As Australia approaches its annual bushfire season, new research from insurance provider Youi has revealed that many Australians are unprepared for the risks.
Despite the significant destruction caused by recent fire seasons – including the Black Summer of 2019-2020, which devastated much of the country – the survey indicated that preparedness among residents remains inconsistent.
The survey, which gathered responses from over 1,000 people living in bushfire-prone areas, found that just 52% of participants expressed concern about bushfires.
More troubling, 26% acknowledged that they are not prepared for a potential fire, and 32% of respondents were unaware that they even lived in a bushfire risk zone.
Youi’s head of marketing strategy, planning, and insights, Dave Annesley, noted that the research highlights a direct link between concern and preparedness.
“We’ve received over 1,000 bushfire-related claims in the past 10 years and know how devastating it can be for families,” he said.
In response to these findings, Youi has introduced a Bushfire Preparedness Hub to provide Australians with tools and resources to help them get ready for the bushfire season.
Although a portion of those surveyed are well aware of the risks, many remain ill-prepared, according to Annesley.
“While it’s great to see a strong level of awareness with some of the Aussies surveyed about bushfire risk (52%), there is still a lot of work to be done for those who feel underprepared or unaware of the impact that a bushfire can have,” he said.
The research also uncovered significant differences in awareness and readiness across different states. In particular, residents of New South Wales and Queensland, two states frequently affected by bushfires, were found to be less aware of the risks in their areas.
Jim Smith, a volunteer firefighter and former deputy commissioner for Fire and Rescue NSW, expressed concern about these findings.
“Despite New South Wales and Queensland making up more than a third of Australia’s land mass, both states are regularly affected by bushfires, the survey highlights that residents in these areas are least likely to be aware of the risk,” he said.
He also pointed out that older Australians, even those who have experienced some of the country's worst bushfire seasons – such as the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 and the Black Saturday fires of 2009 – often remain underprepared.
“With bushfire season upon us, it’s imperative that Aussies are educating themselves and their families on how to be prepared,” Smith said.
In addition to bushfire preparedness, fire safety officials are increasingly concerned about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used in personal mobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) recently renewed their long-standing partnership to address this issue.
At the Insurance Industry Forum, ICA CEO Andrew Hall and FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell emphasised the need for enhanced safety measures and public education to mitigate the risks associated with these batteries.
The ICA and FRNSW plan to implement further initiatives to prevent fire-related injuries and fatalities, including programs to educate the public on the safe use and charging of lithium-ion battery-powered devices.
