The Australian Disaster Recovery Framework (ADRF) (PDF 2.49MB) was developed by the Community Outcomes and Recovery Sub-committee (CORS) under the auspices of the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee (ANZEMC), and endorsed by the Committee in October 2022.

Recovery for communities is lengthy and complex, involving local communities, volunteers, community groups, business groups, non-government organisations, along with all levels of government.

Each state and territory in Australia have their own disaster recovery policies, often large-scale disasters happen across states at the same time. The ADRF (PDF 2.49MB) provides a common understanding of the approach to disaster recovery.

The ADRF is broken into three key areas:

1. Framework purpose and essential context

• Guidance on recovery planners and practitioners
• Recovery principles, characteristics and outcomes  

2. Recovery governance

• State and territory arrangements and key Commonwealth legislation.
• Activation of national and inter-national jurisdictional coordination.
• Advice on working with recovery partners.

3. Recovery doctrine and policy

An informative video has been put together that explains the Australian Disaster Recovery Framework. View the Australian Disaster Recovery Framework Video .

The ADRF is reviewed periodically to ensure arrangements are updated as required. 

For more information or any enquiries about the Australian Disaster Recovery Framework please contact the CORS Secretariat: nationalrecoveryprojects@nema.gov.au.