Port Franklin will receive new and upgraded coastal protection infrastructure through a $7.2 million program funded under the latest round of the Disaster Ready Fund. Elwood will also benefit from works designed to improve resilience to storms and rising sea levels. The program is one part of more than $36.8 million invested across Victoria, with 11 projects receiving support. Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the funding would help communities prepare before disasters strike. A $12.3 million levee project in Epsom will reduce flood risk to more than 500 homes and 60 businesses.
Britons are being urged to keep nine litres of bottled water and three days' worth of food at home. The Be Ready campaign from the Cabinet Office is aimed at helping households survive weather, cyber or other serious emergencies. Security minister Dan Jarvis called the advice simple steps for everyday emergencies. Defence secretary Wes Streeting said Britain must prepare for state-sponsored terrorism by Russia or other hostile powers targeting everyday infrastructure.
CQUniversity graduate Dylan Hyatt-Jacobson spent 43 days alone in the Arctic wilderness while competing in Season 4 of Alone Australia. He drew on his psychology studies to manage isolation, hunger and physical demands. He later withdrew from the competition because his worsening back injury put his safety at risk. Hyatt-Jacobson said being resilient sometimes means knowing when to stop. He now works in the domestic and family violence sector and volunteers as a search and rescue tracker.
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Samaras owner Omar Nemer returned to his former school, Illawarra Sports High, to speak at the class of 2026 graduation ceremony. He told students there is no perfect path and urged them to keep moving forward, learning and enjoying the journey. Nemer described his own route from high school to university and then to running three branches of the family business. He said one small opportunity, a community event in Unanderra, led to a food truck and many new chances. He encouraged graduates to be brave, work hard, and never be afraid to say yes.
Maribyrnong resident Shavina Hill has published her debut memoir, Why Did It Happen To Me?, on Wednesday 28 October. The book traces her childhood poverty and homelessness in India, her adoption by an Australian family at nine, and her founding of Street Born Foundation, which supports vulnerable children in India. Hill said she wrote it to help readers who ask similar questions about their own lives. She said her hope is that readers will recognise that their past does not have to define their future.
Researchers argue that natural hazards will confront whichever government is elected, affecting the economy, health, housing and insurance. New Zealand's geography leaves it exposed to floods, earthquakes, storms and other hazards, and climate change is expected to add to the risk. The 2023 Auckland anniversary weekend floods caused more than NZ$2 billion in insured losses. The authors call for stronger links between science and policy, steady investment in resilience, and fewer new homes built on hazard-prone land.
Nearly five years after the 2022 floods, many Lismore residents are still rebuilding their lives. Alison Norris and her children must leave a temporary pod village by mid-December and have nowhere else to go. Some residents have relocated or accepted buyback payments, while others remain on the floodplain. A New South Wales auditor general report found earlier buyback programs did not deliver what was promised. The state government has since announced more land release and new homes.
Belonging to a wider friendship group may help teenagers build resilience more strongly than support from a single close friend, according to Adelaide University research. The study involved more than 21,000 South Australian students aged 15 to 18. Researchers found peer belonging was a stronger predictor of resilience than friendship intimacy across all age groups studied. Lead researcher Dr Sarah Halliday said schools could encourage inclusive peer networks while still allowing close friendships to develop. The study shows an association rather than proof that larger friendship groups directly cause greater resilience.
Four years after the Maribyrnong River flooded hundreds of homes, the City of Maribyrnong is continuing to push for stronger flood prevention, preparedness and recovery. Council will hold a community workshop in November to shape its next round of advocacy with residents who experienced the 2022 flood. The Maribyrnong Neighbourhood Flood Network has also developed a community-owned flood plan, which was presented to emergency management organisations this month. Mayor Mohamed Semra said recovery had not ended when the floodwaters receded and that residents' voices needed to be heard.
RSL president Peter Tinley will tell the National Press Club on Monday that no single person in the Commonwealth is responsible for making sure the nation is ready for serious disruption. He will call this the missing line of defence. Mr Tinley will outline a national preparedness framework with three measures: a law making preparation a continuing legal duty, an independent commission to assess resilience spending, and a government adviser to judge readiness. He will also urge states and territories to join a National Preparedness Compact.
Livingstone Shire Council's ICare Friday Lunches initiative has claimed the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award at the 2026 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards. The program, which fosters community resilience, has grown from a small gathering to a fortnightly event attracting 100-120 locals. Acting Mayor Cr Pat Eastwood praised the initiative for strengthening social connections and providing disaster preparedness education. Participants report improved confidence and support networks, with the program now eligible for national recognition. The initiative demonstrates how community collaboration can enhance resilience and preparedness.
A new biography, Johno, tells the story of Norman Johnston, a UK child migrant who arrived in Australia in 1950. The book, written by Kathleen O’Reilly Johnston, details the abuse and neglect Norman endured in Christian Brothers homes in Western Australia. Despite the harrowing experiences, Norman’s story is one of resilience and hope. The book aims to raise awareness about the UK’s post-war child migration scheme and its lasting impacts.
Australia will spend $3 million to fund four climate-resilience projects in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Kiribati. The projects, announced at a pre-COP31 event in Fiji, aim to protect infrastructure from rising sea levels and erosion. Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the funding would help vulnerable nations adapt to increasing climate threats. A report warned the annual funding gap for climate finance in Pacific nations could be as large as $5.7 billion.
A $16.5 million upgrade to the Browns Creek Pump Station in Lismore will begin in November 2026, doubling its capacity to 10,000 litres per second. The project, funded by the federal government, aims to reduce localised flooding and maintain access to homes and businesses. Construction is expected to finish in late 2027, with temporary traffic changes in place during the works.
