The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (PDF 3510KB) and Australia’s National Strategy for Disaster Resilience (PDF 4121KB) provide the overarching frameworks guiding the National Emergency Management Agency’s work to reduce disaster risk and improve Australia’s resilience.

National Action Plans and our disaster risk reduction programs put these frameworks into practice. The Second National Action Plan, released on 25 August 2023, is for all Australians. The Plan is for all of us to:

• work together to drive coordinated action
• reduce disaster risk and enhance resilience beyond avoiding losses
• ensure we achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and
• enable all Australians to be safe and prosper.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (PDF 3510KB) (the Framework) was released in April 2019 and sets out the foundational work required nationally, across all sectors, to reduce existing disaster risk, minimise new disaster risk, and deliver better climate and disaster risk information. It builds on Australia's National Strategy for Disaster Resilience (PDF 4121KB).

As the domestic implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Framework articulates Australia’s 2030 vision for disaster risk reduction, which is broadly aligned with the goals of the Sendai Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals:

In Australia, we are enabled and supported by the Framework to actively reduce disaster risk and limit the impacts of disasters on communities and economies.

In our 2030 vision for disaster risk reduction, all sectors of society understand and respond to social, environmental, technological and demographic changes which have the potential to prevent, create or exacerbate disaster risks. All sectors of society:

• make disaster risk-informed decisions
• are accountable for reducing risks within their control, and
• invest in reducing disaster risk in order to limit the cost of disasters when they occur.

To meet this vision, the Framework outlines foundational strategies for action structured around four national priorities:

1. Understand disaster risk
2. Accountable decisions
3. Enhanced investment
4. Governance, ownership and responsibility

The Framework, which was co-designed by government and non-government stakeholders, intends to provide national decision makers with the right tools and information to better understand the risks and make risk-informed decisions. 

Australian Disaster Recovery Framework

The Australian Disaster Recovery Framework (ADRF) (PDF 2.49MB) has been established. It supports the recovery efforts of our governments and recovery partners. It helps them work effectively individually, and together.

The Framework provides a common understanding of Australia’s approach to Disaster Recovery. It gives general guidance on recovery for planners and practitioners. It also describes mechanisms for coordination and collaboration between recovery stakeholders.

During events of nationally significant harm, it provides links to:

• Legislation
• Arrangements
• Practice for recovery

Each of our state and territories have their own disaster recovery policies. This is because large-scale disasters often happen across different states at the same time. The ADRF provides a common understanding of the approach to disaster recovery.

This video outlines the three key areas of the ADRF, which are:

1. Framework purpose and essential context
2. Recovery governance
3. Recovery doctrine and policy

The ADRF is reviewed from time to time to make sure arrangements are updated as needed.

National Action Plans

National Action Plans support implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.

The National Action Plans are for all Australians, developed by the National Emergency Management Agency and informed by extensive consultation. The Plans contribute to aligning and maturing Australia’s resilience and risk reduction efforts and identify key national actions for success.

First National Action Plan

Endorsed by Emergency Management Ministers on 22 May 2020, the First National Action Plan (PDF 6330KB) was a starting point that outlined a range of initiatives aligned to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework that were already underway – consolidating those efforts from Commonwealth, State and Territory jurisdictions into one document.

Second National Action Plan

The Second National Action Plan (PDF 6623KB) to implement the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework was developed in consultation with stakeholders including industry, academia, non-governmental organisations, communities, Commonwealth agencies and local, state and territory governments.

The Second National Action Plan builds upon the First National Action Plan, Australia’s global commitments, recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, the findings of Australia's National Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework and the important work in disaster risk reduction to date.

The Second National Action Plan reflects what communities say is needed to mature the system, considers the existing and future opportunities for disaster risk reduction and resilience activities across Australia, and aligns them towards our risk reduction goals.

The Second National Action Plan was endorsed by National Emergency Management Ministers on 25 August 2023. You can read the consultation documents on the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience website.

For more information on the Plan and our implementation partners, please contact the nationalactionplan@nema.gov.au.

Australia's National Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

As the key international framework to drive disaster risk reduction, the Sendai Framework seeks to achieve a substantial reduction of disaster risk by 2030. As 2022-2023 marks the half-way point of this 15-year Sendai Framework, Australia has been asked to take stock of progress to-date in implementing the framework domestically through a midterm review.

Australia’s National Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework was just as much about looking back as it was about looking forward. It provided an important opportunity to gain insights, identify emerging best practice, and report on the achievements to-date in reducing disaster risks in Australia.

Extensive engagement was undertaken to inform the review, which was conducted concurrent to the development of the Second National Action Plan for the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework. As part of the review, the National Emergency Management Agency engaged with all state and territory governments, as well as local government, Commonwealth agencies, private industry and the not-for-profit sector. Read the review at Australia's National Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework (PDF 6623KB). You can also read the Annex to Australia's National Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework (PDF 3756KB).

National Strategy for Disaster Resilience

Released in 2011, Australia's National Strategy for Disaster Resilience (PDF 4.02MB) acknowledges the increasing severity and regularity of disasters in Australia and the need for a coordinated, cooperative national effort to enhance Australia's capacity to withstand and recover from emergencies and disasters.

The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience describes disaster resilience as the collective responsibility of all levels of government, businesses, the non-government sector and individuals. 

Where these sectors work together, with a united focus and a shared sense of responsibility to improve disaster resilience, they will be far more effective than the individual efforts of any one sector.

For more information or any enquiries about disaster risk reduction please contact disasterriskreduction@nema.gov.au.