Recovery learning for local governments

Disasters affect communities long after the immediate response is over. Many councils are now supporting communities through recovery processes that can last months or years and rarely follow a straight path.

Recovery spans multiple, connected domains that work together to support communities. This includes built environment recovery – repairing roads, bridges, buildings, and restoring waste and essential services – so places can function safely again.

It also includes social and human recovery, which supports the people, services, organisations and networks that underpin wellbeing, connection, and local capacity.

Economic recovery helps businesses, jobs, and local economies restart, while natural environment recovery supports the land, waterways, and ecosystems communities rely on. Although these areas are often managed separately in local government, decisions taken in one domain can impact others – strong recovery outcomes rely on bringing these efforts together.

Your council may have a formal recovery role under state arrangements, but regardless of structure, communities look to council for leadership, coordination, and trusted advice.

Planning for recovery

Effective recovery planning is built before disasters and strengthened over time. These resources support councils to plan for holistic, community-centred recovery.

Pre-event recovery

This paper uses a case study to highlight the challenges and opportunities of a collective partnership approach to pre-event planning.

Recovery Exercising Toolkit 

The toolkit offers modules, templates, and guidance to help teams explore long-term recovery challenges and support communities facing complex disasters.

Communicating in recovery

This guide is for people or organisations working with information in post-disaster settings, including sudden emergencies and long-term crises.

Holistic and inclusive recovery approaches

Recovery Capitals, or ReCap, supports wellbeing after disasters with evidence-based resources for people and organisations engaged in recovery.

Recovery planning with communities

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, this paper highlights how recovery in Northland centred community voices, demonstrating the value of local leadership in shaping resilient recovery.

Strengthening recovery research data

This paper highlights the need for consistent data collection in disaster recovery to better understand long-term impacts and improve outcomes for communities.

Disaster recovery support for each state and territory

This resource by the National Emergency Management Agency connects local governments in each state and territory to recovery support information, mental health services, relief locations, grants, and more.

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

This cost-sharing system enables states and territories to deliver urgent support to affected communities. Funding covers immediate relief and hardship assistance through to rebuilding infrastructure.

Recovery journeys

Recovery doesn’t follow a straight line. These resources help make sense of common experiences, community impacts, and uneven recovery.

Podcast: After the Disaster

After a disaster, what comes next? This podcast offers practical tips and evidence-based advice, from how to manage insurance, to supporting kids.

What to expect in the first 6 months

Clinical Psychologist Dr Rob Gordon outlines what to expect during the first 6 months after a disaster and practical steps to help communities navigate this period.

Supporting those more at risk

Recovery impacts people differently. These resources support councils to recognise vulnerability, protect workforce, and respond to children, families, and communities at greater risk.

Who is worst off after a disaster?

Disaster recovery creates informal and formal hierarchies of who is ‘most affected’ which can help people make sense of their experiences but also risk invalidating others and causing division if applied too rigidly.

When recovery workers are also impacted

This study examines recovery workers personally affected by disasters, highlighting tensions between professional and personal recovery and a shift toward prioritising their own needs.

The Disaster Mental Health Hub

Phoenix Australia’s hub delivers evidence-based training and resources. Filter by topic, audience, or stage to quickly find practical tools for effective mental health support.

Supporting infants and children in disasters

Emerging Minds’ practice guide is a series of resources on child-centred and family-focused approaches in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Professional development

For teams looking to deepen understanding, reflect on practice, or build longer-term capability.

Community Recovery Quick Guides

AIDR has worked with experts from across Australia to develop resources that will help you make plans and decisions based on nationally agreed good practice.

Recovery Collection

This collection brings together resources, information and publications focused on recovery in Australia and internationally.

Recovery Matters webinar series

Through a series of informative webinars, AIDR invites expert speakers to share what they know and help us move forward with disaster recovery.

24 things to watch about disaster recovery

A curated watchlist featuring 24 insightful talks, webinars, and short films covering community leadership, social capital, mental health, and resilience.

Join the recovery network

Recovery is not done alone. Join others working in community recovery to share practice, challenges, and insights.

Possibility Lab – Community of Practice

These sessions were established to provide a space to learn together, workshop issues and challenges, and form a supportive network with peers in community recovery.