Resilience, Climate & Disaster Sector

About this Sector

The Resilience, Climate & Disaster sector focuses on managing the impacts of climate variability, extreme weather events, and natural disasters on water resources, infrastructure, and communities.

This sector encompasses flood and storm surge management, drought preparedness, emergency water supply, climate adaptation planning, and risk mitigation strategies.

Effective management ensures that communities, urban environments, and critical infrastructure remain resilient, safe, and operational during periods of environmental stress, while supporting long-term sustainability and adaptation to a changing climate.

Challenges facing the Sector

Australia’s climate and disaster management landscape faces multiple complex challenges:

Water Security and Drought Management – Ensuring sustainable access to potable and non-potable water during prolonged dry periods and climate-induced water shortages.
Flood and Storm Risk – Mitigating the impacts of extreme rainfall, riverine flooding, and storm surges on urban, regional, and remote communities.
Infrastructure Resilience – Strengthening water supply, wastewater, stormwater, and critical infrastructure to withstand climate extremes and natural hazards.
Emergency Preparedness – Developing reliable emergency drinking water programs, contingency plans, and rapid response strategies.
Climate Adaptation and Sustainability – Integrating long-term resilience measures into urban planning, water management, and environmental protection initiatives.
Regulatory and Policy Alignment – Navigating evolving national and state frameworks for climate adaptation, disaster response, and water resource management.

How WQHN contributes solutions

The Water Quality and Health Network (WQHN) provides a national platform for collaboration, professional development, and knowledge exchange in the Resilience, Climate & Disaster sector. Our sector-focused events and workshops enable stakeholders to:

Stay Informed – Receive updates on climate resilience policies, disaster management frameworks, and emerging water security strategies.

Manage Risk – Learn best practices for flood mitigation, drought planning, emergency water supply, and infrastructure protection.

Enhance Operational Performance – Implement adaptive strategies for climate variability and integrate resilience into urban, municipal, and community water systems.

Engage with Experts – Connect with engineers, hydrologists, urban planners, policymakers, and emergency management professionals to address complex, cross-disciplinary challenges.

Discover Innovation – Explore technologies and solutions for climate adaptation, water efficiency, flood management, and sustainable disaster preparedness.

Through these initiatives, WQHN events empower participants to translate knowledge into actionable strategies, strengthen community and infrastructure resilience, and achieve sustainable water and disaster management outcomes across Australia.

Who should attend these events?

These events bring together professionals, leaders, and organisations working to strengthen Australia’s resilience to climate variability, extreme weather, and natural disasters, including:

Emergency & Disaster Management Professionals – preparing and responding to floods, droughts, bushfires, and storm events.
Urban & Regional Planners – integrating climate adaptation and resilience strategies into community and infrastructure planning.
Engineers & Infrastructure Specialists – designing and maintaining resilient water, wastewater, stormwater, and transport systems.
Local, State & Federal Government Representatives – developing and implementing climate adaptation, disaster response, and resilience policies.
Hydrologists, Meteorologists & Climate Scientists – providing data, forecasts, and modelling for risk management and planning.
Water Utilities & Service Providers – ensuring reliable and safe supply during droughts, floods, and emergencies.
Public Health & Community Safety Leaders – managing the health, safety, and wellbeing of vulnerable populations during climate and disaster events.
Sustainability & ESG Managers – embedding resilience, climate risk, and sustainability into corporate and community strategies.
Technology & Innovation Providers – offering solutions for monitoring, early warning, water efficiency, and adaptive infrastructure.
Community & Indigenous Organisations – collaborating to build locally relevant, culturally informed, and sustainable resilience solutions.
Academics & Researchers – advancing best practices in disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and infrastructure resilience.