Post-Bushfire Social Research: Lessons for Improving Information Sharing and Community Safety

What can we learn from communities and emergency responders after a bushfire, and how can those lessons improve future communication and safety outcomes?

Following the 2024 Pomonal fires, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) launched CFA15, a responsive post-bushfire social research program designed to capture insights while experiences are still fresh.

Led by researchers from QUT and RMIT, the project examines how information flows between emergency management agencies and communities before, during and after fire events.

Join Dr Chloe Begg (Senior Research Scientist, CFA), Associate Professor Paula Dootson (QUT) and Associate Professor Lisa Schuster (QUT) as they share how CFA15 was established, what the research is revealing about communication gaps and stakeholder understanding, and how agencies can embed evidence-based learning into post-event review processes.

This session offers a practical model for turning fire experience into organisational learning and strengthening community engagement, warnings and information sharing.

Learn more about the project through Natural Hazards Research Australia.

The session will be offered in person and livestreamed online. A light breakfast and free parking will be provided for in-person attendees.

Contact the host of QUT AMPR Business Breakfast - 9 October