Disaster risk management

About

Leading state hazard and risk management functions became a QRA responsibility on 1 July 2024 following reforms to Queensland’s Disaster and Emergency management system. QRA's greater role in disaster risk management will help to ensure Queensland communities are stronger, safer and resilient through access to reliable, accurate, up-to-date hazard and risk information, processes and tools to make decisions that improve Queensland's resilience.

Key responsibilities

QRA's key responsibilities in disaster risk management are to:

support Queensland’s disaster risk management arrangement, including the ongoing refinement and evolution of risk assessment approaches and methodologies
coordinate and implement policies related to potential disaster risk assessments across Queensland
maintain disaster risk management assessment and reporting functions, such as state-level hazard and risk assessments (e.g. State Earthquake Risk Assessment) and the State Disaster Risk Report
support state and local stakeholders to develop and implement disaster risk assessments, including improving and evolving hazard and risk information and accessibility over time
coordinate state-level relationships and collaborations for specific hazards or products, including with other state agencies like the Department of Energy and Climate, and with Geoscience Australia, the Australian Climate Service, and research organisations such as Natural Hazards Research Australia and universities.

Forward directions

Disaster risk management governance at local, district, state and national scales is a foundation of disaster management arrangements in Queensland. This includes the development of scientifically informed disaster risk assessments and impact tools for disaster risk management for Queensland to ensure there is shared understanding of risks, and that they are managed to reduce the impact of disasters on the community.

Our understanding of disaster risk is deepening as we experience and analyse the impacts and consequences of each disaster season in Queensland. Our awareness of what constitutes risk and the information and tools needed to effectively manage these changing risks is also improving.

This means that our approach to disaster risk management in Queensland also needs to evolve so that we can ensure our information, intelligence and processes are up to date in supporting risk-based planning and decision making by all stakeholders.

QRA is developing its capability to effectively respond to and support others in responding to this evolving disaster risk management space as envisaged by the recent disaster management reforms. This process of capability increase will take time, and more information will be provided as it is available.

Transition

QRA has collaborated closely with the former QFES Hazard and Risk Unit to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Comprehensive plans have facilitated the transfer of key documents and frameworks to QRA, including:

hazard and risk assessment methods
State Disaster Risk Report
state level risk assessments, including the State Earthquake Risk Assessment, State Heatwave Risk Assessment, Severe Wind Hazard Assessment, and Tsunami Guide for Queensland
various presently unreleased state-level hazard and risk investigations and products, including the proposed Queensland Risk Information Portal (QRIP).
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES)/Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) Hazard and Risk Unit will continue to provide support through to December 2024.

Learn more about the recent reforms.

Current projects

Project	Description
Risk assessment methodology	QRA is reviewing and updating Queensland’s emergency risk assessment methodology (formerly known as the QERMF) to align with a broader evolution of Queensland’s risk management approaches and practices, and to support contemporary and emerging risk management needs. In the coming months, QRA will liaise with local governments interested in participating in a monitoring phase to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of the revised version. This monitoring phase will focus specifically on the risk assessment methodology as a tool for use in disaster management planning and practice. Stakeholder consultation will be conducted prior to the release of any additional, revised, or updated risk management approach or tools in the future.
State Disaster Risk Report (SDRR)	The SDRR provides a foundational level of risk assessment information to Local and District Disaster Management Groups (LDMGs and DDMGs) and other entities within Queensland’s disaster management arrangements. The Disaster Risk Management team is currently undertaking activities to update the State Disaster Risk Report (SDRR) (PDF external link).

Project

Description

Risk assessment methodology

QRA is reviewing and updating Queensland’s emergency risk assessment methodology (formerly known as the QERMF) to align with a broader evolution of Queensland’s risk management approaches and practices, and to support contemporary and emerging risk management needs.

In the coming months, QRA will liaise with local governments interested in participating in a monitoring phase to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of the revised version.

This monitoring phase will focus specifically on the risk assessment methodology as a tool for use in disaster management planning and practice.

Stakeholder consultation will be conducted prior to the release of any additional, revised, or updated risk management approach or tools in the future.

State Disaster Risk Report (SDRR)

The SDRR provides a foundational level of risk assessment information to Local and District Disaster Management Groups (LDMGs and DDMGs) and other entities within Queensland’s disaster management arrangements.

The Disaster Risk Management team is currently undertaking activities to update the State Disaster Risk Report (SDRR) (PDF external link).

Contact

Email Hazard.Risk@qra.qld.gov.au

Last updated: 8 November 2024. QRA Reference: QRATF/24/9153.