From firegrounds to policy desks, postgraduate researchers are making their mark on Australian disaster risk reduction and resilience.
Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre) is expanding its national Internship Program, inviting Participant organisations to submit Expressions of Interest to host the next generation of researchers in placements designed to turn academic knowledge into real-world impact.
With Expressions of Interest open until 5:00pm AEST, 15 May 2026, Centre Participant organisations have the opportunity to shape the next generation of natural hazards researchers through hands-on placements bridging the gap between academic study and real-world application.
The Internship Program is a key initiative under the Centre’s long-term commitment to skills and workforce development, as outlined in its 10-Year Research Strategy (2022) and Biennial Research Plans. By embedding postgraduate researchers within operational environments, the program supports practical learning while delivering tangible outcomes for host organisations.
Following successful pilot projects throughout 2024 and 2025, the expanded program will support up to four internships in 2026-27 in partnership with Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (API.Intern), the industry engagement arm of the Australian Mathematical and Sciences Institute. This collaboration ensures PhD and Masters by Research students gain meaningful, supported experience applying their expertise within the natural hazards, resilience and disaster risk reduction sectors while Participant hosts receive bespoke research insights into a critical business need.
The first pilot internship, hosted by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, demonstrated the value of the model. The inaugural intern worked with the agency to assess how research is currently used in decision making and to identify opportunities to improve evidence-based practices in fire and land management.
Building on this momentum, three new internship projects were delivered in 2025 with partners across Australia, spanning fire behaviour modelling with Bushfires NT and the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services, international wildfire resilience comparisons with the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and bushfire legislation research with the Queensland Fire Department (QFD). Each placement provided postgraduate researchers with paid, six-month roles tackling real-world challenges, while giving host organisations access to high-level research capability.
The value of the program is already being seen by host organisations. At QFD, Anna Hurley, Principal Policy Officer and intern supervisor said the internship delivered both immediate impact and lasting value.
‘Having Fia on board has been a great opportunity for QFD staff to learn from her thorough, PhD-level approach to legal research,’ Anna said. ‘Her presentations were keenly attended by staff from the regions through to the leadership team.’
Anna emphasised the broader importance of collaboration between research and practice in the natural hazards sector.
‘Research collaboration is an opportunity to bring practitioners and researchers together for mutual benefit,’ she said. ‘As someone with a research background myself, I believe research must be informed by the empirical, and that practice is informed by research, especially in natural hazards.’
Participant organisations hosting interns benefit from fresh perspectives, dedicated research capacity and direct engagement with emerging talent, while contributing to a more connected, capable and future-ready sector.
Organisations interested in hosting an intern are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest and be part of a program that is shaping the future of disaster resilience in Australia.
Learn more about the Internship Program and the application process here.