Collaboration between disaster agencies and communities key to future disaster resilience

A new study has found that despite initial disconnection, strong networks between disaster management agencies and informal community groups emerged in the aftermath of the 2022 Northern Rivers floods. However, cultural barriers within agencies continue to hinder deeper collaboration.

The research, led by Dr. Jo Longman and Ms. Emma Pittaway from the University Centre for Rural Health, was conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team including A/Prof. Petr Matous, Prof. Amanda Howard, A/Prof. Margot Rawsthorne and A/Prof. Ken Chung. Funded by the Sydney Environment Institute’s Collaborative Grant scheme, the project examined how disaster agencies interact with grassroots community-led groups. Through interviews with disaster management personnel and network analysis, the study identified key enablers and barriers to effective collaboration.

The findings highlight four key insights:

1. Collaboration grew over time: While few connections existed at the time of the disaster, a strong network between disaster management agencies and community groups developed in its aftermath.
2. New systems improved communication: Participants identified structures that enabled two-way communication, based on respect for community capacity and a ‘bottom-up’ approach.
3. Cultural barriers remain: The most significant challenge to overcome was, and remains, the culture within disaster management agencies that devalues community action and views it only as a risk.
4. Trust is critical but unsupported: Individual relationships of trust enabled effective problem-solving but were not embedded in agency structures, making them difficult to sustain outside of crises.

Encouragingly, participants reported positive steps towards stronger engagement, including better use of community halls and local groups in disaster planning. Yet, lasting change requires cultural shifts within agencies, resourcing for long-term engagement, and formal mechanisms to support two-way communication.

The study calls for greater recognition of community capacity, dedicated roles for engagement during non-crisis periods, and agency-wide training to improve understanding of grassroots disaster response. Without these changes, the risk of missed opportunities for collaboration and more severe disaster impacts remains high.

Read the findings report here.

Header image: By Modern Nomads, via Shutterstock ID: 2189323975.