Introduction

About Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia is the geoscience advisor to the Australian Government on matters of national importance, and custodian of the geographical and geological data and knowledge of the nation.

By understanding the geological history and geospatial aspects of our continent, we build our knowledge and capability to prepare us for the future.

We deliver a wide range of products that address important and significant national issues to assist government and the community to make informed decisions about the use of natural resources, the management of the environment, and community safety.

Through six key strategic priority areas, Geoscience Australia provides applied research and information for the Australian community to obtain sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits.

  • Building Australia’s Resource Wealth
  • Ensuring Australia’s Community Safety
  • Securing Australia’s Water Resources
  • Managing Australia’s Marine Jurisdictions
  • Providing Fundamental Geographic Information
  • Maintaining Geoscience Knowledge and Capability

We apply our geoscience knowledge and capability to acquire, store and manage Australia’s national fundamental geological and geographic information.

This enables Australia to make critical decisions regarding our natural resource potential and marine environment, and helps to build our resilience to natural hazards.

It also ensures sustainable Australian communities by managing our precious water resources.

Geoscience Australia continues to actively promote Australia’s mineral and energy resources to international trade partners, increasing awareness of the opportunities Australia’s vast resource sector provides.

Working with our government partner organisations, we have broadened our scope of work in support of Australia’s efforts to reduce the impact of natural disasters in our region.

Community Safety Branch

Community Safety strategic plan

In Australia we are exposed to many hazards - fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and extreme weather. These natural events transform into natural disasters when lives are lost, and property is destroyed. Geoscience Australia understands these hazards and the risks they pose to communities.

As our population grows, people and infrastructure become exposed to hazards. It is not enough to simply respond, we must prepare.

To protect the vulnerable we must understand the risks they face and manage the impact of natural hazards to avoid disaster.

How do we ensure Australia’s community safety?

We must recognise the worst case, plan for the best outcome and consider how we develop our unique landscape. Combining short-term response and long term planning, making decisions based on evidence specific to Australia’s circumstances.

Geoscience Australia models and measures the hazards that put us in danger. We identify what parts of Australia are most at risk, and assesses the potential financial and social costs facing our environment, our industries and the people they support.

We must understand how hazards impact our society, to allow communities to prepare for emergencies, to provide advice to prevent emerging disasters and to build a safer and more resilient future, for us all.

The vision for the Community Safety Branch is to develop and deliver authoritative nationally consistent data and information to enable decision makers, governments, businesses and the community to better understand the consequences of hazard events and to contribute to more resilient communities.