The second annual Safer Together Science Symposium brought more than 130 participants from across the bushfire sector together in person and online last month to showcase the program’s investment in research and share examples of sector learning.
Coinciding with National Science Week, the symposium included presentations across 4 key themes:
- community preparedness and risk understanding
- bushfire risk and predictive capability
- strengthening bushfire operations capability
- understanding and managing ecological values.
CFA Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic said the day was a great opportunity for people to come together to reflect on and celebrate Safer Together’s significant contribution to bushfire management in Victoria.
‘Safer Together research is such an important pillar of the work we do across the sector to manage bushfire.'
‘The symposium showcased some of the incredible and innovative work that is improving how the sector manages bushfire risk.’
In his opening remarks, Mr Slijepcevic said we need this research to help address key challenges faced by fire agencies, including the effects of climate change, the complex and evolving operating environment, and shifting demographics.
Across each of the themes, several projects were highlighted. These included:
- the Schools in Fire Country program, which uses a research-informed approach to deliver bushfire education in schools
- a program that uses behavioural science methods to understand how bushfire risk is perceived and interpreted and
- learning about how fire reconstructions can teach us why fires have behaved in certain ways and how they help to test and validate bushfire models and simulators.
More information
For more information, visit the the Safer Together program website or email safertogether@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Page last updated: 02/09/25