In late 2013, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre was launched at Parliament House, Canberra, with high expectations and widespread support.

The Minister for Justice, the Hon Michael Keenan declared that the new $130 million research centre would draw together all of Australasia’s fire and emergency service authorities with the nation’s leading experts across a wide range of scientific fields to explore the causes, consequences and mitigation of natural disasters.

In July 2017, the CRC and its partners gathered in Adelaide for Research Driving Change – Showcase 2017. That event celebrated the achievements of the first four years, and acknowledging the many practical uses of the research; by CRC partners and by others.

Here in one place are the highlights and achievements of the CRC to date - as well as a review of 2017-2018 - activities that aim to save lives and reduce disaster-related costs.

The CRC conducts a multi-disciplinary research program on the major national issues across the natural hazards spectrum. The CRC is a partnership of all Australian and New Zealand fire, land and emergency service agencies; more than 30 universities; plus many federal, state and local government departments; professional and volunteer associations; and non-for-profit organisations.

From mid-2013 and backed with $47 million over eight years from the Australian Government, plus contributions from its member organisations, the CRC has been undertaking research that supports the development of cohesive, evidence-based policies, strategies and programs to build a more disaster resilient Australia.

The CRC is providing a long-term knowledge base that directly supports emergency services and other government and non-government agencies protect their communities through work to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.

Dr Richard Thornton
Chief Executive Officer, Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC

Research outcomes across the natural hazards have become vital to emergency services agencies, government departments and others within the sector. At the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC we have contributed strongly to this national demand by driving a collective approach to natural hazards science based on the requirements of our partners. In this publication the CRC looks back, forward and beyond to see how our research is making a difference for all to see.

We will continue to deliver our research benefits for the sector because the economic and social costs of disasters in Australia and New Zealand is

continuing to increase. The need for an evidence base relevant to the challenges we face both now, and in the future, is constant. Collectively, we must all continue to ask the important questions. The future is not just a linear extension of what we know now.

Together with our partners, we are working towards a more disaster resilient Australia. This is your natural hazards research centre. We hope you will help us deliver for the community through your active involvement in the research.

On a sad note, our founding Chairman Dr Laurie Hammond passed away in November 2018 after a short battle with illness. Laurie was integral to the growth and development of the centre. His leadership at the Board level and his strategic advice to management was always insightful, timely and welcomed.

Laurie will be sadly missed by all of us here at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, and by his colleagues across the emergency services and management sector.

The CRC provides a research capacity that is not feasible at the individual state or territory or agency level, nor with any one university or research organisation. Core funding through the Australian Government’s CRC Programme combined with contributions from all partners (cash and in-kind) creates a pool of resources large enough to tackle research questions at the national scale.

With the resources pooled and the research outcomes shared, the return on the investment for any individual partner is significantly better than if it was to pursue the research aims alone.

This pooled investment in the CRC is also being leveraged in other ways:

Coverage in traditional media is amplified through the social media channels of the media, and the CRC and its partners. The CRC is active on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, with a growing list of followers on each platform. Social media is an important channel to reach individuals and groups in addition to the regular CRC networks, including regional communities, volunteer brigades and units, local government, politicians, and international researchers.

Peak times centre around the CRC’s Seasonal Bushfire Outlooks for southern and northern Australia, the Research Forum and annual conference, and major hazard events (prominently bushfires, floods and cyclones over summer).

By way of example, in September 2017 the Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook was covered more than 55 times across all media. This included live coverage on ABC24 and across the nightly news on all four networks, as well as The Project and Sunrise and major newspapers The Herald Sun, The Age, The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times and The Weekly Times.

On social media, the updated version released in November 2017 reached more than 99,000 people on social media.

Television, radio and website interviews have focused on the science emerging from various projects. Prominent commentary articles have appeared in The Conversation, The Australian, and the Australian Financial Review. All media mentions are listed on the CRC website. Media coverage is generated in conjunction with university and end user partners.

Industry and trade media are key media partners, with the CRC contributing regular articles on the latest research findings and developments in Asia Pacific Fire (UK-based), Wildfire (US-based), and most partner agency publications. CRC research was also cited in numerous publications by the Climate Council.