Building Resilience To Natural Disasters

Australia has experienced increasingly frequent, intense, repeated, and now overlapping shocks such as fires, floods, and drought. Coupled with chronic stresses including economic inequity, reduced levels of services in rural and regional areas, and social exclusion these disasters have conspired to challenge communities across the country. Communities have little or no time to prepare, respond and recover from each of these events before the next arrives.

Minderoo Foundation’s Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative aims to reduce the harm caused to communities and the environment, by fire and flood. They harness the collective power of communities, industry, government, philanthropy and the research sector to lift Australia to be the global leader in fire and flood resilience by 2025. For more information see Minderoo Foundation’s website.

About the Resources

Students will grow their understanding of what a natural disaster is, how it functions, and what actions they can take to make themselves and their local communities more prepared and more resilient. This leads to better outcomes before, during and after they have been impacted by a natural disaster.

Across a range of subjects, students will explore leadership qualities, social and emotional well-being, technologies to assist with natural disaster recovery, and social actions they can take to increase their fire and flood preparedness.

All lessons comprise of two mutually reinforcing components – the principles and the environments in which resilient communities strive – which are designed to holistically guide teachers, community leaders and organisations in their work within communities.

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Resilient Australia Primary and Secondary Units

Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – Primary

Students grow their understanding about a variety of natural disasters, how they function, and what actions they can take to make themselves and their local communities more prepared and more resilient.
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Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – English
– Years 7 & 8

Encourage students to explore the true meaning of hope and leadership and apply empathy to those affected by fires and floods. Students explore how society can address hazards and natural disasters to create a resilient Australia.
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Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – Geography
– Years 7 & 8

Encourage students to explore the true meaning of resilient landscapes and apply empathy to those affected by fires and floods. Analyse data and real case scenarios to explore how society can address natural hazards to create a resilient Australia.
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Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – Design & Technology – Years 7 & 8

The Years 7 to 8 Design and Technology lessons will encourage students to explore the essence of sustainable and resilient design and how to improve the resilience of communities that have or may be affected by natural disasters.
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Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – Art – Years 7 & 8

Students will analyse artworks and have opportunities to create portraits, concepts and drawings that explore how society can address hazards and natural disasters to create a resilient Australia.
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Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – HPE – Years 7 & 8

Understand effects of natural hazards and how we can support ourselves and others to respond and become more resilient. Analyse real scenarios and use social and emotional well-being skills to apply empathy to those affected by fires and floods.
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With Thanks to Our Partners


Minderoo Foundation is independent, forward thinking and seeks effective, scalable solutions. We are proudly Australian, and one of Asia’s largest philanthropies, with AUD $2 billion committed to a range of global initiatives.

 

© 2022 Minderoo Foundation and Cool Australia.

Cool Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to land, water and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.