Gender-based violence increases after a disaster, according to 16 multi-country and 50 single-country studies published on the subject matter between 1993 and 2020, including the first Australian research into domestic violence and disaster published by Gender and Disaster Australia (GADAus).
GADAus, formerly The GAD Pod, works at the intersection of gender and disaster and aims to reduce the harms experienced by women, men and LGBTQIA+ people when they are affected by a disaster. The national organisation conducts research, develops resources and provides training so that individuals, groups and organisations supporting those affected by a disaster have expertise concerning gender-based impacts and harms, and also the opportunities and benefits such diversity provides.
Despite being a young organisation, GADAus has already garnered a considerable number of awards for its work on gender and disaster, with the most recent one being our very own Third Sector Awards (2024) for the Emerging NFP of the Year category.
“We are the only organisation working in this area in Australia,” said CEO Dr Margaret Moreton, who took on the role in February.
Meet Dr Moreton through this Q&A session.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the social sector?
In some ways, this is how I was raised. I grew up on a farm in regional Victoria. My parents were actively involved in the community through their church, the local football club, the music club, the Red Cross, the CWA, the Girl Guides movement and the CFA. I grew up understanding the connection between the individual, family and community. Our community experiences bushfires regularly, and I recall a particularly devastating fire from my teenage years.
When I worked in the government, I gravitated towards social policy and program areas, including mental health, community development, Indigenous affairs, family policy, early childhood and the Office for Women. When Black Saturday had such a devastating effect across Victoria, I resigned from my employment and undertook a PhD at the Australian National University, wherein my focus was on amplifying the community voice about what community resilience is all about.
I studied four communities affected by fire, flood, cyclone and multiple events. This research changed my focus forever, and I now work in the disaster/emergency management area. I’m currently focussed on the role that gender plays in a disaster context – with the potential to provide benefit and opportunity, or to result in greater harm after an event.
What is the most fulfilling part of your work?
I have a strong sense of purpose and am committed to the outcome of creating a just and fair society where everyone is safe, able to participate and contribute, seen and heard as themselves, and can thrive and live a full and satisfying life. Emergency events on any scale can interrupt this intention, and if the events are large disasters, this can create trauma and harm affecting many individuals, groups and even generations. I love taking on big issues, and the challenges we face as a result of climate change are enormous.
What is the most impactful project you’ve worked on so far?
This is so difficult to answer. All sorts of projects have been very satisfying. I’m not sure which has had the most impact.
Leading the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience was a very satisfying role. The institute creates and curates knowledge and information and convenes a significant network of policymakers, practitioners and others working or volunteering in the disaster resilience field. We convened a national conference annually. The opportunity to influence and improve thought, policy and practice was enormous.
How do I compare that with individual projects? It’s being part of the stakeholder group advising on the development of Australia’s Vulnerability Profile, or the nation’s Risk Reduction Framework, as well as writing the ‘Community engagement for disaster recovery handbook’ (AIDR) or ‘After the disaster: Recovery for Australia’s children’ for Royal Far West and UNICEF. Then again, facilitating workshops with the local government or community groups also brings results at a local level.
I love all of this work, and now refreshing the strategy and direction with GADAus is very rewarding and will hopefully create significant change in the life experience of women, men and LGBTQIA+ people affected by disasters.
What are the biggest developments you’ve seen in the social sector so far?
There are a few big changes that have occurred and are continuing to affect this sector. Corporate and philanthropic Australia are both sectors that are stepping into supporting social and public benefit outcomes. This is no longer the domain of governments alone. Small businesses and social enterprises are also a growth industry and are becoming very active in disaster resilience. The needs that people face are complex now, resulting from an increasing number of intersecting characteristics and factors. This means that solutions or supports have to respond to this complexity.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our sector nowadays?
The greatest challenge is the intersection of complex and dire need, the increasing likelihood of having a disaster further disadvantage individuals and communities, the lack of public funds to provide effective relief and support, the diverse stakeholders that are all stepping into the space and the lack of coordination between these stakeholders. This makes for a morass that people cannot navigate successfully. Add existing disadvantage and trauma to this mix, and we have a complex set of problems to address.
What emerging technology or trends do you believe will shape the sector’s future?
We have not yet fully grappled with the impacts of AI and assisted technology. The speed with which information is now shared and the roles of influencers and others with low levels of expertise but high levels of connection mean that information and disinformation confuse the public. Processes will become increasingly automated at a time when people’s mental health and wellbeing are at risk. A genuine connection is so greatly needed at a time when it can be difficult to distinguish from harmful or predatory behaviour.
What advice would you give aspiring leaders in this sector?
Stay as connected as you can to a diverse set of people, whether they are employees, stakeholders or members of the public, particularly if they are ‘not like you’. We all live in increasingly separate ‘bubbles’, and we need to break through to see and hear the diversity that is otherwise invisible. Only by doing this can we set a strategy well and make wise decisions.
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Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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