as Dr Rob Gordon; disaster resilience researchers, such as the CRC’s Prof Lisa Gibbs and Bhiamie Williamson (Australian National University); representatives from recovery-related organisations, including the Australian Red Cross and the Insurance Council of Australia; and Australian authors with recovery insights, such as Scott Pape (Barefoot Investor) and Leigh Sales (ABC).

Benefits demonstrated by the case study

The Recovery Captials project demonstrates that the CRC provides the following benefits to society:

▪ More efficient planning and decision making by providing local government and other decision-makers with knowledge about successful long-term recovery processes. The project delivered new and critical information that can further assist communities to build resilience and support recovery efforts.

▪ Leveraging of in-kind contributions from stakeholder organisations, and a related reduced reliance on public funding.

The initial project funding was complemented by $1.2 million in-kind contributions from seventeen partners:

• Australian Red Cross – lead end user

• New Zealand Red Cross

• Wellington Region Emergency Management Office 

• Fire and Emergency New Zealand

• Emergency Management Australia, Department of Home Affairs

• The Leadbeater Group

• Resilient Melbourne

• Social Recovery Reference Group

• Regional Arts Victoria

• Rural Solutions SA, Department of Primary Industries and Regions

• Emergency Management Victoria

• Country Fire Authority

• State Emergency Service Victoria

• Creative Recovery Network

• Department of Economics, Deakin University

• Professor Aldrich, Northeastern University

• Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne.

The insights generated about long-term recovery in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand will add to the global effort to improve disaster recovery efforts.

End-user focused resources will be developed to enhance the community’s ability to recover and their resilience. Both are expected to help reduce the economic, health and wellbeing costs of disasters.