Awards celebrate work to build disaster resilience in Queensland

• Crisafulli Government celebrates outstanding Queenslanders strengthening disaster resilience in communities at the 2026 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards. 
• Councils, schools, organisations and individuals were recognised for their important work during an evening ceremony at Queensland Parliament.
• Queensland award winners are now in the running for the national Resilient Australia Awards, to be announced later this year. 

The Crisafulli Government has recognised Queenslanders for their creativity and determination to build resilience to natural disasters at the 2026 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards. 

During a ceremony at Parliament House in Brisbane, awards were presented to nine winners and nine highly commended entries across seven categories spanning business, community, government, education and photography. 

It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government. 

The Queensland Resilient Australia Awards celebrate community-focused resilience building and the people making a difference by mitigating the impacts of disasters. 

This year's winners are: 

• Queenslanders With Disability Network (Community)
• Tallebudgera State School (Schools)
• City of Gold Coast, and Fraser Coast Regional Council (Local Government) 
• Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, and Department of Housing and Public Works and Queensland Reconstruction Authority (State Government)
• Woolworths Group (Business) 
• Livingstone Shire Council (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
• Lynda Coulson (Photography) 

Each Queensland Resilient Australia Award winner is now in the running for the national Resilient Australia Awards, which will be announced later this year. 

Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the Crisafulli Government was recognising Queenslanders who are taking practical steps to build stronger, more resilient communities. 

“Building a more resilient Queensland starts long before disaster strikes, and that means communities, councils, businesses and government all doing their part," Minister Leahy said. 

“With the proposed changes to disaster recovery funding putting more pressure on our communities, the work being recognised tonight is more important than ever. 

“The Crisafulli Government will continue backing Queenslanders to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, and I congratulate every winner and highly commended finalist for the contribution they are making to a safer, stronger Queensland.” 

The Queensland Resilient Australia Awards are managed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience and delivered in partnership with State convenors Get Ready Queensland and its major sponsor, Suncorp. 

For more information on the Resilient Australia Awards visit the AIDR website.  

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kyah Devine, 0428 217 040 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

2026 Queensland Resilient Australia Award winners: 

• Community  

Winner: Queenslanders With Disability Network 

Project: Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Peer Leadership Development Program 

• Schools  

Winner: Tallebudgera State School  

Project: Global Connections for Disaster Resilience, exploring how communities worldwide prepare and respond to natural hazards 

• Local Government  

Joint winner: City of Gold Coast  

Project: Gold Coast Resilient Home Design Guidelines 

Joint winner: Fraser Coast Regional Council, and FloodMapp  

Project: Live Flooded Road Alerts for Safer Communities 

• State Government  

Joint winner: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, and Articulous 

Project: Empowering First Nations Tourism Industry Disaster Resilience Through Community-led Workshops and Resources 

Joint winner: Department of Housing and Public Works and Queensland Reconstruction Authority 

Project: Resilient Homes Fund 

• Business  

Winner: Woolworths Group 

Project: Project Overwatch, embedding resilience into the design and operation of retail locations  

• Mental Health and Wellbeing  

Winner: Livingstone Shire Council 

Project: ICare Friday Lunch – Connections Create a Thriving Resilient Community 

• Photography  

Photographer: Lynda Coulson  

Photo title: Floraville Station Stays Connected