Reflections from the 2026 National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Gathering

On 5-7 May 2026, representatives from AIDR and AFAC attended the NIDR Gathering on Gunaikurnai Country in Victoria, returning with valuable reflections on the importance of supporting and celebrating Indigenous leadership, strengthening disaster resilience, and recognising the vital role of Indigenous knowledges.

The gathering brought together representatives from disaster resilience and emergency management sectors, government, researchers, NGOs, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Indigenous ranger groups, Native Title groups, and other land and water management organisations. This included participants and presenters from Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada. The program wove together research, lived experience, and practice in a way that was accessible and meaningful, and created a safe space for people to share knowledge and experiences, and for others to listen and learn.

A core message throughout Gathering was the importance of listening. Elder Uncle Wayne Thorpe reminded attendees that they have ‘Two ears and one mouth’, reinforcing the need to prioritise respect and deep listening when engaging with Indigenous knowledge systems and community-led approaches.

Together, these perspectives illustrated resilience in its many forms – financial, experiential, and community-driven – and demonstrated how different knowledge systems can coexist and strengthen one another.

A key question raised throughout the Gathering was how to respectfully and meaningfully engage with Indigenous people and knowledges across emergency management and disaster resilience. Discussions highlighted the need for more inclusive, culturally safe approaches with systems thinking offering a to connect knowledge systems and strengthen practice.

A strong theme was the limitations of the concept of ‘natural disasters’. Indigenous knowledge holders spoke of how colonisation has transformed disaster landscapes and disrupted natural systems, which have contributed to increased risks for Country, communities, animals, and ecosystems.

The importance of youth engagement was also highlighted. The workshop, ‘Country in Our Hands - Young Mob Leading the Way’, showcased the leadership and vision of young people in shaping future resilience. Through an imagined futures exercise, participants explored how empowering young people can translate into meaningful, long-term outcomes for communities and the sector.

Several presentations explored how knowledge is created, shared, and remembered. Discussions on epistemology highlighted that knowledge is not singular or purely empirical, but is shaped by culture, values, and lived experience. Stories, even when simplified or adapted over time, remain powerful tools for risk awareness and collective memory, particularly in communicating hazards such as tsunami risk.

These conversations also highlighted the ethical responsibilities of research and storytelling. Representing communities requires strong relationships, shared power, and a commitment to ensuring that knowledge is not extracted but respectfully held and communicated.

Policy and legal sessions added further depth to the discussions. Conversations about the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience policy framework emphasised that policy is ultimately values-driven, and that language and recommendations must be written and informed by First Nations voices reflect the needs and contexts of the communities these policies are meant to benefit.

Similarly, sessions on disasters and the law highlighted the complexity of navigating multiple legal systems, and the importance of access to justice in recovery. The discussion of Clause 64 of the Closing the Gap agreement underscored how existing systems are often grounded in colonial understandings of risk and harm, reinforcing the need to rethink these frameworks. These sessions drew strong attention and were moved to a larger space, which reflected the importance of getting policy right.

Across the Gathering, a consistent theme was the importance of values led decision making. One notable reflection was the aspiration to be a ‘yes’ organisation – one guided by its values and which takes action accordingly, rather than allowing competing pressures to weaken its commitments.

Overall, the NIDR Gathering provided a powerful reminder that disaster resilience is deeply human and connected to Country, environment, and animals. It requires listening, respect, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace diverse ways of knowing.

These reflections offer important guidance as we continue to shape our work and partnerships in the disaster resilience sector.