Australia’s first National Disaster Preparedness Summit held in Canberra

Australia’s first National Disaster Preparedness Summit was held this week, as the country gears up for hot, dry spring and summer seasons. 

The Prime Minister and the Minister for Emergency Management joined around 250 crisis management, response and recovery specialists from government, industry, community and the not-for-profit sector who attended the two-day event convened by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on September 25-26. 

The Summit is the first time all key stakeholders – including leaders from Federal, State and Territory emergency services and the logistics, food and groceries, insurance, energy and utilities, telecommunications and non-government sectors - have come together to prepare for the coming higher risk weather season.  

The Summit included a range of scenario exercises based on the seasonal outlook, to examine how each organisation will respond individually and collectively. Attendees also worked through best practice approaches for preparedness, response and relief, and also looked at better preparedness for vulnerable communities, including people living with disabilities and First Nations people. 

It follows the official declaration from the Bureau of Meteorology that Australia is now facing El Niño conditions and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) for the first time in eight years.  

The Bureau of Meteorology’s 2023-24 Higher Risk Weather Season Outlook says warmer and drier conditions are likely for the coming months, with heatwave conditions expected this season. There is also an increased likelihood of severe storms and cyclones.  

Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said since the Black Summer Bushfires, two-thirds of Australians have been impacted by natural disaster – some more than once.  

“We know that due to climate change, disasters will become increasingly frequent and intense, which is why we have taken significant steps to build our resilience and response capabilities,” Minister Watt said. “I’m confident that as a country we’re well-prepared for the conditions forecast, but we aren’t complacent, and want to make sure we’re doing everything within our power to get ready.” 

“The Summit will ensure all key stakeholders know what resources and capabilities state and territory governments can draw upon and when, as well as additional operational and information sharing support.”