From 2009 the Bushfire CRC,
Australia and New Zealand’s first nationally coordinated,
multi-disciplinary bushfire research program enters the final phase
of its seven-year life.
Building on the earlier research
efforts of individual agencies, the Bushfire CRC’s research
focus, over the past five and a half years, has been to find
improved ways of reducing the level of bushfire risk for given
levels of investment and resourcing by governments and the wider
community.
With some confidence it can now be
seen that the combined efforts of 19 fire, emergency and land
management agencies from across Australia and New Zealand, and the
research capabilities of some 20 universities and related research
providers, is resulting in clear industry and community
benefits.
The last year has seen a gradual
switch of the Bushfire CRC’s research focus towards an
increasing emphasis on converting the research effort into
operational and strategic reality. This is reflected in the major
activities planned by the Bushfire CRC over its final 18
months.
The Research Adoption Plan
outlined here is based on an approach that combines product
development / finalisation with stakeholder engagement. It is
an approach that draws heavily on the existing AFAC consultative
networks and one that attempts to provide considerable on-going
opportunities for individual researcher/stakeholder representative
interactions.
The document implements the strategy
as outlined in the Research Adoption Strategy 2008-2010,
which has been approved by the Bushfire CRC Governing Board and is
available on the Bushfire CRC website.
