Background

HowWeSurvive is a long-term, independently funded initiative to transform community-centred disaster recovery. Our mission is to redefine and enhance the effectiveness of recovery efforts, creating a deeper understanding and stronger resilience within communities.

Challenge

Through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration, this initiative aims to promote stronger community-centered practices in all disaster recovery and resilience efforts.

As climate-fueled disasters like floods, fires, and storms grow in severity and frequency, there is a critical need to rethink how disaster recovery efforts are conducted and perceived. Although community-centred strategies are widely recognised as essential for effective recovery, top-down, "command-and-control" approaches often overshadow local decision-making, despite the fact that communities and local organisations are best positioned to make decisions that directly impact them. This mismatch frequently leads to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and unsustainable short-term solutions, ultimately disempowering local communities.

By collaborating with community members and partners, this initiative seeks to build knowledge and promote best practices in community-centered recovery. Additionally, it aims to work with governments and disaster response agencies to integrate these practices into policies, organisational frameworks, and operating procedures.

This approach aspires to drive systemic change in how disaster recovery and resilience are understood and implemented, both in Australia and globally.