Resilient Australia Awards 2025
The Resilient Australia Awards celebrate and promote initiatives that build whole of community resilience to disasters and emergencies around Australia, as well as images capturing resilience in action. The awards recognise collaboration and innovative thinking across all sectors.
The Resilient Australia Awards is proudly sponsored by the Australian Government in partnership with the states and territories and managed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR).
About the Resilient Australia Awards
The awards recognise outstanding contributions in each state and territory across seven categories: business, community, government, local government, mental health and wellbeing, school, and photography.
The awards recognise a wide range of initiatives with past projects centred on risk assessment and mitigation, mental health and wellbeing, education, training and research, and community engagement, as well as response and recovery.
State and territory winners are considered for national awards, along with projects entered directly to the national awards – projects selected as national finalists benefit from national exposure through a range of communication channels.
In 2025 South Australian State level winners were celebrated at a ceremony at Ayers House, with awards presented by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC Governor of South Australia.
2025 Resilient Australia Awards for South Australia
2025 Resilient Australia Community Award
Winner
Australian Red Cross - Youth in Emergencies Development Program
The Youth in Emergencies Development Program, in collaboration with the South Australian Country Fire Service and Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly, and The Duke of Edinburgh International Award, is a two-year pilot program co-designed by students in years 9-12. Combining self-paced learning, workshops, and hands-on experience through a community resilience project it creates communities more prepared for disaster. The project was designed to fill the gap that exists for people between the ages of 14 & 18 to have meaningful participation in the Emergency Management sector. In 2024, 36 students graduated from the program. Through structured monitoring and evaluation, it is estimated that their voluntary service projects positively impacted approximately 1,400 South Australians, raising community awareness and preparedness for emergencies. The program’s innovative design has the potential to reach thousands more, contributing to greater national resilience.
Highly Commended
Torrens Resilience Institute - Understanding the Difficulty of Disaster Preparation Tasks
This research explored which household preparedness tasks are easier or harder to undertake, helping tailor future public messaging and support. The findings show that people’s ability varied greatly and can be classified into three main groups: the very able 10%, the middling majority, and the least able 4% who would be extremely challenged by most tasks.The study found specific independent factors that affect person ability: owning animals, mobility or physical impairment, individual access to information about what to do, and being Australian-born. The diverse nature of the sample in relation to household preparedness across a range of disasters, means that end-user agencies are now better able to target their funding and actions to assist various groups.
2025 Resilient Australia Government Award
Winner
South Australian Fire & Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) - Disaster Resilience Ecosystem Mapping Project
The South Australian Disaster Resilience Ecosystem Discovery Project was launched in early 2024. This groundbreaking initiative aimed to explore and map the disaster resilience ecosystem in South Australia. The project acknowledged that disaster resilience is a complex problem requiring a whole-of-system approach, which recognises the different root causes, and supports system-wide efforts which are adaptable to changing needs.By providing visual images of the network of initiatives and collaborating organisations at a state-wide level as well as within two local government areas, the project has delivered invaluable insights into our present condition to build and better shape the future direction of disaster resilience, risk reduction and preparedness in South Australia.
Highly Commended
Primary Industries & Regions SA (PIRSA) - Preparing Primary Industries for Complex and Compounding Disasters
Preparing primary industries for the impacts of compounding and complex natural disasters was a joint project between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Primary Producers SA. South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association, the Wine Grape Council of SA and the South Australian Forest Products Association led the industry engagement component of the project to explore the risks of compounding and complex disasters on people, production, profitability and supply chains. The pilot project focused on the three industries at a regional level, with dairy focusing on the Fleurieu Peninsula, wine grapes the Adelaide Hills and forestry the Limestone Coast. The project was a significant producer and stakeholder engagement exercise which has culminated in the development of three industry reports which will help shape disaster preparedness and response.
2025 Resilient Australia Business Award
Winner
Resilient Ready - Future Ready Grape & Wine Business Pilot
This novel project addressed the gap between disaster risk reduction resources and the capacity of small businesses to engage with them. Spanning 18 wine regions and involving over 100 businesses, the initiative delivered a highly tailored micro-learning program which included 10 actionable modules, compelling lived-experience videos and opportunities for connection and engagement with industry experts.The project delivered measurable impact with 80% of participating businesses reporting increased confidence in managing disaster risks, while 75% took tangible action such as updating insurance coverage and strengthening supply chain plans. By offering local, practical, and tailored support, it empowered small businesses to take meaningful action on disaster preparedness.
Highly Commended
Resilient Ready - Social Capital & Social Infrastructure Measurement Framework
In collaboration with Professor Daniel Aldrich, this initiative underscored the vital role of social ties and gathering places in building resilient communities.The project revealed that while many stakeholders recognised the value of social capital and social infrastructure, there was no consistent way to measure it. This was particularly evident in tackling loneliness, isolation, and the social impacts of COVID-19. As a result of this pioneering work, Resilient Ready secured funding through the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) Round 2 to develop Australia’s first National Social Capital and Social Infrastructure Measurement Framework. This next phase will pilot Professor Aldrich’s globally recognised measurement methods across three South Australian communities.
2025 Resilient Australia photography Award
Resilient Ready - Building #bridging ties to strengthen social capital in South Australia
