Future-Proofing Disaster Response: Engaging the Next Generation to Build Climate-Resilient Communities
Tracks
Prince Room
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM |
Overview
Madi Keay, The Charity Collective
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. What Young People Are Saying – Young volunteers want to be heard, valued, and given real opportunities to contribute. Their lived experiences highlight the need for more inclusive and youth-led approaches to disaster preparedness and response.
2. Beyond Recruitment: Keeping Young Volunteers Engaged – To attract and retain young people, organisations must offer meaningful roles, leadership opportunities, and flexible engagement that fits their skills and interests.
3. The Hidden Cost of Not Engaging Youth – Rethinking safety means recognising both risks and missed opportunities. Without youth involvement, we lose fresh perspectives, community connections, and future leaders in disaster resilience.
Speaker
Madi Keay
Founder & CEO
The Charity Collective
Future-Proofing Disaster Response: Engaging the Next Generation to Build Climate-Resilient Communities
Abstract
As climate change increases the frequency and severity of disasters, the need to engage young people in disaster preparedness and response has never been greater. As these challenges intensify, the next generation must be equipped with the tools and knowledge to drive meaningful change. This presentation explores how organisations can safely and meaningfully engage young people in disaster response to ensure intergenerational community resilience.
Today’s youth are driven by climate action, digital innovation, and social impact. However, traditional volunteer models often fail to align with their motivations and skill sets. To bridge this gap, organisations must adapt—offering structured, flexible, and skills-based opportunities that integrate young volunteers in meaningful ways while prioritising their safety and well-being.
Using case studies from recent disasters, this session will highlight successful youth-led initiatives and innovative engagement strategies.
A key focus will be on how organisations can establish safe, sustainable pathways for young people to engage in disaster preparedness and response. This includes safeguarding young volunteers’ mental health, providing appropriate training, and ensuring clear roles that complement professional disaster response efforts.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how to attract, retain, and empower young volunteers in ways that are both impactful and sustainable. By embedding youth engagement into disaster preparedness efforts today, organisations can future-proof their response strategies, build climate-resilient communities, and develop a new generation of leaders in emergency management.
Today’s youth are driven by climate action, digital innovation, and social impact. However, traditional volunteer models often fail to align with their motivations and skill sets. To bridge this gap, organisations must adapt—offering structured, flexible, and skills-based opportunities that integrate young volunteers in meaningful ways while prioritising their safety and well-being.
Using case studies from recent disasters, this session will highlight successful youth-led initiatives and innovative engagement strategies.
A key focus will be on how organisations can establish safe, sustainable pathways for young people to engage in disaster preparedness and response. This includes safeguarding young volunteers’ mental health, providing appropriate training, and ensuring clear roles that complement professional disaster response efforts.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how to attract, retain, and empower young volunteers in ways that are both impactful and sustainable. By embedding youth engagement into disaster preparedness efforts today, organisations can future-proof their response strategies, build climate-resilient communities, and develop a new generation of leaders in emergency management.
Biography
Madi Keay brings a multidisciplinary background in economics, Indigenous studies, and psychology to disaster resilience. Her academic work explores the community benefits of involving young people in disaster preparedness and response, with a particular focus on climate resilience.
As the former Head of Impact for the Student Volunteer Army, Madi coordinated thousands of volunteers in large-scale emergency response efforts.
Currently completing a Master's of Child and Family Psychology, Madi’s research examines how we best support young people and families to recover from disasters. Passionate about future-proofing disaster response, Madi is committed to preparing the next generation to build climate-resilient communities.
