@article {bnh-7165, title = {Implementing research to support disaster risk reduction}, journal = { Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, month = {07/2020}, pages = {54-61}, abstract = {

One of the challenges facing disaster risk reduction is the gap between research and practice. Despite the considerable investment in publicly funded and commissioned disaster risk reduction research, the application of research findings to operational practice often lags, if implemented at all. This paper addresses the need to understand the antecedents of implementation and identifies activities involved in the research utilisation process. This paper reports on findings that led to the development of a research utilisation maturity matrix that encompasses four levels of maturity being: basic, developing, established and leading. This study involved collaboration and discussion with emergency services practitioners and a conceptual model of the elements needed to support implementation of research was identified. This model suggests that the four elements play key roles in effective implementation. The study gathered information from emergency services practitioners and their stakeholders about the meaning of the research findings and what, if anything, needed to change. The study{\textquoteright}s findings can help emergency services personnel assess organisational practices to improve research utilisation within the emergency sector and contribute to greater disaster risk reduction outcomes.

}, keywords = {Disaster risk reduction, Research utilisation}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-july-2020-implementing-research-to-support-disaster-risk-reduction/}, author = {Owen, Christine and Noreen Krusel and Loriana Bethune} } @article {bnh-4389, title = {From research outcome to agency change: mapping a learning trajectory of opportunities and challenges}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {32}, year = {2017}, month = {10/2017}, abstract = {

A key theme within the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC Cognitive Tools and Decision Making project is to understand how practitioners learn from research outcomes and how they can use them. Translatingresearch outcomes into practice is a complex process and can be beyond the control of the project team and end-user representatives. Using {\^O}lessons{\~O} terminology, it is suggested that observations and insights can be identified from reviewing research outcomes. However, the lessons that are derived from insights are only {\^O}learnt{\~O} when they instigate sustainable change (Commonwealth of Australia 2013). To create the best conditions for organisational learning a literature review of learning lessons in emergency management was conducted. Practitioners were also interviewed to understand the contexts and challenges faced in implementing research insights and in facilitating change. This paper presents two studies that examine aspects of organisational learning. In the first study, the challenges to learning from action and experience and from reflection and planning are examined. In the second study, the systems for learning used in emergency services organisations are considered and a preliminary theory of research utilisation maturity is proposed. The initiatives reported help to maximise the value of research and supports innovation through utilisation.

}, url = {https://ajem.infoservices.com.au/items/AJEM-32-04-19}, author = {Owen, Christine and Noreen Krusel and Christopher Bearman and Brooks, B} } @conference {bnh-3897, title = {Implementing CRC research: development of a tool for assessing post-fire hydrologic risk}, booktitle = {AFAC17}, year = {2017}, month = {09/2017}, publisher = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, organization = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Sydney}, abstract = {

An output of the Bushfire CRC was the development of methods for assessing post-fire hydrologic risks to human life, infrastructure, and water quality. The work was delivered as part of the Fire in the Landscape research theme and built on many years of research conducted by the Forest Hydrology research group at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Bushfire CRC, Melbourne Water and DELWP.

The Bushfire CRC project was identified for research utilisation by CRC end-users and a face-to-face meeting between end-users, researchers and AFAC research utilisation staff was arranged. The meeting resulted in the development of a three phase research utilisation plan. The first phase was a nationwide assessment of hydrologic risk related to wildfire and the development of a set of national guidelines based on general principles. This work was resourced by AFAC and delivered in 2014. Phase two was managed by ACT Parks and Conservation Service and aimed at advancing the generalised risk guidelines developed for AFAC and applying them to ACT catchments. This was completed in 2016 with the delivery of a suite of GIS tools that built on the algorithms that were developed for the Bushfire Rapid Risk Assessment Teams in Victoria.\  Additional research - phase three - could parameterise models for specific catchments, with the aim of delivering quantitative information on the probability and magnitude of post-fire erosion.

The project has generated some lessons about the research utilisation process:

  1. End-users must be clear about what they need and have a sound technical understanding of the research.
  2. All parties need to have a common picture of what is to be developed and how it is to be used.
  3. Researchers should be prepared to synthesise their work such that the complexity of processes does not impede the development of practical tools.
}, author = {Adam J. Leavesley and Petter Nyman and Noreen Krusel and Gary J. Sheridan and Neil Cooper} }