Researchers from QUT have found that disaster preparedness efforts in Australia are failing to fully reach culturally and linguistically diverse communities, leaving many at higher risk during emergencies such as cyclones, floods and fires.
The two-year study, led by Associate Professor Jenny Hou from the QUT School of Communication, worked closely with residents in Cairns across seven cultural groups to better understand how information is shared before and during natural disasters. The project was supported by funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund.
The research shows that while Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, emergency communication systems have not adapted to reflect that reality. Many people, particularly newly arrived migrants or those without strong English skills or digital access, miss out on crucial updates because the messages aren’t reaching them in the way they need.
Instead, residents in groups such as the Bhutanese, Chinese, Colombian, Congolese, Filipino, Indonesian and Japanese communities often relied on community leaders, faith groups, local schools or messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook to stay informed. These informal networks became essential during Cyclone Jasper in 2023, when community-led efforts helped organise transport and temporary housing for people cut off by the storm.
Associate Professor Hou said the findings highlight the need to rethink how official disaster messaging is designed and delivered. “Our research found that disaster communication strategies often overlook the ways CALD communities interpret, share and act on information,” she said. “We set out to better understand those gaps and develop inclusive tools that can support both communities and agencies.”
In response, the team has created a national Storytelling Toolkit aimed at helping local councils, emergency services and NGOs work more closely with multicultural communities. It includes planning resources, templates for co-design, and a growing digital collection of lived experience stories shared by those who have been through past events.
The aim is to give communities a stronger voice in how they prepare for and respond to disasters, rather than relying solely on top-down messaging. According to Hou, building resilience starts with listening. “What we want to see Australia-wide is greater disaster literacy and sustainable resilience in the face of extreme weather events among CALD communities.”
The research involved over 150 community members and 18 emergency management professionals, and was delivered by a QUT team that also included Professor Greg Hearn, Professor Kim Johnston, Dr Kim Osman, Dr Risini Ilangasingha and Sioux Campbell.
As climate-related events become more frequent and intense, the findings point to an urgent need for more tailored and inclusive approaches across disaster planning and response.
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