Work

Using an ecological model to guide transformative place-based pathways to regional business disaster recovery

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The escalating frequency, severity and scale of disasters and predicted more frequent epidemics and pandemics threatens the economic and social fabric of regional communities In Australia. This article reports on findings from two case studies conducted in South Australia that explored regional business recovery pathways following the Black Summer fires (2019/2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using ecological systems theory, we found that the linkages between systems are where the most effective support occurs and yet they are often missing, under-resourced and captured by unhelpful definitions of resilience and self-reliance. Our findings are relevant beyond this study, providing guidance to those working with communities to foster transformative place-based recovery.

Source: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105932

Authors: Catherine Mackenzie, Margaret Becker, Sudarshan Subedi, Kathyayini Kathy Rao

Institutions: University of South Australia, Flinders University

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Management and Resilience

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,200

Funder: Government of Western Australia