Deputy Commissioner of the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Melissa Pexton shares the recovery story of Fitzroy Crossing, a remote community devastated by tropical cyclone Ellie in 2022 / 2023.

Located 400 kilometers east of Broome, this region faced unprecedented flooding that challenged traditional emergency management approaches.

In this episode, Melissa shares how the recovery process focussed on community empowerment, provided economic opportunities to local Aboriginal businesses and harnessed community leadership. Over 90 Aboriginal businesses were contracted to deliver recovery works, securing more than $90 million in contracts. This strategy not only rebuilt physical infrastructure but also created significant economic opportunities, with local workers trained and employed in reconstruction efforts.

A key lesson from the recovery effort was understanding the community context and allowing local leaders to guide the recovery process. Key insights from the discussion include the critical role of cultural navigation, the need for robust community discussions, and the importance of creating long-term sustainable recovery strategies.

Disaster recovery can be a transformative process that goes far beyond rebuilding infrastructure – join Andrew, Josh and Mel as they discuss the recovery efforts in the Kimberley.

Communities have always played an important role during disasters. Australia’s growing population, exposure to increasingly frequent and impactful severe weather events and evolving trends in volunteerism are transforming how communities respond to disasters. As natural hazards become more frequent and severe, non-government organisations and grassroots community groups will increasingly seek to – and must – play a role in during response and recovery efforts.

In 2024, Andrew was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to some of the most disaster affected countries and those which have experienced large numbers of community members mobilising to assist. Andrew and Josh visited Japan, Türkiye, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the UK, US and Chile.

In this episode, Andrew and Josh discuss insights and findings from the trip, and lessons for others considering how to better prepare for informal volunteers.

Download the full report from the Churchill Trust website.

Veteran of the Royal New Zealand Navy Stephen Gibson joins the show this month to share his experience transitioning out of the military into humanitarian work, including in disaster zones across the Middle East.

After 23 years in the Navy where he deployed as a peacekeeper to Yugoslavia and the Solomon Islands, Steve joined the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Steve quickly discovered that while his experience in the Navy set him up well for his new career – the humanitarian space was very challenging – he faced mortar attack, vehicle bombs, suicide bombers and a high risk of kidnapping – and one location was evacuated to the airport under gunfire.

This episode provides a rare and insightful look into the realities of humanitarian work in some of the world’s most challenging conflict environments, and the personal toll it can take on those dedicated to helping the most vulnerable populations. Steve emphasises the importance of cultural understanding, building relationships with local staff, and maintaining mental health when living and working in these high-stress environments. Steve shares strategies for communicating, negotiating, and positioning the humanitarian role to be able to deliver aid effectively. The discussion also explores the challenges Steve faced in transitioning back to life in New Zealand after his humanitarian deployments, feeling unappreciated and struggling to find work that matched his unique experiences overseas.

Join Andrew, Josh and Steve for this episode on your favourite podcast platform!