Six months on: Australian Red Cross warns no room for complacency

Six months after the devastation of Cyclone Alfred, new research commissioned by Australian Red Cross has revealed a worrying gap – while 90% of Australians have been affected by an emergency or disaster in their lifetime, only one in three (35%) were prepared.

Released as part of Australian Red Cross’ annual EmergencyRedi week (15-21 September 2025), which raises national awareness about the importance of preparedness, findings from the national survey highlighted a level of complacency. The primary reasons for lack of preparation were cited as “it won’t happen to me” (22%), and “it’s not on my radar” (20%). Notably, Millennials, many who are parents to primary aged children, were the least prepared generation, claiming lack of time or anxiety as key reasons.

Australian Red Cross National Resilience Director, Nichola Krey, said the six-month anniversary of Cyclone Alfred coupled with new research has prompted reminders that there’s no room for complacency when it comes to getting prepared.

“If Cyclone Alfred has taught us anything, it’s that extreme weather events can happen anywhere in Australia. For many of the hardest-hit communities, this was the first time they had experienced an extreme weather event, and they were caught unawares.

“Emergencies can strike at anytime, anywhere, and without warning. With climate and environmental events becoming more intense we’re encouraging everyone living in Australia to be proactive about getting prepared and building resilience now,” Ms Krey said.

The survey also reinforced the correlation between preparedness and emotional impacts after the event, with the research results revealing a marked reduction in the emotional impact on children whose families who were prepared, versus those who were not.

Ms Krey said talking to children about what to do in an emergency is vital, and despite slight improvements year on year, two-thirds of parents are still not having the conversations with their families.

“While we’re encouraged by the increase in parents helping kids prepare emotionally and physically, there is more work to be done.

“The psychological impact of emergencies can be significant for children. Helping them understand what to expect and the steps to take will help relieve anxiety, and provide a level of control, setting them up to cope with the event better,” she said.  

Six months on from Cyclone Alfred, while the emergency phase concluded in April, recovery continues for many. During and after Cyclone Alfred, Australian Red Cross provided psychological first aid and support to more than 15,000 impacted community members, delivered by our trained emergency services volunteers, across 45 evacuation centres and 70 recovery hubs and assistance points, helping people access essential services and begin their recovery journey.

To get prepared for an emergency:

• create an emergency RediPlan available at redcross.org.au/emergencies/resources
• attend an EmergencyRedi workshop (see event list on redcross.org.au)
• download Australian Red Cross’ the free Get Prepared App (co-created with NRMA Insurance) from Apple store or Google Play
• learn more on preparing children for emergencies via the Pillowcase Workshops

Australian Red Cross is also raising funds this September to ensure psychosocial support is available to both international and domestic delegates and beneficiaries. Donations can be made at https://www.redcross.org.au/healing

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