A Tasmanian research team examining coastal resilience has won this year’s Natural Hazards Research Australia Disaster Challenge.

Their project – Thriving Coastal Futures in Southern Tasmania – focuses on empowering the Garden Island Sands community through blue-green infrastructure, citizen science and trauma-informed engagement. 

Huon Valley Council environmental sustainability manager Malcolm Johnson – one of six team members – says the project ensured community voices remained central in decision-making. 

“The only way we solve these massive, wicked problems is by working with communities that care and are truly passionate.” he said. 

Challenge judges praised the team’s “innovative, community-driven approach” to protecting coastlines from sea level rise and extreme weather. 

The team has won $5000 and an opportunity to further develop their work with Natural Hazards Research Australia. 

Other challenge finalists included an RMIT University researcher who has worked on data-driven flood management, and a team from Griffith University who examined people-powered green spaces. 

Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing says the challenge allows researchers to offer innovative ideas for tackling climate risks.

“We have been talking about the cascading and compounding impacts of disasters on communities,” he said.

“To stay ahead of ready, we need big, bold ideas and the science and innovation to bring them to life.”