Community engagement for disaster resilience

This handbook presents nationally agreed principles of community engagement for disaster resilience and provides high-level guidance to support those who engage with communities at all phases of disaster. It draws on contemporary knowledge, skills, and good practice from the fields of public participation, community development, emergency management, disaster risk reduction and disaster resilience.

The guidance reflects strengths-based, inclusive approaches that improve the quality and effectiveness of community engagement practices and maximise inclusion and participation to achieve effective disaster resilience outcomes.

The handbook is intended to guide and assist those with varying levels of expertise in community engagement and disaster and emergency management, including:

• policymakers and practitioners working at national, state and territory and local levels of government;
• practitioners working in the non-government sector;
• practitioners and organisations working in the private sector;
• practitioners working in disaster resilience, emergency management and emergency services;
• volunteers working in disaster resilience emergency management and emergency services;
• community leaders, community-based groups and community members;
• international organisations.

The handbook may also assist communities seeking to understand the engagement processes initiated by partners or intending to initiate their own engagement processes to strengthen disaster resilience.