Local and international disaster reduction and recovery are certain to be recurrent themes of the next generation.

The most at-risk communities will face more disasters, more emergencies and potentially more health crises in the years ahead.

While it is generally understood that civil and structural engineers have a critical role to play in disaster minimisation and particularly in the restoration of the most basic of human needs (shelter, water, food, sanitation) the delivery of that engineering capability may follow commercial or humanitarian corridors.

RedR Australia has a 15-year history of preparing then seconding engineers to emergency relief operations delivered by United Nations agencies.

RedR Australia delivers engineers into stricken communities, to re-build infrastructure which has been damaged or destroyed, searching always for “solutions” which may reduce risk and tragedy in the period which follows. In camps for refugees and displaced people, it is a case of building the infrastructure, not re-construction.

In highlighting that engineers are among those well suited for involvement in disaster situation analysis, solutions or both, the paper would explain RedR Australia’s practices for the identification, preparation and provision of skilled and experienced practitioners.

Paper will review the engineering tasks performed at field level, the preparation of, and the terms under which engineers have undertaken field assignments.

Paper will forecast likely needs for enhanced engineering input, having regard to population growth, natural disasters scaled up by increased frequency of dramatic events influenced by climate change, and the displacement of people associated with conflict and internal strife.