Meaningful engagement between First Nations communities and emergency services leads to meaningful partnerships, with Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) projects providing the evidence base for appropriate, respectful collaboration.
How can the emergency sector and First Nations communities better connect in a culturally appropriate and respectful way?
The following projects provide frameworks for researchers and emergency service organisations to establish and grow relationships with First Nations communities and organisations.
Connecting Indigenous people and the emergency sector boosted engagement and disaster response dialogue in the Southern Gulf region of Queensland following a significant flood in the Burke Shire in 2023. Project participants co-wrote a Statement of mutual understanding and intent outlining how they and other communities and emergency organisations will work together in a participatory, inclusive way.
Cultural land management research and governance in south-east Australia ensures appropriate and respectful engagement with First Nations communities and greater recognition and inclusion of First Nations’ rights and perspectives in natural hazards research. Developed in response to recommendations from the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, the resulting Cultural land management principles and protocols embeds respectful and collaborative engagement by researchers.
“Increasingly, bushfire and land management agencies in Australia are recognising the need to work in partnership with First Nations communities to get the best outcomes for residents and Country. I am very pleased to see it has produced not only a range of interesting findings and implications for practitioners and policymakers working in this space, but also outputs outlining principles and protocols that those people can put into their work right away.”
Aidan Galpin, Manager, Bushfire Management Council, Country Fire Service, South Australia
Centre projects continue to enhance the Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience (AIDR) Knowledge Handbook series, including advice on engaging with and supporting rural and remote Indigenous communities:
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Planning Evacuation with Indigenous Communities companion document references Hazards, culture and Indigenous Communities project, highlighting the project finding of working within existing community governing institutions as a key principle in the crucial processes of knowledge and cultural exchange between Aboriginal and non-Indigenous practitioners.
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Recovery Exercise Toolkit module Working with Indigenous Communities references findings from the Recovery Capitals - Integration project in consideration for recovery workers and organisations in supporting Indigenous peoples impacted by disaster. The module is used in recovery exercises, workshops and training sessions to support Recovery Committees established following disaster.
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The Planning for Animals Handbook draws on best-practice guidance from the Managing animals in disaster project, outlining effective animal welfare emergency management in rural and remote Indigenous communities. This evidence base is a key resource for managing companion animals in remote Indigenous communities during disaster, as referenced in the Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC).
“Research generated by Natural Hazards Research Australia and its forerunners have long informed the development and review of the handbooks. Most recently, the Planning for animals handbook was the product of BNHCRC research in 2015 identifying the need for best practice planning guidance. When AIDR revised the Evacuation Planning Handbook, it was recognised that a suite of companion guides were required. Discussion with the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience led to the team researching and producing best practice planning guidance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and those agencies working with them.”
John Richardson, Executive Director, Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience