International Day for Disaster Reduction 2019

All around the world in October each year, the UN International Day for Disaster Reduction highlights how at risk communities are reducing their exposure to disasters. 

Themes for this day change each year and are based on the Sendai Seven Campaign – 7 Targets, 7 Years. In 2019 the theme focuses on the fourth target of the Sendai Framework: substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.

Following the tradition of recent years, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is again hosting the Australian event. A panel of speakers, including expert practitioners and researchers, will discuss how their work is helping to build disaster resilient communities across Australia:

• Celeste Young, Victoria University
• John Rolfe, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• Kieran Dibb, Queensland Reconstruction Authority
• Peter Hillcoat, Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Craig Carpenter, Queensland Department of Public Works and Housing

Speakers will explore Australia’s contribution to reducing impacts upon basic services and critical infrastructure from a range of natural disasters, and address questions such as:

• What are the challenges we face in preparing and responding to natural disasters and how can they be addressed?
• What can be done today to reduce the damages tomorrow?
• What policies and practices need to be created, better implemented or changed at a national, state and local level?

BUILD TO LAST: CREATING A DISASTER RESILIENT FUTURE

Date: Friday 11 October 2019
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am 
Venue: Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street P Block, Level 4, Room P419 Gardens Point Campus Brisbane

Light refreshments will be provided.

The event has the involvement and participation of Queensland CRC partners, including the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland University of Technology as well as other key state-based stakeholders- the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the Inspector-General Emergency Management. The event is also supported by the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

The day is an initiative of the United Nations, and is backed by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council. The CRC hosts the Australian National Committee for the ISDR.

Visit the UNDRR site to learn more about the International Day for Disaster Reduction. Last year, the CRC hosted an event in Adelaide. Watch the videos below, or read more about the panel discussion. 

Highlights from 2019