A world-first app has been launched to help Australians be better prepared for further bushfire disasters.
The free app lets people not only assess their home's vulnerability to bushfire but also plan for change.
The Bushfire Resilience Rating Home Self-Assessment app was developed in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission following the 2019-20 Black Summer disaster in 2009.
The Resilient Building Council on Monday launched the app after more than 1,200 households from bushfire-impacted areas across Australia helped co-design and test it.
The not-for-profit council said the trial participants' actions resulted in an average 67 per cent reduction in the likelihood of their home succumbing to a bushfire.
"Our mission is to prevent bushfires and other hazards from becoming disasters, by helping people know what they can do to protect their homes," CEO Kate Cotter said of the app which was backed by $3 million in federal government funding.
"There are lots of simple, low-cost things people can do themselves right away and as everyone starts taking action, Australia will be better prepared and better off."
Households can measure their home's bushfire resilience on the app through a rating system and receive a customised action plan to make safety improvements.
As tasks are completed on the household's plan that is specific to their property and local fire risk, their Resilience Rating is updated.
"It takes around 20 minutes to assess your home using the app, which includes a free report and a customised action plan to improve the resilience rating of your home," Ms Cotter said.
The Resilience Rating system was developed by leading Australian researchers and engineers in a collaboration led by the council.
Billed as the first scientific system to measure a home's resilience, the app's rating combines detailed data about the local environment and climate with information about the house provided by the user.
"While governments have a role to play in preparing for this peak period for severe weather, it is collective responsibility households also share," federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.
"As more people use the app and take action - large or small - communities around Australia will be better prepared."
The next phase is set to be launched in mid-2024 with expert on-site assessments for integrated bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, heatwave, and energy efficiency ratings.
