Australia is increasingly reliant on local action for delivering disaster resilience and risk reduction work. Local governments have great responsibilities in community level disaster risk reduction and readiness work, that span land use planning, emergency management, asset management, community development, climate risk management, place-based servicing and community disaster recovery support. However, local governments readily acknowledge that their capacity and capability falls far short of the needs.

This panel discussion will be about a new, ambitious, national project that aims to address this critical gap in Australia’s disaster resilience. Researchers from Monash University are working in partnership with twelve diverse councils across all six states to address a critical gap in Australia's disaster resilience by co-developing a practical, evidence-based nationally-applicable capability assessment framework for and with local governments. It aims to enable informed investment decisions, guide priority reforms, facilitate peer support networks, and identify tailored capacity-building needs.

Local government practitioners from Douglas Shire and Noosa (Queensland) and Adelaide Hills (South Australia), will present information about the project, and then share candid insights about the realities of co-designing a capability framework at national scale. How do you create a framework that works across state jurisdictions? That works for remote, under-resourced councils and well-established urban ones alike? That is multi hazard? How do you navigate competing priorities, funding constraints, and the operational needs of frontline practitioners while aligning with state and federal agendas?

These panellists live emergency management daily - they understand the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground capacity. The framework emerges from their lived experience and operational expertise, not imposed from above.

Australia is increasingly reliant on local action for delivering disaster resilience and risk reduction work. Local governments have great responsibilities in community level disaster risk reduction and readiness work, that span land use planning, emergency management, asset management, community development, climate risk management, place-based servicing and community disaster recovery support. However, local governments readily acknowledge that their capacity and capability falls far short of the needs.

This panel discussion will be about a new, ambitious, national project that aims to address this critical gap in Australia’s disaster resilience. Researchers from Monash University are working in partnership with twelve diverse councils across all six states to address a critical gap in Australia's disaster resilience by co-developing a practical, evidence-based nationally-applicable capability assessment framework for and with local governments. It aims to enable informed investment decisions, guide priority reforms, facilitate peer support networks, and identify tailored capacity-building needs.

Local government practitioners from Douglas Shire and Noosa (Queensland) and Adelaide Hills (South Australia), will present information about the project, and then share candid insights about the realities of co-designing a capability framework at national scale. How do you create a framework that works across state jurisdictions? That works for remote, under-resourced councils and well-established urban ones alike? That is multi hazard? How do you navigate competing priorities, funding constraints, and the operational needs of frontline practitioners while aligning with state and federal agendas?

These panellists live emergency management daily - they understand the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground capacity. The framework emerges from their lived experience and operational expertise, not imposed from above.

Australia is increasingly reliant on local action for delivering disaster resilience and risk reduction work. Local governments have great responsibilities in community level disaster risk reduction and readiness work, that span land use planning, emergency management, asset management, community development, climate risk management, place-based servicing and community disaster recovery support. However, local governments readily acknowledge that their capacity and capability falls far short of the needs.

This panel discussion will be about a new, ambitious, national project that aims to address this critical gap in Australia’s disaster resilience. Researchers from Monash University are working in partnership with twelve diverse councils across all six states to address a critical gap in Australia's disaster resilience by co-developing a practical, evidence-based nationally-applicable capability assessment framework for and with local governments. It aims to enable informed investment decisions, guide priority reforms, facilitate peer support networks, and identify tailored capacity-building needs.

Local government practitioners from Douglas Shire and Noosa (Queensland) and Adelaide Hills (South Australia), will present information about the project, and then share candid insights about the realities of co-designing a capability framework at national scale. How do you create a framework that works across state jurisdictions? That works for remote, under-resourced councils and well-established urban ones alike? That is multi hazard? How do you navigate competing priorities, funding constraints, and the operational needs of frontline practitioners while aligning with state and federal agendas?

These panellists live emergency management daily - they understand the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground capacity. The framework emerges from their lived experience and operational expertise, not imposed from above.

Australia is increasingly reliant on local action for delivering disaster resilience and risk reduction work. Local governments have great responsibilities in community level disaster risk reduction and readiness work, that span land use planning, emergency management, asset management, community development, climate risk management, place-based servicing and community disaster recovery support. However, local governments readily acknowledge that their capacity and capability falls far short of the needs.

This panel discussion will be about a new, ambitious, national project that aims to address this critical gap in Australia’s disaster resilience. Researchers from Monash University are working in partnership with twelve diverse councils across all six states to address a critical gap in Australia's disaster resilience by co-developing a practical, evidence-based nationally-applicable capability assessment framework for and with local governments. It aims to enable informed investment decisions, guide priority reforms, facilitate peer support networks, and identify tailored capacity-building needs.

Local government practitioners from Douglas Shire and Noosa (Queensland) and Adelaide Hills (South Australia), will present information about the project, and then share candid insights about the realities of co-designing a capability framework at national scale. How do you create a framework that works across state jurisdictions? That works for remote, under-resourced councils and well-established urban ones alike? That is multi hazard? How do you navigate competing priorities, funding constraints, and the operational needs of frontline practitioners while aligning with state and federal agendas?

These panellists live emergency management daily - they understand the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground capacity. The framework emerges from their lived experience and operational expertise, not imposed from above.