National preparedness for the higher risk weather season

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National preparedness for the higher risk weather season

Written 19 September 2024

News
Preparedness

The second National Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS) Preparedness Summit took place over 18-19 September 2024. The event brought together more than 240 leaders from all levels of government and the emergency management, private and not-for-profit sectors. With a focus on best preparing for the 2024-25 higher risk weather season.

The Summit began with a warm welcome to country from Uncle Tyronne Bell. Followed by opening remarks from the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, our Coordinator-General Brendan Moon AM, and Governor General Sam Mostyn AC.

“In our 50th year of national collaboration, I’m delighted that over 240 participants from over 140 organisations are here“, Mr Moon said.

“These two days allow us to:

develop a collective understanding of the seasonal outlook and our capabilities

test how we will prepare, respond and recover from disasters that we may face

build connections and strengthen relationships between key stakeholders

enhance our national coordination in preparation for the upcoming season.”

Dr Karl Braganza from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology also gave a detailed overview of the seasonal outlook.

Key features of the Summit

The Summit is a chance to bring critical stakeholders across Australia into one room. Including representatives from all levels of government, industry leaders and not-for-profit sectors. Together they were able to explore how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

This opportunity helps to build connections, strengthen relationships and enhance our national coordination during crises. The Summit is a critical component to NEMA’s National Preparedness Program.

A speaker stands at a lectern on a stage with NEMA pull up banners beside them. A large screen shows text about the global climate context.

Day 1

The first day of the Summit involved a number of breakout activities. The activities explored best practice and emerging themes for response and early recovery scenarios. These scenarios focused on:

First Nations Communities – best practice in evacuations. Culturally aware best practice for engagement with Indigenous communities before, during and after crises.

Energy and Telecommunications. Energy and telecommunication networks are vulnerable to threats, including extreme weather events and cyber events. Exploring the national resilience of networks.

Warnings and Community Messaging. How to best calibrate messaging to communities about high-quality warnings.

Climate and Severe Weather. Based on recent jurisdictional reviews. Advice on how emergency management planning and investments can be orientated to support communities before, funding and after disasters.

National Coordination Mechanism and the role of private sector in crisis. Collaboration between government and industry to support effective consequence management across the emergency management continuum.

Shelter emergency. Looking into emergency shelter options and key considerations for the provision of shelter following a disaster.

Gendered Violence Post Disaster. Best practice information on domestic violence prevention and response consideration across the emergency management continuum.

Collaboratively delivering integrated recovery outcomes for our communities. Looking at how to provide best practice information on approaches to recovery. Including support to locally-led solutions.

Deputy Coordinator-General Joe Buffone and Deputy Coordinator-General Dr Jill Charker sit on a stage answering questions from the crowd.

Day 2

The final day of the Summit focused on a scenario. It was developed in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology. The scenario contained nationally significant events that lead to complex, compounding and cascading crises which require collaborative decision making.

This allowed key stakeholders exercise how they would respond and work together in such a situation.

A woman stands behind a lectern speaking while gesturing with her hands.

Reflecting on the Summit

Our national HRWS Summit is an extremely important event. Providing an opportunity to focus on the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework and relevant national-level plans, including the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan. It allows the critical stakeholders involved in emergency management in Australia to come together and collaborate on ideas, establish plans and playout real life scenarios to better prepare Australia for the upcoming HRWS.