Our impact

NIDR is transforming how Australia understands and responds to disasters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We do research with Indigenous communities to hear about their unique experiences of major disaster events, and the ways in which existing disaster resilience systems supported them, or left them behind, in moments of need. We then work with governments and non-government organisations throughout Australia to embed Indigenous voices, knowledge and leadership within those systems.

Facts and figures

National Leader

We are Australia’s only Indigenous-led program investigating how major disasters affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Trusted Relationships

We have developed long-term, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities and organisations around Australia.
Policy Reform

We highlight gaps in current disaster management policies or arrangements and identify solutions to respond to these gaps.

Progress in action

Gap: Governments were not meeting their commitments to Indigenous communities impacted by disasters, and no one was holding them to account.

Solution: We began analysing how well governments are performing against the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (Clause 64). Based on our research, we publish annual Disaster Preparedness Scorecards that hold governments accountable on their efforts to engage with Indigenous communities around disasters, including priority actions for government. Read the 2025 Disaster Preparedness Scorecard here.
Gap: There were no dedicated spaces for Indigenous peoples to come together and share knowledge about disaster resilience, and nowhere for governments to participate and learn from Indigenous peoples.

Solution: We host biennial sold-out NIDR Gatherings, state and territory Policy Roundtables on Aboriginal Disaster Resilience, and the NIDR Community of Practice. These spaces bring Indigenous leaders in disaster resilience together with the emergency management and resilience sectors to share stories, build relationships and learn from one another. Indigenous approaches are being better included in disaster management across Australia based on connections made at these events.
Gap: Australian governments often lack the formal, research-backed guidance to create disaster planning, evacuation or recovery arrangements that are inclusive of Indigenous peoples.

Solution: NIDR meets regularly with Indigenous communities impacted by disasters, to learn about their experiences. With this knowledge, we create guidance resources for governments, to guide governments, emergency services and policy makers on how to work with Indigenous peoples before, during and after disasters.
To date, we have published the Planning Guide to Enhance Resilience and Preparedness in Aboriginal Communities Across South Australia, Policy Roundtables Communiques for Victoria and NSW, the Indigenous Evacuation Guide and the Working With Indigenous Peoples and Communities fact sheet. Forthcoming are the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Framework and Policy Roundtable Communique for Western Australia.
Gap: There was no information about the over exposure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during times of major disasters.

Solution: We map the population distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in disaster-declared areas.

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School of Social Sciences

Arts

Our impact

NIDR is transforming how Australia understands and responds to disasters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Facts and figures

National Leader

Trusted Relationships

Policy Reform

Progress in action

Indigenous leadership for safe, strong and sustainable communities