Bushfires, floods and other recent natural hazards across Australia have created new challenges and raised new questions that research in the sector can help address. This shifting landscape is captured in Natural Hazards Research Australia’s new Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 – an updated strategic plan for research that will guide the next two years of research activities of the Centre.
The Centre’s Biennial Research Plans cover a two-year period but are reviewed every year to ensure that the Centre remains nimble in its consideration of current drivers of natural hazard risk and that these shifting risks are captured and reflected in the Centre’s research program. Drivers currently influencing natural hazard risk include environmental, societal, built environment, capability, workforce, political and economic changes.
This Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 will be used by the Centre to guide the prioritisation of research activities for the rest of 2023 through to 2025, as it continues to work towards its vision and mission, including:
- immediate research priorities and updated key focus areas
- key capability areas
- detail of broad research activities currently planned until 2024, including core, commissioned, responsive disaster and postgraduate/Early Career Researcher research
- engagement with other Australian research initiatives
- how research outcomes and knowledge will be translated, implemented and adopted
- investments in a research-skilled workforce and research-informed knowledge transfer
- the process for updating the Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 in 2024.
The Plan outlines updated key focus and capability areas reflecting the shifting drivers and priorities of the sector as it responds to the unfolding and changing risks of natural hazards. The revised focus areas are illustrated in the diagram below, showing how they interlink with capabilities, and are outlined in detail within the plan.
The Centre’s Chief Science Officer, Prof Deborah Bunker, explains the importance of sector collaboration in keeping communities safe from natural hazards.
“Scanning the environment and consulting with stakeholders, sector leaders and subject matter experts ensures that the updated research plan continues to meet the contemporary needs of our Participants while building on the pre-existing research direction of the Centre," she said.
"This collaboration supports our mission to enhance the safety, resilience and sustainability of communities through research, science and innovation. The Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 communicates the Centre’s strategic direction for the next two years, highlighting the key policy areas of focus where our research can make a difference.”
This Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 was reviewed in consultation with representatives from the Centre’s Participants and several subject matter experts. It was presented to our End-User Advisory Panel and endorsed by our Board.
If you have any questions about the Biennial Research Plan 2023–25, contact Prof Deborah Bunker at deborah.bunker@naturalhazards.com.au.
This Biennial Research Plan 2023–25 will be updated in a year's time for the next Biennial Research Plan 2024–26.
For those interested in current research project details, these are available here.