- Western Australian winners of Resilient Australia Awards announced
- Recognition for projects that are making communities safer and stronger
- WA winners now finalists in national awards
A community-led initiative that includes workshops to help people better prepare for bushfires is among four Western Australian winners in the 2026 Resilient Australia State Awards.
The awards recognise individuals, organisations, local governments, and groups which have delivered projects that boost resilience in communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters and emergencies across WA.
Bushfire Ready Denmark WA received the Community Award for its Denmark Bushfire Ready Weekend, a community-led initiative bringing together residents, volunteers, and emergency services through workshops, demonstrations, and neighbourhood preparedness activities to help communities strengthen their preparations for bushfires.
The City of Stirling received the Local Government Award for Exercise Dicheall: Strengthening Community Resilience through a Multi-Agency Emergency Management Exercise which was designed to test emergency management arrangements, improve co-ordination, and strengthen recovery planning.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ (DFES) Disaster Resilience Education Project received the Government Award for developing disaster resilience education resources for pre-primary students in regional Western Australia, helping young people build awareness, preparedness, and resilience from an early age.
In the Photography Award category, Aaron Cuthbert from DFES was named the people’s choice winner for Into the Furnace.
The WA winners will now vie for the national awards later this year.
Seven nominations were highly commended at the Resilient Australia Awards WA.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby:
“In the face of a changing climate, building resilience is critical to futureproofing the safety of communities throughout our vast State before, during, and after natural disasters.
“The Resilient Australia Awards play an important role in recognising and celebrating initiatives that build this whole-of-community resilience.
“I would like to commend all the winners, finalists, and highly commended recipients for their innovation, leadership, and commitment to building safer, stronger, and more robust communities.”
2026 Resilient Australia WA Award Winners:
Community Award
- State winner: Denmark Bushfire Ready Weekend, Bushfire Ready Denmark WA
- Highly commended: The Banjup Bushfire Resilience Pilot Project: Static Water Source & Mapping, Jandakot Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade / Banjup Resident Group
Government Award
- State winner: Disaster Resilience Education Project, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Highly commended: Karla Katitjin Traineeship Program, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Highly commended: Bushfire Community Day, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Highly commended: During emergencies when seconds count, innovative planning tool saves lives, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Highly commended: Firewise Gardening in Western Australia, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Local Government Award
- State winner: Exercise Dicheall: Strengthening Community Resilience through a Multi-Agency Emergency Management Exercise, City of Stirling
- Highly commended: City of Wanneroo Community Emergency Preparedness Events, City of Wanneroo
Photography Award
- State winner: Into the Furnace, Aaron Cuthbert, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Highly commended: The Long Line, Shane Howlett, Department of Fire and Emergency Services
