Adaptability and Implementation of Climate-Resilient Retrofit Toolkits for Older People

Following the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019–2020, a number of bushfire-resilient retrofit toolkits started to emerge across Australia and were made available to homeowners in affected areas. These retrofit toolkits primarily address property maintenance and building construction to comply with the Australian Standard 3959-2018 Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas. However, these toolkits are not tailored to the diverse housing needs and capabilities of the growing population of Australians over 65, the most vulnerable and affected age group during the event of natural disasters. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the adaptability and implementation of available bushfire-resilient retrofit toolkits with consideration to the needs and perceptions of older people. This paper presents a critical literature review of global, National, State, local, and independent guidance on building for bushfire resilience, through the lens of building construction and architecture. It identifies the challenges and gaps in knowledge for how to tailor disaster-resilient guidance for older people. It further presents a future research agenda to adopt universal design principles into available retrofit guidance to promote inclusive climate action. This paper is part of a broader research project funded by the Australian Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.