The National Institute of Strategic Resilience advances thinking on national resilience and security. We encourage a diversity of opinion addressing the opportunities and threats for Australia, the Indo-Pacific and the world. We seek to stimulate practical debate and create implementable solutions to the challenges facing our society and our nation.

Australia, Resilient and Secure

Resilience:

At NISR, we use the definition of resilience* from the UN Disaster Risk Reduction glossary: 'The ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management.'

Strategic Resilience:

At NISR, we consider Strategic Resilience* to be a continuous improvement process that takes input from a range of indicators, events, and trends, to anticipate emergent threat and opportunity. Strategic resilience not only nurtures the capacity for adaptation ahead of the need for urgent interventions, but it also seeks to embrace this period of accelerated change to provide an opportunity for Australia to move boldly to establish a position of advantage.

* these are evolving definitions as thought leadership emerges on these and related topics

These are turbulent times...

Australia has received a series of shocks in quick succession; drought, bushfire, flood, pandemic, pestilence and more. The response to each shock has highlighted both opportunity and threat to the stability of our communities and our nation. 

We have seen communities galvanised to action in response to bushfires and flood. We have seen unparalleled compliance to unheralded restriction for the collective good. In contrast, we have seen fighting in supermarket aisles for challenged resources and civil disobedience in the face of continued constraints. Shocks have brought out the best and the not-so-good in our societal behaviours.

Developing policy and practices that enable strategic resilience will offer Australia the chance to think forward beyond these turbulent times, whilst navigating present challenges. It enables a position of advantage based on bold decisions and swift action. The National Institute of Strategic Resilience invites thought leadership from around the globe to address emergent opportunities and threats. We give voice to diverse perspectives and implementable solutions. We seek to facilitate a ‘bounce forward’ for Australia born outside of ‘group think’ and inspired by open, diverse, inclusive, respectful and informed debate.

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