Bushfire recovery resources

As Australia moves from response to relief and recovery from the country’s bushfire crisis, a long-term approach is needed. On-the-go expert guides are available on the Knowledge Hub.

AIDR has produced Knowledge-into-Action briefs to help recovery practitioners – and those who are new to the concept of recovery – refresh their knowledge and learn more about recovery.

The briefs complement an extensive range of resources from recovery experts, which allow practitioners to assist communities in need following the current bushfire crisis.

Introduction to recovery

This brief explains the recovery process; how to plan for recovery and the role of community recovery following a disaster.

The document shines a light on successful recovery and shares checklists for team leaders and recovery workers to identify responsibilities, tasks, skills and abilities.

This brief is available here.

National principles for disaster recovery

Australian and New Zealand government departments have developed National Principles for Disaster Recovery, which provides guidelines for good practice across six principles.

The six principles include: understanding the context; recognising the complexities; using community-led approaches; coordination, communication and building capacity and resilience.

These principles can be used at local through to national levels of government, including a variety of sectors and organisations.

This brief is available here.

These briefs are complemented by the Community Recovery Handbook and Recovery Collection, which are available on the Knowledge Hub.

The Community Recovery Handbook – part of the Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection – guides planners, managers and others working with communities to design and deliver processes, services and programs for effective recovery following a disaster.

Similarly, the Recovery Collection examines the national frameworks for disaster recovery through the National Disaster Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Database.

The Australian Government has established a National Bushfire Recovery Agency dedicated agency to rebuilding communities and coordinating national recovery. The Victorian Government has also established Bushfire Recovery Victoria, which will work directly with local communities impacted by the state’s devastating bushfires.