Submission to Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience
FECCA highlights critical gaps in Australia’s disaster resilience efforts, particularly regarding the inclusion of multicultural communities. Emphasising that multicultural communities, often treated as a homogeneous group, face unique barriers during disasters due to linguistic and cultural differences, limited tailored resources, and underrepresentation in emergency planning. The submission underscores the role of multicultural organisations and volunteer groups as vital intermediaries during crises, capable of bridging communication gaps and fostering trust. However, these groups are often underfunded and engaged on an ad-hoc basis, limiting their capacity to support disaster preparedness and recovery effectively.
FECCA calls for strategic partnerships between emergency management services and multicultural organisations, emphasising co-designed approaches tailored to the specific needs of diverse communities. Case studies demonstrate the success of community-led initiatives, such as targeted vaccination campaigns and emergency preparedness programs. FECCA proposes replicating proven models like the Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership (MEMP) across Australia to enhance cultural responsiveness, strengthen community resilience, and foster inclusion in emergency planning. Investing in these collaborations, providing dedicated funding, and integrating multicultural perspectives into emergency frameworks are vital steps toward building a disaster-resilient Australia that values its diversity.
