Showcasing Queensland’s Early Career Researchers

Introduction to the Early Career Researcher Network

Bruce Hankinson, Queensland University of Technology – The agility ecosystem: Can application of agility theory transform contemporary emergency management?

This thesis investigates the potential for Command and Control Agility theory (C2A) to transform emergency management to face increasingly complex and unpredictable disasters. Taking a case-study approach, the thesis analyses the Queensland Government’s response to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods. It reveals formal arrangements to be rigid, agility-blocking and agency-centred, resulting in reactive, ad hoc responses and inhibiting cooperation with more agile community groups.

The thesis argues emergency management that operationalises C2A agility concepts into structures and processes could empower communities, leaders and agencies by enabling interoperability, collaboration, shared awareness and self-organisation, thereby enhancing complex decision-making and achieving better outcome.

Tess McKenzie, Griffith University – Public Private Partnership in disaster response operations: A case study of 2022 South East Queensland floods

Public-private partnership has been considered as key in disaster management, it helps to build community and business resilience and provides essential services. A public-private partnership allows the sharing of resources and knowledge to maximise disaster response efforts. Intersectoral collaboration arrangements is not an easy task to implement – particularly if there is no formal arrangements of frameworks. There are many obstructions including low political commitments, lack of communication strategy and no financial resources.

What was learnt in the 2022 South-East Queensland floods that can be used to further enhance collaborative arrangements involving governments, business, non-governmental organisations and communities to ensure effective disaster response in Queensland? 

Sheriden Keegan, Griffith University – A road map towards regional food system resilience

Global and national food supply chain disturbances have dramatically increased in recent years due to severe and compounding crises, such natural disasters, conflict and the Covid-19 pandemic. These events have led to recurrent food shortages, price spikes and surging food insecurity in nations worldwide, amplifying food inequities. Governance and planning for more resilient food systems is urgently needed to adapt food systems to future threats, such as climate change driven disasters. 

Regional food system (RFS) development presents many opportunities for enhancing resilience and food security during times of crises through fostering shorter supply chains. By scaling-up local food production and increasing consumer access to healthy, local food, regional food distribution networks can provide more adaptive food supply during times of disaster and develop greater resilience and sustainability in the long-term. A comprehensive understanding of how RFS are contributing towards food security during disasters, and how resilience can be optimised at the regional scale, is currently needed to support food system planning and governance. 

John Moy, Charles Sturt University and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services– Researching a new national, sustainable volunteer emergency services model

Recent disaster events including the global pandemic, 2020 Victorian bushfires and the NSW floods in 2021, provide a timely reminder that disasters are increasing in severity, frequency, and cost. As part of Australia's strategy to prepare for, respond to and recover from these events, is a large, dedicated volunteer emergency services workforce. Volunteer emergency service organisations such as rural fire and state emergency services are significant contributors to Australia's disaster management capability. A capability that the literature shows, contributes greatly to individual and community resilience.

My research proposes that for Australia, the solution in mitigating declining emergency services volunteerism, lies with a reconceptualisation of volunteer emergency services participation. It will be argued that the identified primary enablers and inhibitors must be carefully considered and adopted, as part of the creation of a new volunteer model, which if implemented, could save Australia’s volunteer emergency services agencies, increase community resilience and ultimately contribute to a safer Australia for us all!

Jayan C Kurian, University of the Sunshine Coast – Digital workplaces: Generating value for community-based emergency services

Digital workplace is an organisational asset that enhances employee experience, drives value for organisations and is a critical component desired for digital transformation. While extant literature on digital workplace and transformation are plentiful, the interaction between them in terms of digital workplace design levers at a micro level remains largely unexplored.

In this case study research, we adopt digital workplace design levers from the literature and apply that to the world’s largest firefighting agency to understand how the agency redesigned its workplace to generate value for emergency services.