Social Futures presents to the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience

Social Futures has presented to the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience, chaired by Senator Jacqui Lambie. The committee visited the flood-impacted Northern Rivers inquiring into the role of the ADF, volunteer groups, not-for-profit organisations and state-based services in disasters.

Social Futures CEO Tony Davies called for a framework outlining how disaster-response agencies can work with not-for-profits and community groups after natural disasters. Our teams for homelessness, family support, mental health, and disability programs did check-in calls for over 300 participants and visited 15 Flood Recovery Centres in 2022. More than 200 people were supported with outbound referrals to legal, housing, welfare, and social services, and mental health services and supports. Staff also worked at the Koori Mail Bundjalung flood relief centre, providing safe supervised activities for children while parents learnt skills around supporting disaster-impacted children and were also able to fill-in applications for disaster financial relief.

On 30 November 2022, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience to inquire into and report on:

(a) current preparedness, response and recovery workforce models, including:

1. the role of the Australian Defence Force in responding to domestic natural disasters,
2. the impact of more frequent and more intense natural disasters, due to climate change, on the ongoing capacity and capability of the Australian Defence Force,
3. the impact on the Australian Defence Force in responding to domestic natural disasters, and
4. the role of Australian civil and volunteer groups, not-for-profit organisations and state-based services in preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural disasters, and the impact of more frequent and more intense natural disasters on their ongoing capacity and capability;

(b) consideration of alternative models, including:

1. repurposing or adapting existing Australian civil and volunteer groups, not-for-profit organisations and state-based services, and
2. overseas models and best practice;

(c) consideration of the practical, legislative, and administrative arrangements that would be required to support improving Australia’s resilience and response to natural disasters; and

(d) any related matters.

The committee is to present a final report by the last sitting day in September 2023 (14 September 2023). The committee is taking submissions on an ongoing basis.