The New South Wales winners of the 2024 Resilient Australia Awards have been acknowledged for their outstanding initiatives that boost disaster and emergency preparedness.
A design for an amphibious dwelling and a council-led resilience guideline in the Northern Rivers area are among the winners of the New South Wales category of the 2024 awards.
The awards were attended and presented by New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, and Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, at Parliament House.
Since 2019, New South Wales has seen 73 declared natural disasters, with 20,000 homes damaged in 2022 alone.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority is the state convenor of the 2024 Resilient Australia Awards and brought together a judging panel with experts in disaster and resilience from Multicultural NSW, Monash University, NCOSS, Service NSW and the Reconstruction Authority Preparedness division.
The New South Wales winners will go on to become finalists in the National Resilient Australia Awards, managed by the Australia Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), which will be announced at Old Parliament House, Canberra in November. They include:
Resilient Australia Government Award
- Winner – Australia’s first State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP): The SDMP is the first state-based plan of its kind in Australia and outlines New South Wales’s action plan to reduce the risk of natural hazards. It was endorsed by New South Wales Cabinet in December 2023, laying out a critical roadmap of state policy actions to reduce risk where it’s possible and adapt where it’s not.
- Highly Commended – EICU – Celebrating 20 years of Multidisciplinary Support to Emergency Services, Government, and the Community
Resilient Australia Local Government Award
- Winner – Building Back Northern Rivers Guideline: In 2022 the Northern Rivers encountered some of the worst flooding Australia has ever seen, significantly damaging or destroying 8,364 buildings. Navigating planning and development approval processes is difficult at the best of times – let alone after disaster and trauma. The Building Back Northern Rivers Guideline guides the local community with clear advice and expertise they need to make informed decisions to get them back on their feet
- Highly Commended – Investing in Rural Community Futures Bega Valley – Resilience Connection and Place
- Highly Commended – Resilient Sydney 2018-2024 – implementing a regional roadmap for resilience through collaboration
Resilient Australia Business Award
- Winner: Amphibode – an amphibious dwelling design: Out of flood disaster, a first of its kind amphibious dwelling which brings flood resilient accommodation to residential land lease communities and caravan parks was developed. The first dwelling was installed in April 2024 and Amphibode now has interest from the private and government sectors nationally.
Resilient Australia Community Award
- Winner – Fire to Flourish: The Fire to Flourish program from Monash University addresses the funding gap felt by local bush fire affected communities by piloting a new model of holistic support for inclusive, community-led action.
- Highly Commended – Multi-Hazard Resilience Ratings
- Highly Commended – Medical Wings
- Highly Commended – Community-Led Resilience and Recovery Initiative
Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing Award
- Winner – Climate Ready North Coast: The Healthy North Coast’s Community Wellbeing and Resilience Program builds on learnings from grant programs over the past four years, with over $5 million dollars of grant funds administered across the region. Its aim is to resource community-led, place-based initiatives that support disaster recovery and build the community’s ability to face future cascading challenges. It ultimately aims to strengthens partnerships and community connectedness, enabling a responsive approach to local needs and contexts.
Resilient Australia School Award
- Winner – Community-Led Resilience and Recovery Initiative: Lismore South Public School is continuing to make strides in meaningful programs to help its children during their path to recovery following the 2022 floods.
Resilient Australia Photography Award
- Winner – Rolf Poole with his image ‘Cool Night Burning – Scribbly Gum’, depicting prescribed burning of an asset protection zone Berowra Heights.
Minister Scully said that the Resilient Australia Awards celebrate achievements that may otherwise go unrecognised and continue to inspire other groups to begin building greater disaster resilience within their communities.
“We received an outstanding number of submissions, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who took the time to share their innovations and hard work with us.”
Minister Dib said congratulated all finalists for their incredible efforts and dedication to making a difference in their communities.
“I have been fortunate to travel across many parts of the state and it’s inspiring to see the innovative and important work being carried out in communities right around New South Wales. I would like to wish the state award winners well in the national finals.”
Image: Matej Kastelic/shutterstock.com
