Beyond the Response: Understanding Community Disillusionment in Biosecurity Outbreaks to Strengthen Recovery and Resilience
Tracks
Southport Room 1
| Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| 2:15 PM - 2:35 PM |
| Southport Room 1 |
Overview
Kirsten Phillips, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Primary Industries
Details
Three Key Learnings
1. Community disillusionment during biosecurity events has distinct triggers and impacts that differ from natural hazard recovery and require tailored approaches.
2. Failure to recognise and plan for the disillusionment phase can undermine trust, prolong recovery, and weaken long-term resilience.
3. Aligning governance, communication, and engagement strategies across agencies can reduce the severity and duration of disillusionment and support more effective recovery.
Speaker
Ms Kirsten Phillips
Director, Partnerships and Engagement, Engagement and Partnerships
Biosecurity Queensland (Queensland Department of Primary Industries)
Beyond the response: Understanding community disillusionment in biosecurity outbreaks to strengthen recovery and resilience
Abstract
Biosecurity outbreaks can trigger complex psychosocial impacts that continue long after operational response activities conclude. Yet, unlike natural hazards, there is limited research exploring how the disillusionment phase of the psychosocial recovery curve uniquely manifests during biosecurity events.
Recognising this system-wide knowledge gap, Biosecurity Queensland has undertaken research to better understand the drivers, characteristics, and consequences of disillusionment within biosecurity contexts. This research analysed academic literature, grey literature, and government publications to answer a critical question:
How do communities experience disillusionment during biosecurity events, and what does that mean for recovery frameworks, communications, and engagement practice?
This presentation will share the consistent themes around the unique triggers and features of disillusionment specific to biosecurity incidents and what can be done to reduce the severity and longevity of this phase.
The session will demonstrate how national collaboration, shared data, and aligned engagement strategies can uplift the entire biosecurity system’s approach to community recovery and long-term resilience.
Recognising this system-wide knowledge gap, Biosecurity Queensland has undertaken research to better understand the drivers, characteristics, and consequences of disillusionment within biosecurity contexts. This research analysed academic literature, grey literature, and government publications to answer a critical question:
How do communities experience disillusionment during biosecurity events, and what does that mean for recovery frameworks, communications, and engagement practice?
This presentation will share the consistent themes around the unique triggers and features of disillusionment specific to biosecurity incidents and what can be done to reduce the severity and longevity of this phase.
The session will demonstrate how national collaboration, shared data, and aligned engagement strategies can uplift the entire biosecurity system’s approach to community recovery and long-term resilience.
Biography
Kirsten Phillips has played a critical role in biosecurity incident responses for more than a decade, working at the forefront of Queensland’s efforts to protect plant, animal and environmental health. Her expertise spans prevention, preparedness and response, with a strong focus on building and maintaining stakeholder relationships. Kirsten is a recognised leader in the human dimensions of biosecurity and has contributed to national social and behavioural research initiatives. As co-chair of the National Biosecurity Communication and Engagement Network, she coordinates Australia-wide biosecurity communication during preparedness and active responses. She bridges science, policy and community action to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system.
