Nine communities across Australia have signed up to learn how best to prepare for natural disasters under the ground-breaking initiative Equip.

Led by the University of New England, Equip seeks to address the toll that extreme weather events like floods, bushfire and drought can take on individuals and their towns.
Over the next five years, a team of researchers will work with these communities in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia to leverage their leadership and strengthen both their support systems and coping skills.
Research lead Associate Professor Suzie Cosh said the aim is to create lasting solutions that are tailored to each population and location.
“Equip identifies factors in each community that protect wellbeing, recognises local knowledge, strengths and resources, and aims to develop greater preparedness, confidence and resilience,” said Professor Cosh.

In NSW, the program will be delivered at Nymboida/Blicks River, and the Mid North Coast centres of Willawarrin and Wauchope, which were recently subject to severe flooding. The three sites in South Australia are drought-affected Orroroo, Berri and Angaston, and in Western Australia, residents are mobilising in Denmark, Narrogin and Witchcliffe, which have experienced their fair share of droughts and bushfires.
Equip researcher Warren Bartik, an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at UNE, said the program is distinctive and desperately needed.
“Our disaster response has commonly seen governments come in after a weather-related disaster to address recovery, then disappear. Instead, we will be working closely and long-term with communities, to build their preparedness for the next disaster and ensure those skills and that knowledge stay in the community.
“Whether or not people accept the climate science is not the issue. Weather events are occurring with greater frequency and intensity, and rural communities are among those most exposed. We hope the models we develop will be transferable and scalable in vulnerable regions.”
Equip researchers and partners embedded in these communities are now establishing advisory groups to guide the process of developing and delivering empowering workshops. Among them is Disaster Relief Australia Associate Director, Preparedness, Shari Bent, who experienced the Black Summer bushfires firsthand.
“These events will continue to happen,” she said. “Communities need to be informed and to have a toolkit tailored to their situation and population. Equip gives them the opportunity to understand and explore their disaster preparedness and to build on that. By understanding the risks and what might happen, and taking responsibility and having a plan, residents can lessen the emotional and mental impact.”
The Equip team comprises researchers from UNE, the University of Adelaide, Curtin University, Federation University, Deakin University and the University of South Australia, who will partner with public health clinicians, industry, and emergency and disaster relief organisations to deliver the program.
Locals will tailor discussions and hands-on activities to suit the needs of their towns. This is especially important as rural and regional communities experience the cumulative effects of consecutive weather-related disasters.
“Two of our three Equip sites in South Australia have been in drought for three years,” Warren said. “Prolonged drought is commonly followed by flooding and then potentially fire, due to the increased fuel load, which is the sequence of events for many rural Australians and farming communities.
“Equip is being developed in collaboration with communities and invests in existing support systems, so is more likely to be sustainable.”
Equip research teams will continue visiting the nine regions in coming months to host community events and engage residents. Community connectors and advisory groups comprising locals will adapt the program to suit their conditions and participants, and oversee its delivery, starting in 2026.
Importantly, data collected during the roll-out will be evaluated to inform future strategies.

The Equip project is funded by a $5 million Medical Research Future Fund grant and involves local health districts and primary health networks, the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, Rural Fire Service, Drought Hub SA, Armidale Regional Council, Disaster Relief Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia.
www.une.edu.au/equip
For more information, contact Equip Project Coordinator Joanne Robinson by emailing equip@une.edu.au or phoning 02 6773 5508.

Contact

• UNE Media – 02 6773 2551 media@une.edu.au
  

  Equip team at recent national meeting in Adelaide

• University of Adelaide – Rhiannon Koch - koch@adelaide.edu.au
• UniSA – Annabel Mansfield – Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
• Deakin – Pauline Braniff – braniff@deakin.edu.au
• Curtin University – media@curtin.edu.au