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Report: Disaster Planning and Recovery Collaborative Research Project

Thriving Communities Partnership, together with Symplicit, Energy Queensland and Suncorp, have shared research which identifies opportunities that are tangible and actionable - from preparedness through to long-term recovery and resilience. 

This project recognises the complexity and interconnectivity of the ecosystem we live in, and the need for organisations to work collectively, rather than individually, to support people in our community when they face challenging times.  

By mapping the experiences of community members and local businesses in Townsville impacted by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon disaster, this research report identifies insights into the barriers, challenges and pain points experienced when interacting with organisations. The research findings create a collective community voice and are represented by two end-to-end journeys uncovered in the research: 

Residential and Whole-of-Community Insights:

  • Communications across the journey influence response and recovery 
  • Connections and community networks are key 
  • There is a need for universal design 
  • Electricity is a gatekeeper during a disaster 
  • Recovery is often a ‘financial maze’ for residents 
  • Flexibility within the system supports individual resilience 
  • Trauma and mental health can subconsciously be deprioritised 

Small and Medium Size Business Insights:

  • The employer is a pillar in the community 
  • Family safety is the priority 
  • There is an aversion to accepting ‘charity’ 
  • Business insurance was a pain point for many 
  • Government grants and support are a welcome relief, but there was some red tape 
  • Macroeconomics influence community resilience