Summary report: Community experiences of the 2022-2023 Australian floods - South Australia, Victoria and south-western New South Wales

The 2022-2023 floods were among the most devastating natural hazards in recent history, causing widespread destruction and significantly impacting communities across different states in Eastern Australia. Building upon seminal research previously conducted in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) (Taylor et al., 2023), and Tasmania (TAS), this project examines the experiences of communities affected by the 2022-2023 floods in Victoria (VIC), South Australia (SA) and south-western NSW1. In these locations, the flood manifested in two distinct patterns: slower-onset riverine flooding characterised by gradual water level rises over weeks that predominantly affected SA, and (relatively) rapid-onset2 flooding where intense rainfall led to much faster water level rises within a few days and severe impacts in VIC and NSW. In response to these events, Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA), in collaboration with key stakeholders, initiated a comprehensive research project to better understand the diverse experiences of communities affected by the floods.