Date published 21 Jan 2025 Imagine a scenario where the safety of millions of Australians hinges on the effectiveness of a warning system. This was the challenge Metrix Consulting faced when tasked with overhauling the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) and developing a National Multi-Hazard Warning System. The Challenge: A Nation's Safety at Stake Australia's diverse and expansive landscape presents unique challenges in disaster management. From the remote outback to urban centres, ensuring that every community receives timely and effective hazard warnings is critical. While there were similarities across the systems, each state ultimately had its own system and associated communications. The goal was to identify a nationally consistent framework for both the Fire Danger Rating and Multi-Hazard Warning System that would effectively communicate the changing levels of threat, and the associated behaviours required. Unmatched Consultation Reach To truly understand the needs of the Australian public, we embarked on a nationwide consultation. Our team travelled from Kununurra in Western Australia to Launceston in Tasmania, covering thousands of kilometres and engaging with a diverse range of people. This extensive reach ensured we gathered insights that genuinely represented the views and needs of Australians from all walks of life. Our approach to the research was thorough and included a quantitative>qualitative>quantitative approach which allowed us to benchmark, discover, validate and measure potential impact. We combined insights from over 35 existing reports with fresh data from two national surveys (each with 5,000 participants) and 48 qualitative focus groups across metro, regional, and remote Australian locations. This blend of past and present data allowed us to identify a framework for both systems that would effectively communicate the changing level of threat to the community and promote action. Effective Stakeholder Management Collaboration was key to our success. We worked closely with government agencies, community groups, and industry experts across the country. Managing such a wide array of stakeholders required coordination and a commitment to ensuring every voice was heard. Our team's ability to foster these relationships was crucial in developing a system that everyone could trust and rely on. Without buy-in from all stakeholders, including Commissioners and Chiefs from each state and territory, the revised framework wouldn’t have progressed to the next phase of the program and wouldn’t be active in the community today. Delivering Quality Outcomes The result of our efforts is a simplified and visually optimised NFDRS and Multi-Hazard Warning System. These systems are designed to enhance public understanding of the change threat level and encourage desired behavioural outcomes. The positive feedback from our clients and the tangible impact on community safety are testaments to the quality of our work. To find out more about how Metrix’s expertise can address your unique challenges, contact us today! (Image via the Department of Fire and Emergency Services) Back To News & Views